PFAS are manufactured chemicals that have been in use for decades. Some examples of common consumer and industrial products that may contain PFAS include carpeting, upholstery, waterproof clothing, food packaging, cookware, and fire-fighting foam. PFAS can be released into the environment during the production, use, and disposal of PFAS-containing products.
Research into the effects of PFAS on human health is ongoing. Visit the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) website for information on PFAS and Health.
In 2023, the Legislature passed two bills with significant language on PFAS, SF 1955 and HF 2310. These bills outline the process for prohibiting the sale and distribution of products containing intentionally added PFAS. The MDA and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will work in partnership to implement portions of these new laws. Minnesota’s PFAS Blueprint (pdf), developed by multiple state agencies, further identifies strategies for preventing, managing, and cleaning up PFAS found throughout the state.
In recent years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has outlined a number of key actions to address PFAS. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also taking steps to better understand PFAS in foods and food packaging, processing, and cookware. Read more about their work studying PFAS as environmental contaminants in food. The FDA has also worked with manufacturers to phase out production and use of certain food packaging products containing PFAS.
There are no established recommendations specific to consumption of meat, poultry, dairy, or eggs for avoiding PFAS exposure because there are no currently established safe tolerance levels for PFAS in these products. The MDH Fish Consumption Guidance, updated in April of 2025, sets water body specific safe-eating guidelines that take into consideration the presence of PFAS in different Minnesota lakes and rivers. More generally, the EPA offers information on meaningful and achievable steps you can take to reduce your risk from PFAS exposure.
April 30, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded more than $1 million in grants to schools and early care providers through its Farm to School and Early Care Grants program. This funding supports the purchase of Minnesota-grown and -raised foods, creating market opportunities for local farmers and improving the quality of school and early care meals across the state.
“When schools and early cares serve local food, everyone benefits – our farmers, our kids, our communities, and our economy,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “We are proud to help schools and early care providers incorporate more local food into their meals. Minnesota kids deserve the best, and Minnesota farms can provide the best.”
New for 2025, the MDA awarded $97,000 to 194 family childcare providers through its Local Tots Cost-Share program. Each provider received a $500 award through this non-competitive cost-share program to help serve more local foods as part of their meal and snack programs. This marks the first year of the program, launched as the MDA expands Farm to School and Early Care efforts to support more children across the state.
The MDA also awarded $948,096 in Farm to School and Early Care grants to 63 school districts and nine early childhood education (ECE) centers across the state in this round. Recipients received one of two grants to purchase whole unprocessed or minimally processed foods that are at least 80% grown or raised in Minnesota.
- First Bite Farm to School and Early Care Grant: For school districts and ECE centers new to local purchasing and looking to start small.
- Full Tray Farm to School and Early Care Grant: For school districts and ECE centers with some Farm to School or Farm to Early Care experience who are ready to take on larger projects. Applicants for Full Tray grants are required to provide a 1:1 match on all funds awarded.
Grant awards ranged from $2,500 to $35,000 and will support $866,089 in local food purchases. Applicants could also apply for additional funding to purchase equipment that supports their local sourcing efforts, equipment funding also requires a 1:1 match. A total of $82,007 was awarded to 12 schools and ECE centers for items ranging from flat top grills and refrigeration units to tilt skillets and food processors. These tools help improve food safety and make scratch cooking with local foods more accessible and efficient.
A full list of recipients and award amounts for the First Bite and Full Tray grants can be found below. See the full list of awardees for the Local Tots Cost-Share program on the Local Tots Cost-Share Past Projects webpage.
Funding for these programs is made available through the MDA’s Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) program, which administers grants to farmers, agribusinesses, schools, and more throughout the state of Minnesota. The AGRI Program exists to advance Minnesota’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors.
Farm to School and Early Care Grant Recipients
First Bite Grants
| FY25 First Bite Grantee | City | Type of Grantee | First Bite Award | Equipment Award | Total Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agape Child Development Center | Minneapolis | ECE | $5,000.00 | $4,750.00 | $9,750.00 |
| Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley Public Schools, ISD 2888 | Clinton | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| East Grand Forks Public Schools, ISD 595 | East Grand Forks | School | $5,000.00 | $715.00 | $5,715.00 |
| Eureka Kids | Rochester | ECE | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Great Expectations School | Grand Marais | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Hawley Public Schools, ISD 150 | Hawley | School | $2,500.00 | $3,240.00 | $5,740.00 |
| Hill City Public Schools, ISD 2 | Hill City | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Kelliher Public Schools, ISD 36 | Kelliher | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Kingsland Public Schools, ISD 2137 | Spring Valley | School | $5,000.00 | $12,000.00 | $17,000.00 |
| Kootasca Community Action (Kootasca Head Start) | Grand Rapids | ECE | $5,000.00 | $1,386.50 | $6,386.50 |
| Lakeville Area Schools, ISD 194 | Lakeville | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Los Amiguitos De River Heights | Inver Grove Heights | ECE | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Menahga Public Schools, ISD 821 | Menahga | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Northfield Montessori | Northfield | ECE | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Olu's Beginnings | Minneapolis | ECE | $2,500.00 | $10,310.81 | $12,810.81 |
| Ortonville Public Schools, ISD 2903 | Ortonville | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| St. Michael's School | Mahnomen | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Stillwater Area Public Schools, ISD 834 | Stillwater | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Underwood School District, ISD 550 | Underwood | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| West Central Minnesota Communities Action (Perham Head Start) | Elbow Lake | ECE | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Yinghua Academy | Minneapolis | School | $5,000.00 | $2,500.00 | $7,500.00 |
Full Tray Grants
|
FY25 Full Tray Grantee |
City | Type of Grantee | Full Tray Award | Equipment Award | Total Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aitkin Public Schools, ISD 1 | Aitkin | School | $20,000.00 | $20,000.00 | |
| Alexandria Public Schools, ISD 206 | Alexandria | School | $25,000.00 | $25,000.00 | |
| Aurora Waasakone Community of Learners | Bemidji | School | $4,816.80 | $4,816.80 | |
| Becker Public Schools, ISD 726 | Becker | School | $30,000.00 | $12,500.00 | $42,500.00 |
| Bloomington Public Schools, ISD 271 | Bloomington | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Brooklyn Center Community Schools, ISD 286 | Brooklyn Center | School | $25,000.00 | $25,000.00 | |
| Butterfield-Odin Public Schools, ISD 836 | Butterfield | School | $6,062.40 | $6,062.40 | |
| Cannon Falls Area Schools, ISD 252 | Cannon Falls | School | $23,918.40 | $23,918.40 | |
| Crosby-Ironton Public Schools, ISD 182 | Crosby | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Crosslake Community School | Crosslake | School | $4,212.00 | $4,212.00 | |
| Dassel-Cokato Public Schools, ISD 466 | Cokato | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Deer River Public Schools, ISD 317 | Deer River | School | $20,000.00 | $20,000.00 | |
| Detroit Lakes Schools, ISD 22 | Detroit Lakes | School | $25,000.00 | $25,000.00 | |
| Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Public Schools, ISD 2164 | Dilworth | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| East Range Academy of Technology and Sciences (ERATS) | Mountain Iron | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Foley Public Schools, ISD 51 | Foley | School | $20,000.00 | $10,000.00 | $30,000.00 |
| Fond du Lac Ojibwe School | Cloque | School | $4,386.00 | $4,386.00 | |
| Greenway Public Schools, ISD 316 | Coleraine | School | $3,750.00 | $3,750.00 | |
| Holy Trinity Catholic School, Pierz | Pierz | School | $3,487.50 | $3,487.50 | |
| Holy Trinity Catholic School, South Saint Paul | South Saint Paul | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Hopkins Public Schools, ISD 270 | Hopkins | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Hutchinson Public Schools, ISD 423 | Hutchinson | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Immanuel Lutheran School | Gaylord | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Jordan Public Schools, ISD 717 | Jordan | School | $7,500.00 | $7,500.00 | |
| Lake City Public Schools | Lake City | School | $15,000.00 | $15,000.00 | |
| Litchfield Public Schools, ISD 465 | Litchfield | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Mesabi East Schools, ISD 2711 | Aurora | School | $11,650.00 | $11,650.00 | |
| Minneapolis Public Schools, SSD 1 | Minneapolis | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Schools, ISD 2168 | New Richland | School | $21,000.00 | $21,000.00 | |
| New Ulm Area Catholic School | New Ulm | School | $8,142.00 | $8,142.00 | |
| Nisse Treehouse/td> | Mabel | ECE | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Pine City Public Schools, ISD 578 | Pine City | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Pine Island Public Schools, ISD 255 | Pine Island | School | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |
| Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, ISD 719 | Prior Lake | School | $30,000.00 | $10,000.00 | $40,000.00 |
| Riverway Learning Community | Winona | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| Robbinsdale Area Schools, ISD 281 | New Hope | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, ISD 196 | Rosemount | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Saint Charles Public Schools, ISD 858 | Saint Charles | School | $25,418.00 | $25,418.00 | |
| Saint Croix Prep Academy | Stillwater | School | $15,000.00 | $15,000.00 | |
| Saint Paul Public Schools, ISD 625 | Saint Paul | School | $30,000.00 | $9,894.00 | $39,894.00 |
| Saint Wenceslaus Catholic School | New Prague | School | $7,500.00 | $7,500.00 | |
| Sartell-St. Stephen, ISD 748 | Sartell | School | $10,000.00 | $10,000.00 | |
| Schoolcraft Learning Community | Bemidji | School | $4,600.00 | $4,600.00 | |
| Stare Academy | Baxter | School | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |
| The Journey School | Saint Paul | School | $5,132.40 | $5,132.40 | |
| United South Central Public Schools, ISD 2134 | Wells | School | $15,000.00 | $15,000.00 | |
| Vermilion Country School | Tower | School | $2,500.00 | $1,521.97 | $4,021.97 |
| Wayzata Cafes, ISD 284 | Plymouth | School | $30,000.00 | $30,000.00 | |
| Winona Area Public Schools, ISD 861 | Winona | School | $12,500.00 | $12,500.00 | |
| YMCA of the North, Early Childcare Centers (7 sites) | Minneapolis | ECE | $6,000.00 | $6,000.00 | |
| Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools, ISD 2805 | Zumbrota | School | $13,513.00 | $13,500.00 | $27,013.00 |
###
Media Contact
Nikki Warner, MDA Communications
651-238-7909
Nikki.Warner@state.mn.us
All individuals who want to make and sell foods described in the Cottage Food Law need to register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) before selling food.
Who needs to register?
All individuals who want to make and sell foods described in the Cottage Food Law need to register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) before selling food.
If you’re not regularly engaged in selling food, as defined in Minnesota Statute, then you do not need to register. However, if you regularly sell cottage food at these types of venues or directly from your home, then you do need to register.
Do I need to register if I’m only selling food at a bake sale for an educational, charitable, or religious organization?
If you’re not regularly engaged in selling food, as defined in Minnesota Statute, then you do not need to register. However, if you regularly sell cottage food at these types of venues or directly from your home, then you do need to register.
All individuals who want to make and sell foods described in the Cottage Food Law need to register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) before selling food.
If you’re not regularly engaged in selling food, as defined in Minnesota Statute, then you do not need to register. However, if you regularly sell cottage food at these types of venues or directly from your home, then you do need to register.
The cost of registration is determined by annual sales within the calendar year, which begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. The registration fee is $50 if you sell more than $7,665 in a year. If you sell $7,665 or less in a year, there is no fee.
See answer in Amount of Sales section below. Note that the maximum amount of annual sales allowed under the Cottage Food Law is $78,000 for an individual.
Your registration expires on December 31 of the year it was issued. If you want to continue to sell food under the Cottage Food Law, you will need to re-register for each year that you are selling food.
Yes, you must complete training and pass an exam prior to registering and selling cottage food. For more information on training, see the Training section below.
Cottage food can be produced in a home kitchen or in a commercial kitchen, as long as you follow local ordinances. Commercial kitchens offer the equipment and spaces usually required for a food license issued by the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, or one of their delegated regulatory agency.
As is always the case, do not make, sell, or store cottage food in your home if anyone in the household is sick. Follow good food safety practices of proper hand hygiene, preventing bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, and regular cleaning and sanitizing of equipment and surfaces.
You must comply with the ordinance and cannot produce and sell food from your home. Depending on the ordinance, it may be possible to make and sell food as a registered cottage food producer at an acceptable location such as a commercial kitchen. If you have a question about this, check with your city or county.
An individual who qualifies for a cottage food exemption may organize the individual's cottage food business as a business entity recognized by Minnesota state law. More information on legal Minnesota business entity structures can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State Office website.
Yes. You can only register and sell food under the Cottage Food Law if you are selling a type of food allowed under law, have taken the proper training, are properly labeling the food, are selling and delivering the food directly to consumers in places allowed by the law, are not exceeding the $78,000 annual sales cap, and your local jurisdiction (city or county) does not have an ordinance restricting you from making or selling food from your home. Each of these topics are further explained in the sections below.
You can apply for a food license. Food licenses do not have restrictions on the amount of annual sales, allow for a wide variety of foods to be sold, and allow for several types of sales including shipping food in the mail.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will send you a registration card in the mail with a unique registration number Keep your registration with you when selling food. An inspector or market manager may ask to see it and you need to show your registration when asked.
- You may check the status of your registration in the MDA's Licensing Information Search. Fill in the desired search terms (registration number, name, city, or county) and select COTTAGE FOOD PRODUCER REGISTRATION in the License Type list.
- Once you are listed you can sell your cottage food items, even if you have not yet received your registration card in the mail.
- It may take up to 30 days for your registration to be processed and displayed in the online system. Registration cards are mailed within one week of processing.
Some resources that cottage food producers find helpful are:
- Minnesota Cottage Food Producers Association
- University of Minnesota Extension - For Food Entrepreneurs
- University of Minnesota Extension - Cottage Food Office Hours
- Minnesota Farmers' Market Association - Cottage Foods Academy
- Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
- AURI - "Ask an Expert" Office Hours
Yes, a non-Minnesota resident can apply for a Minnesota Cottage Food Producer registration. They can make the food in their non-Minnesota home, but the food still needs to be provided in person to the customer in Minnesota (meet up location in Minnesota, or at a Minnesota farmers' market or community event).
NOTE: Cottage foods can cross state lines, with the exception of acidified jarred or canned foods (e.g., pickles, tomato sauce). Those foods must be both made and sold in Minnesota.
