Information for Vendors

Quick Links:
Vendor Acceptance Guidelines
Vendor Application
W9 and ST19 Forms
Vendor Insurance
Vendor Training Resources & Fact Sheets
Compostable bag & packaging guide


Summer 2024: Saturday mornings, May 4-Oct 26, 2023.
Summer 2024 Application - Now Open!
2024 Vendor Guide

After initial approval, additional forms will be required to complete your application, including an ST19 form and W9 form. 
In addition, Vendor Liability insurance is required. See below for details.
  

Additional Forms: (download, save, then fill out)

Vendor Insurance Providers:
Minnesota Farmers Market Association :The Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association offers a group insurance policy exclusively for MFMA member markets and MFMA member vendors through Advantage 1 Insurance Agency. 

FLIP - Food Liability Insurance Program : FLIP provides liability coverage to safeguard food
businesses such as vendors, caterers, food trailers, and more.


Vendor Trainings

Farmers Market Nutrition Program 2024 Updates
In 2024, the Farmers Market Nutrition Program has some changes!
All participants, including past FMNP participants, will need to attend an FMNP training in March or April 2024.
FMNP training/updates will be included in our Saturday 4/27 Annual Vendor Meeting. Additional training opportunities will be posted here as they are announced.

The Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) are federal programs administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (together known as S/FMNP). These programs seek to:

  • Provide fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs to Women, Infants & Children (WIC) participants and low-income seniors, and
  • Expand the awareness, use of, and sales at farmers' markets.
Market display of fresh fruits and vegetables
The Farmers' Market Nutrition Program runs from June 15 – October 31 each year.

The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program runs from July 1 – October 31 each year.



Minnesota Farmers Market Association vendor learning opportunities
MN Farmers' Market Academy and MN Cottage Foods Academy

Local Food Fact Sheet Series from MISA
Selling Minnesota Produce
Selling Minnesota Shell Eggs
Selling Minnesota Meat Products
Selling Minnesota Poultry Products
Selling Minnesota Rabbits


Good Agricultural Practices / FSMA Produce Safety Rule

Are you interested in updating your farm’s food safety plan, considering getting a GAP audit, or want to make sure you are up to date with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule? Have you considered selling your produce to schools, food hubs or wholesale buyers? These courses from the UMN Extension On-Farm GAPs Education program and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Produce Safety Program will provide in-depth information to fruit and vegetable farms about important steps to keep their produce safe and meet market requirements for on-farm food safety practices. All trainings offer a certificate of completion, which is accepted as documentation of food safety training for the Produce Safety Mini Grant available through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Online GAPs Half-Day Training Course

This 3.5-hour online course is a "one stop shop" to learn about food safety best practices in the production, washing, packing, storage and transport of fresh produce. These trainings are taught by UMN Extension and experienced farmer trainers. These trainings do not include information on the requirements of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, but rather focus on the farm-level practices to reduce contamination of your fresh produce that can cause foodborne illnesses. They are interactive and include lots of case studies and photos. 

  • February 6th: 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
  • February 28th: 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
  • March 13: 9:00 am - 12:30 pm 

 

Cost: $15 per farm, includes certificate of attendance for all participants. Scholarships are available to cover the cost of this course. Please email jenri001@umn.edu. One participant at each training will win a set of handwashing stand supplies! More courses may be available if these fill. 

Register: z.umn.edu/GAPtraining

 

FSMA Produce Safety Rule Training

This course meets the training requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule for farms fully covered by the Produce Safety Rule. This regulatory training is led by UMN Extension, MDA staff and experienced farmer trainers.  All growers interested in learning about produce safety, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and the FSMA Produce Safety Rule are encouraged to attend. It includes information on GAPs, but also the requirements of the federal FSMA Produce Safety Rule.

 

  • February 27th in-person
    8:45am - 5:00pm (lunch included) Registration closes: 02/20/2024 
    Minnesota Farmers Union, 305 Roselawn Ave. E, St. Paul, MN 55117 

 

  • March 7th online delivery via Zoom (Registration for the virtual course is currently limited to Minnesota residents)
    8:45am - 5:00pm
    Registration closes: 02/28/2024

 

Cost: $25, includes training materials ($50 value) and certificate of completion ($35 value).

 

Register: www.mda.state.mn.us/fsmatraining

Questions?

Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/producesafety or contact (651) 539-3648; producesafety.mda@state.mn.us



Questions? Contact us!
 


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Questions? Contact us!

Additional Resources:

Compostable Product Purchasing Guide
Bags - Richfield Farmers Market does not allow standard plastic shopping bags or plastic produce bags at the market. Paper bags are allowed, and BPI-certified compostable bags are allowed. 
Serving food and drinks - Serveware, such as: cups, plates, to-go boxes, forks, etc. are required to be BPI-certified compostable or recyclable.
Packaging - Producers of packaged goods are not required however are encouraged to package in compostable or recyclable packaging, such as a paper box or glass jar.

Any BPI certified product is permissible. There are many companies that offer BPI-certified products.
Eco Products has a range of cups, plates, to-go boxes, flatware, shopping bags and more that are all BPI-certified. Shop


Vendor Acceptance Guidelines

Please review the current Vendor Guide for more details. 2024 Vendor Guide

The Richfield Farmers Market features only local growers and producers, restricted to those whose principal production site is within a 200-mile radius of Richfield.  No brokers, agents or others may represent a farmer.  We currently allow and reserve only one space for a grower-dealer or dealer-vendor.  

Items permitted to be sold at the market (for food products not listed here, contact us)

  • Products of the Farm
    • Homegrown fresh fruits, herbs, & vegetables (including Certified Organic)
    • Homegrown fresh-cut flowers & dried plants
    • Rootstock, shrubs, & trees
    • Honey & maple syrup products
    • Plants: perennials, annuals, hanging baskets & potted plants (greenhouse grown)
    • Farm-raised meats & poultry, jerky & eggs
  •  Value-Added Products - Cottage Foods Producers welcome
    • Canned goods (ex. jams, jellies, salsas, pickles & picked vegetables, sauerkraut, horseradish, etc.)
    • Spices, rubs & sauces
    • Bread & other baked goods
    • Vinegar & olive oil products
    • Candy & confections
    • Dried, dehydrated, & roasted products
    • Cheese & butter (produced in a commercial kitchen
  • Ready to Eat foods / Food Trucks (prepared in a commercial kitchen)
  • Handcrafted items (select dates only)

NOTE: If you BUY any produce or products to resell at the market, you will require a license from the Dairy & Food Inspection Division of the MN Dept. of Agriculture.