As long as the grant applicant meets the grant eligibility requirements outlined in the RFP, the grant recipient can contract with others out of state. It will be important for you to explain how this work will benefit growers in Minnesota. Please also note that out of state travel is not covered under this grant. (please refer to pages 5-7 of the Developing Markets for Continuous Living Cover Grant RFP)
As long as the grant applicant meets the grant eligibility requirements outlined in the RFP, the grant recipient can contract with others out of state. It will be important for you to explain how this work will benefit growers in Minnesota. Please also note that out of state travel is not covered under this grant. (please refer to pages 5-7 of the Developing Markets for Continuous Living Cover Grant RFP)
No, land purchases are not an eligible expense.
No, land purchases are not an eligible expense.
As long as the grant applicant meets the grant eligibility requirements outlined in the RFP, the grant recipient can contract with others out of state. It will be important for you to explain how this work will benefit growers in Minnesota. Please also note that out of state travel is not covered under this grant. (please refer to pages 5-7 of the Developing Markets for Continuous Living Cover Grant RFP)
No, land purchases are not an eligible expense.
Conflict of interest will be an important thing for you to consider. The applicant must complete the application on their own. A consultant cannot do it on their behalf, this is considered a conflict of interest. See page 9 of RFP. The applicant can contract with others to complete tasks for project activities only after a contract with the MDA is in place.
An applicant can propose to improve their equipment under the grant. They would need to explain why they are using grant funds to improve equipment of an outside consultant. The applicant review group will make this determination.
- Ready-made equipment purchase (e.g., freeze dryer, refrigerator, freezer, harvester, seed cleaner, heat pump)
- Purchasing of supplies, equipment, and services to modify or build a custom piece of machinery that is not commercially available (e.g., seed cleaning trailer, elderberry destemmer, custom mechanical harvester)
- Supplies to support growing, harvesting, or processing of CLC crop and food products (e.g., electrical supplies, plumbing supplies, structures to grow or process crops)
- Consumeable goods (e.g., pots, soil amendments, water)
- Seeds and bareroot plant stock (e.g., hazelnut) purchase
- Printing of training manuals, promotional and outreach materials, and new product labels
- Infrastructure to scale production (e.g., contract for construction of large shed to store, protect, and operate processing machinery; creation/enhancement of loading pad to improve shipping and receiving; raised plant beds; greenhouse; electrical; and plumbing)
- In-state travel (mileage, lodging) to attend conferences, training sessions, meet with prospective growers, buyers, and farmers, provide outreach
- Contracts for development of specialty parts from a machinist, machine technical assistance, and equipment retrofits
- Contracts for graphic design to develop labels and packaging for new CLC products
- Contracts for pre-marketing services to find buyers and markets for crops and development of a marketing strategy, and lawyers to develop agreements with value-added companies (e.g., Kernza® grain to flour) and co-operative membership agreements
- Incentive payments to program beneficiaries for developing standard operating procedures and recipes for new products, developing logistics for new distribution systems, implementing new infrastructure and equipment for CLC crops and cropping systems, and providing technical assistance and training to new farmers
No, farms in Minnesota are not required to be licensed to sell fruits and vegetables that they grow. If the farm is selling produce that was grown by a different farm, then they are required to have a license to resell or redistribute it. A product of the farm or garden may be further processed by the farm (e.g., canned pickles), but if off-farm ingredients are added, such as vinegar or sugar, a license is required. For more information, see Food Licensing Exclusions and Exemptions.
Businesses such as produce aggregators or food hubs which purchase produce from multiple farms, aggregate (combine) it, and then handle, package, or distribute produce, are required to hold a license with the MDA.
No, farms in Minnesota are not required to be licensed to sell fruits and vegetables that they grow. If the farm is selling produce that was grown by a different farm, then they are required to have a license to resell or redistribute it. A product of the farm or garden may be further processed by the farm (e.g., canned pickles), but if off-farm ingredients are added, such as vinegar or sugar, a license is required. For more information, see Food Licensing Exclusions and Exemptions.
Businesses such as produce aggregators or food hubs which purchase produce from multiple farms, aggregate (combine) it, and then handle, package, or distribute produce, are required to hold a license with the MDA.
No, most produce farms within Minnesota are not required to have a food safety inspection. Only the larger farms that meet certain sales thresholds and markets are required to have a food safety inspection from the MDA Produce Safety Program. You can request to see a copy of an inspection report from any farm that is inspected to better understand any food safety concerns.
Additionally, some farms elect to have a third-party food safety audit, such as a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audit, but this is not a regulatory inspection. If your farmer has undergone one of these voluntary food safety audits, it is typically for one or two crops they grow, not the entire farm. You can ask to see their certificate to verify the fruits and vegetables you’re buying have passed an audit. Farms need to re-certify each year – it does not carry from year to year.
No, most produce farms within Minnesota are not required to have a food safety inspection. Only the larger farms that meet certain sales thresholds and markets are required to have a food safety inspection from the MDA Produce Safety Program. You can request to see a copy of an inspection report from any farm that is inspected to better understand any food safety concerns.
Additionally, some farms elect to have a third-party food safety audit, such as a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audit, but this is not a regulatory inspection. If your farmer has undergone one of these voluntary food safety audits, it is typically for one or two crops they grow, not the entire farm. You can ask to see their certificate to verify the fruits and vegetables you’re buying have passed an audit. Farms need to re-certify each year – it does not carry from year to year.
