ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association kicks off two academies this fall to provide year-round training for cottage food producers, vendors at farmers’ markets, direct marketing farmers, and farmers’ market managers. The academies offer free zoominars on multiple topics, with an increasing number in multiple languages.

“As Minnesota’s local foodshed continues its impressive growth, we need to meet people where they are and when they have time to learn the laws and rules that impact their food business,” explains Sina W.P., director of engagement and inclusion for MFMA, “because direct marketing farmers, farmers’ markets, and cottage food producers are key pieces to building resilient communities.”

The free zoominars are designed to offer the same topic on at least three different days and times: weekdays, evenings, weekends to make it as accessible as possible for people to attend. Each class is two hours, with time for Q and A, and appropriate for youth (Boys & Girls Clubs, Scouts, 4-H, FFA) to attend. Zoominars can be offered in multiple languages upon request to [email protected].

MN Cottage Foods Academy

Topics covered in the CFA include:

• The cottage foods exemption from licensing law S. 28A.152, the Tier 1 cottage foods producer (CFP) training, application, and test. Attendees successfully pass the required test and submit their CFP application during class
• Demonstrating how to use water activity meters and pH meters accurately to be able to test cottage foods at home to assess if they meet the water activity and pH standards of ‘non-potentially hazardous’ foods as required by the law
• Food safety practices for cottage foods, legal label requirements
• Business profitability: costing out a recipe, pricing products for profit, marketing across sales channels

MN Farmers’ Market Academy

Topics covered in the FMA are geared towards both vendors and market managers:

• Food laws and rules; and the exemptions and exclusions from food licensing (e.g., cottage food, product of the farm), safe food sampling exemption law S. 28A.151
• Business profitability for vendors: pricing products for profit, product and general liability insurance options, wholesale vs. retail sales and profit margins
• Business profitability for markets: vendor rates; optimum days, times, and length of hours of operations; marketing and cross marketing
• Food access programs for markets and direct marketing farmers: SNAP, FMNP, Market Bucks

Both academies will feature guest presenters on specific topics, including:

• AURI (Agricultural Utilization Research Institute) on food science and food safety
• Renewing the Countryside with GoFarmConnect, connecting new farmers to ag support systems
• MISA (Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture) with the master course “Blazing Trails Through The Jungle of Food Regulations”

To see the complete list of free zoominars offered for both academies and to register go to www.mfma.org/events/.

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The Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association provides services, programs, and leadership that support and promote farmers’ markets across Minnesota. MFMA envisions a community of diverse, inclusive, vibrant, profitable, and professionally-managed Minnesota farmers’ markets that:

• Cultivates, nourishes, and inspires a vibrant local foods community
• Provides accessibility to local farm fresh foods to all
• Allows opportunities for local food producers to thrive and grow
• Ensures these opportunities are available to everyone regardless of ethnicity, age, gender identity, or economic standing

–Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association