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If you want vendors at your farmers’ market to be able to participate in the 2024 Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), you must (1) complete this Market Agreement, (2) submit an updated list of vendor names and mailing addresses, and (3) submit your market bylaws.

To be included in the printed program materials distributed to FMNP participants, we must receive ALL required market information by Friday, April 12, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.

To have your vendors authorized to accept FMNP coupons starting June 15, 2024, we must receive ALL required market information by Friday, May 1, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.

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Contact Information

Note: "Contact" is the individual who is authorized on behalf of the market AND has attended a FMNP Vendor Training session. All new and existing market managers must attend a vendor training session before the market can be authorized.

Market Information
Does the market allow vendors to resell purchased produce?
Is this a new market to the FMNP program?
Did the market's bylaws change in the last year?

Email a copy of the bylaws to fmnp.mda@state.mn.us by April 12, 2024, to be included in program promotional materials, and by May 3, 2024, to participate in the 2024 program.

Does the market have vendor residency requirements?

Email an alphabetical database of vendor names and mailing addresses to fmnp.mda@state.mn.us by April 12, 2024, to be included in printed program promotional materials, and by May 1, 2024, to participate in the 2024 program.

Complete the following information for each market location that will be authorized in 2024 (one market per line). Check the “Add” box to add additional markets.

Market location (street address or landmark) Market city Day(s) of operation (one day per line. If market is on Tuesday and Thursday, please list as two separate markets) Hours that at least one FMNP vendor is guaranteed to be at the market (list using the following format: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.) First date market will accept FMNP checks (earliest date: 6/15/2024) Last date market will accept FMNP checks (latest date: 10/31/2024)
Agreement

By checking the box, you agree that you have read and understood the statement. For the Market to participate in this program, you must check every box.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027), or at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1.  mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  2. fax: 202-690-7442; or
  3. email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Privacy Notice

Some data provided in this application may be classified by the Minnesota Data Practices Act or other law as private or non-public. Access to private or non-public data is limited by law to MDA staff and contractors with a valid work assignment to access the data, parties authorized by the applicant or by a valid court order, Minnesota Management and Budget, Minnesota Department of Administration, the state auditor, the legislative auditor and any other entity or person authorized by state law, federal law, or federal subpoena. If necessary, the MDA may also share the data with law enforcement or the office of the Minnesota Attorney General. The information provided will be used to assess if a market is eligible for this program. Applicants are not legally required to provide the information requested in this application, but only completed applications will be considered.

Market Agreement Terms
  1. The market shall:
    1. coordinate authorized vendors to ensure that an authorized vendor is present at the market during all market hours of operation as listed on this agreement;
    2. provide information required by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) for periodic reports to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service;
    3. attend training on program procedures;
    4. agree to be monitored for compliance with program requirements;
    5. offer check recipients the same courtesies as other market customers;
    6. comply with the nondiscrimination and civil rights provisions of the USDA regulations;
    7. notify the MDA of any changes in market operations that pertain to FMNP;
    8. promote proper FMNP coupon redemption among vendors; monitor vendors to ensure that only produce sold by the farmer is sold in exchange for FMNP coupons; and
    9. report to the MDA and cooperate in investigations of vendors who;
      • redeem FMNP coupons for ineligible foods,
      • charge coupon customers higher prices than patrons using cash;
      • accept coupons before June 15 or after October 31,
      • issue change for produce purchased with coupons, or
      • abuse any other program procedures.
  2. The MDA and the market have no obligation to renew this agreement. The MDA or the market may terminate this agreement for cause after providing advance written notification at least thirty days before cancellation.
  3. The MDA may disqualify the market for program abuse or failure to comply with program requirements with a minimum of fifteen days advanced written notification.
  4. The MDA will not invite a market to be authorized in 2024 if more than one-third of authorized vendors of that market have compliance issues in 2023.
  5. The MDA shall provide a hearing procedure whereby local agencies, recipients, farmers’ market vendors, and farmers’ markets adversely affected by certain actions of the MDA may appeal those actions. Farmers’ markets may appeal an action of the MDA denying its application to participate, imposing a sanction, or disqualifying it from participating in the FMNP.
  6. The market can be prosecuted under applicable federal, state, or local laws for program fraud, but the market is not liable for fraud committed by individual vendors participating in the market.
  7. This agreement is valid for the current marketing season.