The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is evaluating potential improvements to the MDA food licensing structure. Our goal is to update the food license categories and the related license fees. This may reduce the number of licenses a food business requires. We are not intending to change when a license is required, nor to modify exemptions or exclusions to food licensing. We are also not intending to change the food safety rules that apply to current food businesses.
Our desired outcomes include:
- Simplification
- Improved business access
- Capability for business innovation
- Flexibility for business adaptability and evolution
- Correlation to food safety risk
- Sustainability for program funding
As part of our consideration process, we have been gathering input from our partners, collaborators, and stakeholders throughout this year.
We have used this input to develop a potential model for MDA food licensing in Minnesota. We would like to continue to hear your input on this model before we plan on how to move forward with next steps in 2025.
Be sure to check this webpage often for additional updates.
What's Happened
The MDA has been gathering input over the past year including a series of interviews, listening sessions, and focus groups.
Stakeholder Interviews
The MDA hired the Improve Group (IG), a St. Paul-based consulting cooperative, to conduct interviews with stakeholders. The IG interviewed 35 people from February to April 2024. All interviewees had some experience with MDA Food Licensing. They brought experience from grocery, retail, chain stores, small entrepreneurs, cottage food, farms, food trucks, farmers’ markets, breweries, vineyards, commercial kitchens, culturally specific enterprises, Native Nation food systems, and researchers. Interviews were voluntary, conducted by phone or virtual meeting and lasted between 30-60 minutes. Read the Stakeholder Input of the Food Licensing Model Report (PDF) to learn more about the input shared during these interviews.
Listening Sessions
A series of listening sessions were facilitated by the IG in September 2024. The MDA presented a potential food licensing model and then the IG led participants through activities to gather feedback. The sessions included a time for attendees to connect with others whom they may have similar interests. You can view the MDA potential Food Licensing Changes Presentation that was shared during these sessions. You may also review the Licensing Modernization Listening Session Q & A (PDF) to review questions that were received.
Virtual Bulletin Board
The IG hosted a virtual bulletin board where individuals could review potential changes, see others’ thoughts, “like” others’ comments, or add their own comments. The IG moderated the board.
Focus Groups
A new Home Food Processor license category was included in the potential model. As current food safety rules for retail, manufacturing, and wholesale activities cannot be applied to residential kitchens, food safety requirements still need to be developed. This includes what activities the license would allow and what requirements or limitations are needed for residential producers.
The IG hosted a series of focus groups on this topic and will provide a summary of the input in a report to the MDA. Our goal is to address as much of the feedback as possible in developing this new license category.
How input will be used
IG will prepare a written summary of feedback from listening sessions, the bulletin board, and focus groups. The summary will not identify the individuals who shared specific comments; however, trends in background for key comments will be included.
Our goal is to address as much of the feedback as possible to ensure any potential changes to the MDA food licensing structure result in positive improvements for all of our partners. After the summary report is prepared, we will share the findings, recommendations, and our potential next steps with our partners through email updates and our website.
Please reach out to Jeff Luedeman with any questions about this improvement process.
