Information for Market Managers

Apply now for the 2026 FMNP Market Authorization!

Markets interested in becoming authorized for the 2026 season are encouraged to contact us.

If your market was authorized in 2025, you should have received an email from the MDA with instructions to complete your market authorization form. If you did not received this email, please contact us for assistance. 

Information about FMNP at the Farmers' Market:

FMNP is a way to reach new customers and help your growers increase sales. Growers provide the fresh, unprocessed, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and cut herbs that are at the core of both the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) and Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) (together known as FMNP). At the same time, FMNP participants learn about farmers' markets and how to buy fresh products from local growers.

As a market manager, you are a key player for FMNP. You provide guidance to your market’s Authorized Growers and assistance to program participants during their time at your market.

How to become an Authorized Farmers' Market:

To be eligible to become an Authorized Farmers' Market, your market must have:

1. Established days and hours of operation at established site(s).
2. A minimum of one Authorized FMNP Grower and the guaranteed presence of at least one Authorized Grower during posted hours of operation.
3. A designated contact (market manager or member) that reviews the FMNP Grower Training Video and completes the Grower Authorization Post-Training Quiz and agrees to assist in program compliance.
4. Established market rules or by-laws that contain, at minimum:
   1. Membership fees, a dues structure, or some other revenue source
   2. A method to establish and enforce market rules and operating procedures
   3. A process to amend market by-laws and rules
5. No fee for members to participate in FMNP.
6. At least one successful summer of operation prior to authorization.
7. A location near an FMNP distribution site.

How to Renew your FMNP Market Authorization:

To renew your authorization for the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), follow these steps:

1. Confirm Grower Participation- 
   Make sure your market continues to meet the eligibility requirement of having at least one Authorized FMNP Grower, with a minimum of one Authorized Grower present during all posted market hours.
2. Submit the Market Manager Agreement- 
   Complete the FMNP Market Manager Agreement, which is emailed to all previously authorized markets in March. To ensure your market is included in the printed brochure which is distributed to all program participants, please submit the completed form by April 10. Markets that do not meet the print deadline will still be able to be authorized; however, they will be featured on our Authorized Markets webpage rather than in the printed brochure.
3. Provide Grower List and Market By-Laws- 
   Send a current list of all market vendors along with a copy of your market’s by-laws by April 10 to fmnp.mda@state.mn.us.

To be added to the 2026 newsletter please email us at fmnp.mda@state.mn.us.