Orville L. Freeman Office Building and MDA/MDH Laboratory Buildings
The MDA is located in the Orville L.
November 14, 2024
To expand Minnesotans’ access to fresh and culturally appropriate foods, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has opened applications for its Good Food Access Program (GFAP) Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant.
The GFAP grant helps grocery stores and small food retailers purchase equipment or make physical improvements that will allow them to increase the availability of and access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods (including produce) for underserved communities in low- and moderate-income areas. The agency will award up to $935,000 in this round of funding, and applicants may request between $5,000 and $75,000 for their projects.
Examples of eligible projects include the purchase and installation costs of items like shelving, coolers, and freezers; mobile food markets; permanent infrastructure at farmers’ markets; or architectural work. Projects that demonstrate positive economic and health impacts on underserved communities will be prioritized for funding.
To be eligible, applicants must be located in or serve a census tract designated as a food desert or must serve a substantial subpopulation — such as the aging population, those living with a disability, or those in a low- or moderate-income census tract — who have low supermarket access. Tribal entities and organizations that serve Native American tribal communities are also eligible and encouraged to apply.
Applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, January 16, 2025. For full eligibility requirements and details of the application process, review the request for proposal (RFP) found on the GFAP Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant webpage.
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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us
Return to Meat, Poultry, and Egg Inspe
Category
License Title (formerly Alternate License Title)
Sale of Eggs in Minnesota
Producers selling a product of their own farm or garden are generally excluded from licensing. If you plan to sell eggs to food facilities or to consumers away from the premises of your farm, you are asked to register with the MDA. You must also meet certain requirements described in Minnesota statutes concerning poultry and eggs and Minnesota poultry and eggs rules. Basic compliance with these requirements includes the following:
- Cleaning: The eggs must be cleaned by approved methods.
- Candling and Grading: All eggs must be candled and graded.
- Refrigeration: Eggs must be refrigerated at 45 degrees F or less after grading and be maintained at that temperature during storage.
- Packaging: Containers (cartons, flats, and cases) of eggs must be labeled with the following mandatory information:
- Grade and size of the eggs
- Your name, address, and zip code
- The statement: "Perishable. Keep Refrigerated."
- A pack date in Julian calendar (day of the year)
- A freshness date not to exceed 30 days from the date of pack. The freshness date must also have an explanation such as "exp...," "Best if used by...," or a similar statement.
- The safe handling instructions: "To prevent illness from bacteria: Keep eggs refrigerated, cook eggs until yolks are firm, and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly."
