The Commissioner of Agriculture oversees the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) in consul
What regulations must I know and understand prior to obtaining a license?
Review the MDA Starting a New Wholesale Food Business webpage. This includes information on topics including:
- Applicable regulations such as Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Preventive Controls for Human Food
- Additional specialized regulations (acidified foods, juice HACCP, seafood HACCP, etc.) may apply
- Source water and waste-water system requirements
- Food business zoning requirements
- Local authority inspections (e.g., building plumbing, HVAC, electrical, fire)
- Certification of Occupancy (if necessary)
- Retail Plan Review (if applicable)
- Meat or dairy product information
It is your responsibility to become familiar with the applicable regulations and Minnesota Statues to ensure you are manufacturing food safely and in the best interest of public health. Depending on the food being produced in your facility, you may need to employ an individual with specialized training, seek additional education/training, or you may need to consult with an external source (university, expert, process authority, or laboratory).
You will need to determine your predominant mode of sales. If you know or estimate that at least 50% of your gross annual food sales will be to other businesses/establishments, then you will be required to obtain a Wholesale Food Handler license at your food storage location. If you know or estimate that retail sales (i.e., to the end consumer, online sales, etc.) will be at least 50% or more of your gross annual food sales, then you will be required to obtain a Retail Food Handler license. If you have questions regarding your predominant mode of sales, please contact the MDA Licensing Liaison.
Your truck or trailer will need a Wholesale Food Handler license to distribute food within Minnesota, and it will need to be routinely inspected. Vehicles without a separate food facility have a special fee category that should be “checked” when filling out your license application. Be aware that there are requirements for delivery vehicles, please visit Minnesota Rules for additional information.
Contact the MDA, determine your area Manufactured Food Program (MFP) inspector, and arrange an in-person inspection. The area MFP inspector will provide you with a paper copy of the MDA Wholesale Food Handler license application. An electronic form of the license application is NOT available through the MDA website.
Contact the MDA or submit a Food Licensing Liaison Request. The MDA licensing liaison will email you the area inspector's contact information.
NOTE: Contact your area inspector at least two weeks prior to your anticipated business start date.
- Your business plan an
d predominant mode of sales - Food storage location(s)
- Types of food storage: ambient, refrigerated and/or frozen
- Equipment and facility design
- Food suppliers or vendors
- Distribution methods
In addition to basic business information such as legal name, doing business as (DBA), physical, and mailing addresses, the following four items are required on the license application:
- Minnesota tax ID number (associated with the business name registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State) or your Social Security number (if filing as an individual).
- Workers Compensation Insurance policy number and effective dates if you plan on having paid or compensated employees (if applicable).
- Estimated gross annual food sales (July 1- June 30th annually)
- Check, money order, or cashier's check for the license fee
License fees are based on your gross annual food sales. If you are found operating without a license, then a no-license penalty fee will apply.
|
Anticipated Gross Annual Food Sales |
License Fee |
No License Penalty |
|---|---|---|
|
$0 - $25,000 |
$57.00 |
$38.00 |
|
$25,001 - $250,000 |
$284.00 |
$187.00 |
|
$250,001 - $1,000,000 From all other facilities *From a mobile unit w/o a separate storage facility |
$590.00 *$444.00 |
$389.00 *$293.00 |
|
$1,000,001 - $5,000,000 |
$769.00 |
$508.00 |
|
$5,000,001 - $10,000,000 |
$920.00 |
$607.00 |
|
$10,000,001 - $15,000,000 |
$990.00 |
$653.00 |
|
$15,000,001 - $20,000,000 |
$1,156.00 |
$763.00 |
|
$20,000,001 - $25,000,000 |
$1,329.00 |
$877.00 |
|
Over $25,000,001 |
$1,502.00 |
$991.00 |
Annually. You must renew your license by June 30th each year. If you renew later than June 30th, a late fee will be applied. A license renewal form will be mailed to you prior to June each year. Licenses may be renewed online.
|
Gross Annual Food Sales & Services |
Renewal License Fee |
MDA Processing Surcharge |
Late Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Less than $25,000 |
$57.00 |
$5.00 |
$19.00 |
|
$25,001 - $250,000 |
$284.00 |
$14.20 |
$94.00 |
|
$250,001 - $1,000,000 From all other facilities *From a mobile unit w/o a separate storage facility |
$590.00 *$444.00 |
$29.50 |
$195.00 *$147.00 |
|
$1,000,001 - $5,000,000 |
$769.00 |
$38.45 |
$254.00 |
|
$5,000,001 - $10,000,000 |
$920.00 |
$46.00 |
$304.00 |
|
$10,000,001 - $15,000,000 |
$990.00 |
$49.50 |
$327.00 |
|
$15,000,001 - $20,000,000 |
$1,156.00 |
$57.80 |
$381.00 |
|
$20,000,001 - $25,000,000 |
$1,329.00 |
$66.45 |
$439.00 |
|
Over $25,000,001 |
$1,502.00 |
$75.10 |
$496.00 |
Review the MDA Starting a New Wholesale Food Business webpage. This includes information on topics including:
- Applicable regulations such as Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Preventive Controls for Human Food
- Additional specialized regulations (acidified foods, juice HACCP, seafood HACCP, etc.) may apply
- Source water and waste-water system requirements
- Food business zoning requirements
- Local authority inspections (e.g., building plumbing, HVAC, electrical, fire)
- Certification of Occupancy (if necessary)
- Retail Plan Review (if applicable)
- Meat or dairy product information
It is your responsibility to become familiar with the applicable regulations and Minnesota Statues to ensure you are manufacturing food safely and in the best interest of public health. Depending on the food being produced in your facility, you may need to employ an individual with specialized training, seek additional education/training, or you may need to consult with an external source (university, expert, process authority, or laboratory).
Category
License Title (formerly Alternate License Title)
Wholesale Food Handler
May 21, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Minnesota Grown Cream of the Crop Awards for Farm to School and Early Care. This new contest recognizes K-12 school districts, early care centers, and family day cares that go above and beyond to promote and serve foods grown and raised by Minnesota farmers and producers.
This year’s winners have earned the title of Cream of the Crop in their respective categories:
- School District of the Year: Minneapolis Public Schools
- Family Daycare of the Year: Little Skeeters Daycare (Bagley, MN)
“Minnesota continues to lead the way in farm to school, creating stronger connections between local farms, classrooms, and communities.” says MDA Commissioner, Thom Petersen. “We’re proud to recognize the schools and early care providers that are making local food a vital part of how we nourish students and invest in resilient local economies that support small family farms.”
Applicants were asked to share details about their local purchasing practices, how they promote and educate students about local foods, and how they engage with the broader community through events and activities. In their application, Cream of the Crop School District of the Year winner, Minneapolis Public Schools, highlighted their long-standing commitment with farm to school. “We have sourced farm-direct items from hundreds of producers since our program began in 2013. We anticipate spending more than $500,000 on Minnesota-grown produce, grains, beans, and proteins again next school year. This locally grown food is served in entrées, sides, and salad bars in more than 60 cafeterias throughout our district.”
Farm to School programming reaches beyond K–12 classrooms, extending into early care and family day care centers across Minnesota. Merry Charles, owner of Cream of the Crop Family Daycare of the Year, Little Skeeters Daycare in Bagley, MN, said that “children in my daycare learn everyday about good nutrition. They plant and grow all their own vegetables and this year we will be planting fruit trees. We make jams, jellies, and they freeze all the vegetables that we grow.”
In addition to the top awards, several schools and daycare providers were honored with Outstanding in the Field recognition at three levels:
Golden Drumstick Honors
- ISD 196 – Rosemount-Eagan-Apple Valley
- Mesabi East School District (Aurora, MN)
- Northwestern Minnesota Juvenile Center (Bemidji, MN)
- Roseville Area Schools
- Love and Laughter Family Child Care (Anoka, MN)
Silver Squash Honors
- Foley Area Schools
- Holy Rosary School (Detroit Lakes, MN)
- Cannon Falls Area Schools
Bronze Berry Honors
- White Bear Lake Area Schools
- Winona Area Public Schools
- Holdingford Public Schools
Winners of the Minnesota Grown Cream of the Crop School District and Family Day Care of the Year will each receive exclusive rights to use the Minnesota Grown Cream of the Crop branding for the award year, along with a commemorative plaque. Outstanding in the Field honorees will receive exclusive rights to use the Minnesota Grown Outstanding in the Field branding for the award year and a signed certificate. To learn more about the Cream of the Crop Awards, visit the contest website.
Minnesota Grown is a program of the MDA to promote products grown and raised in Minnesota. The program has connected consumers with local farmers, farmers’ markets, and other producers of agricultural products for over 40 years. Development of the Minnesota Grown Cream of the Crop Awards was supported by a Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant from the USDA.
###
Media Contact
Nikki Warner, MDA Communications
651-238-7909
Nikki.Warner@state.mn.us
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