Minnesota Fruit & Vegetable Expo 2022
Starts:
Fri, 02/4/2022 - 7:30 am
Ends:
Fri, 02/4/2022 - 4:00 pm
Location:
Delta Marriott Hotel1330 Industrial Blvd NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
MDA is a:
Sponsor
Presenter
Exhibitor
Details:
The 2022 Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Expo – a partnership between the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and Minnesota Apple Growers Association – offers up a new location, streamlined schedule, and reimagined education opportunities for attendees and vendors.
This application is for the 2025 Produce Safety Mini-Grant. The Produce Safety Mini-Grant helps reimburse Minnesota produce farmers for expenses that improve on-farm food safety systems. Complete grant details are available on the Mini-Grant Overview page.
Amount available
The Produce Safety Program has approximately $42,400 to distribute via this mini-grant. The grant provides reimbursement up to $800 per farm. No matching funds from the applicant are required.
Note: Due to recent Executive Orders, federal funding may be reduced or canceled. Publishing this application does not commit the state to awarding any federal funds.
Who can apply?
Produce growers who farm in Minnesota, who:
- Grew and sold one or more of the following crops in 2024: Leafy greens, apples, berries, carrots, cucumbers, garlic, green beans, herbs, melons, microgreens, mushrooms, onions, peppers, sprouts, summer squash/zucchini, tomatoes.
- Have completed the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Produce Safety Program Grower Questionnaire at least once between 2022-2025.
- Are in good standing and not debarred or suspended to receive state or federal funds.
Only one application per farm will be accepted.
Application instructions
- Applications are due by March 22, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.
- Answer all the questions that have an asterisk symbol (*) indicating they are required. Note that answering additional questions may help you be considered in additional drawing rounds.
- If you have attended an applicable produce safety training and want to receive consideration for being drawn in that category you must include a copy of a certificate of attendance for a Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule Grower Training or a Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) training offered by the University of Minnesota Extension.
Questions
- For questions, please contact the Produce Safety Program via email at ProduceSafety.MDA@State.mn.us or call 651-539-3648.
- Questions about the grant must be submitted by March 14, 2025 at 4:00pm.
Farm Couple Retreat - St. Cloud 2
Starts:
Fri, 02/18/2022 - 12:00 pm
Ends:
Sat, 02/19/2022 - 1:00 pm
MDA is a:
Sponsor
External Contact:
Emily Mollenhauer
Details:
Farm Couple Retreats allow couples to get away from everyday farm work and focus on a farm or family issue, set goals, and seek ways to attain those goals. The retreats include networking with other farming couples, short lectures, group activities, and partner exercises.
Instructors for the retreats include Monica Kramer McConkey, Emily Krekelberg, Jim Salfer, and Emily Mollenhauer.
Registration is limited to the first 10 farming couples that register. This session was added due to strong demand in Central Minnesota for a second session.
This work is supported by the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Program from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (award number 2021-70035-35461). Project partners are the Minnesota Dairy Initiative, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and University of Minnesota Extension.
How should a dealer prepare to report sales?
The MDA recommends that dealers for each license organize their agricultural pesticide sales data before they enter the report application. We recommend creating a table or spreadsheet that contains required report elements. For each agricultural pesticide product sold, the required elements are: EPA registration number or the MDA product ID number; product brand name; total quantity in standard units (Gallon [wet] or Pound [dry]); and total annual agricultural pesticide sales dollar amount for each product.
Once in the reporting application, agricultural pesticide sales may be added one product-at-a-time or uploaded from your system as a complete sales product file. Detailed uploading instructions are available.
How are products entered into the report application?
Once in the reporting application, agricultural pesticide sales may be added one product-at-a-time or uploaded from your system as a complete sales product file. Detailed uploading instructions are available.
The MDA has created an option which allows a dealer to import their data directly into our system. The MDA has prepared basic file specifications to formulate an upload file and will provide the specs to interested dealers.
How can dealers upload their data into the MDA reporting system?
The MDA has created an option which allows a dealer to import their data directly into our system. The MDA has prepared basic file specifications to formulate an upload file and will provide the specs to interested dealers.
