Farmers don’t have to have GAP audits in place to sell into LFPA. There is a question about food safety practices in the application that does ask applicants to indicate food safety considerations in procurement and distribution. But audits are not a requirement.
On the cottage food side of things, a lot of cottage food products aren’t eligible because they are considered fully processed as opposed to minimally or unprocessed. For example, jam and bread fully are processed and therefore not eligible. Cottage food also typically has to be distributed to the end consumer. So selling it to a grantee who is then further distributing it, would be ineligible.
Farmers don’t have to have GAP audits in place to sell into LFPA. There is a question about food safety practices in the application that does ask applicants to indicate food safety considerations in procurement and distribution. But audits are not a requirement.
On the cottage food side of things, a lot of cottage food products aren’t eligible because they are considered fully processed as opposed to minimally or unprocessed. For example, jam and bread fully are processed and therefore not eligible. Cottage food also typically has to be distributed to the end consumer. So selling it to a grantee who is then further distributing it, would be ineligible.
Food storage does not necessarily have to be at a commercial facility, but if you are procuring services from someone who isn’t generally in the business of offering those services, then you need to be prepared to demonstrate how those costs are reasonable, and potentially have done some research on average price points and how that compares.
Food storage does not necessarily have to be at a commercial facility, but if you are procuring services from someone who isn’t generally in the business of offering those services, then you need to be prepared to demonstrate how those costs are reasonable, and potentially have done some research on average price points and how that compares.
You can apply as a farmer, or you can look to partner with other people on an application and you could supply food for that project. The LFPA Connections Database is a resource that could help connect you to people looking for food for their project. You can advertise your foods and services by filling out an online directory form and find potential contacts by viewing the public responses. Your farmers market manager may also be a resource to talk to about this program.
You can apply as a farmer, or you can look to partner with other people on an application and you could supply food for that project. The LFPA Connections Database is a resource that could help connect you to people looking for food for their project. You can advertise your foods and services by filling out an online directory form and find potential contacts by viewing the public responses. Your farmers market manager may also be a resource to talk to about this program.
An applicant’s legal business entity must be located in MN. A farm/organization located in WI would not be eligible to be a lead applicant. An entity that is located in MN could apply and source from a farm in WI, however, as long as the WI purchases are not more than 30% of the project’s total food purchases. At least 70% of a project’s food purchases (by monetary value) must be sourced from within the geographic boundaries of MN.
An applicant’s legal business entity must be located in MN. A farm/organization located in WI would not be eligible to be a lead applicant. An entity that is located in MN could apply and source from a farm in WI, however, as long as the WI purchases are not more than 30% of the project’s total food purchases. At least 70% of a project’s food purchases (by monetary value) must be sourced from within the geographic boundaries of MN.
Those requirements only apply to the LFPA program, so 70% of the food items paid for with LFPA grant funds must be from Minnesota and from socially disadvantaged farmers. They are not intended to be criteria for the normal operations of an organization.
Those requirements only apply to the LFPA program, so 70% of the food items paid for with LFPA grant funds must be from Minnesota and from socially disadvantaged farmers. They are not intended to be criteria for the normal operations of an organization.
