Products of your farm or garden are excluded from food licensing requirements (see Food Licensing Exclusions and Exemptions). However, if you want to resell produce from another grower or supplier, you need a Food Handler. Please contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Licensing Liaison for more information via email at mda.licensing@state.mn.us, or by phone at 651-201-6062.
If you are applying for a Food Handler License, you must first complete an Applicant Form. Contact the MDA Licensing Liaison or your local food inspector to review your business plans and obtain the form. You will need the following information to submit the Applicant Form:
- Minnesota Tax ID number or social security number
- Legal business name (and DBA, if applicable)
- Physical address of your food business
- Majority of sales (direct to the end consumer or sales to other businesses who will re-sell or further process the food)
- Pre-Licensing Applicant Form fee ($50)
After applying, our MDA Technical Review Team will evaluate your business plan and connect you with your area inspector to schedule a licensing inspection. The Technical Review Team will request additional information about your business including:
- All planned food handling activities and specialized processes
- Need for a facility Plan Review
- Final signoffs from specific inspectors (i.e., plumbing, building, fire, electrical, etc.)
If you are applying for a Food Handler License, you must first complete an Applicant Form. Contact the MDA Licensing Liaison or your local food inspector to review your business plans and obtain the form. You will need the following information to submit the Applicant Form:
- Minnesota Tax ID number or social security number
- Legal business name (and DBA, if applicable)
- Physical address of your food business
- Majority of sales (direct to the end consumer or sales to other businesses who will re-sell or further process the food)
- Pre-Licensing Applicant Form fee ($50)
After applying, our MDA Technical Review Team will evaluate your business plan and connect you with your area inspector to schedule a licensing inspection. The Technical Review Team will request additional information about your business including:
- All planned food handling activities and specialized processes
- Need for a facility Plan Review
- Final signoffs from specific inspectors (i.e., plumbing, building, fire, electrical, etc.)
In addition to verifying the food establishment has met the requirements within the Food Code, the inspector will verify the new business owner/operator has basic food safety knowledge applicable to their operation. Estimated gross annual food sales and food safety risk will be used to be determine the license fee collected. Like any inspection, the food inspector will leave a report which outlines if the business is approved to operate or what steps are still necessary before approval is granted.
In addition to verifying the food establishment has met the requirements within the Food Code, the inspector will verify the new business owner/operator has basic food safety knowledge applicable to their operation. Estimated gross annual food sales and food safety risk will be used to be determine the license fee collected. Like any inspection, the food inspector will leave a report which outlines if the business is approved to operate or what steps are still necessary before approval is granted.
According to Minnesota Statue, a retail food establishment is an operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends, or otherwise provides food and beverages for human consumption. The food is sold directly to the consumer or indirectly through a delivery service. Most retail food establishments in Minnesota must have a Food Handler License to operate. Some examples of retail food establishments include, but are not limited to:
- Grocery stores
- Convenience stores
- Bakeries
- Meat Markets
- Mobile food units
- Wineries
- Taprooms
- Vending machines and micro markets
- Farmers' market stands
