The MDA developed the Central Sands Private Well Network in 2011 because of concerns about high nitrate levels in private
Can I reuse egg cartons to sell my eggs?
Egg cartons may be reused for selling eggs. The cartons must be clean and maintained in a sanitary manner. You must apply the required labeling information to the cartons and cover or cross out any claims or label information not pertaining to the eggs in the carton.
You may sell eggs from any domesticated fowl, including chicken, turkey, duck, goose, and other species.
What types of eggs (species of poultry) can I sell in Minnesota?
You may sell eggs from any domesticated fowl, including chicken, turkey, duck, goose, and other species.
Producers selling a product of their own farm or garden are generally excluded from licensing. If you plan to sell eggs to food facilities or to consumers away from the premises of your farm, you are asked to register with the MDA. You must also meet certain requirements described in Minnesota statutes concerning poultry and eggs and Minnesota poultry and eggs rules. Basic compliance with these requirements includes the following:
- Cleaning: The eggs must be cleaned by approved methods.
- Candling and Grading: All eggs must be candled and graded.
- Refrigeration: Eggs must be refrigerated at 45 degrees F or less after grading and be maintained at that temperature during storage.
- Packaging: Containers (cartons, flats, and cases) of eggs must be labeled with the following mandatory information:
- Grade and size of the eggs
- Your name, address, and zip code
- The statement: "Perishable. Keep Refrigerated."
- A pack date in Julian calendar (day of the year)
- A freshness date not to exceed 30 days from the date of pack. The freshness date must also have an explanation such as "exp...," "Best if used by...," or a similar statement.
- The safe handling instructions: "To prevent illness from bacteria: Keep eggs refrigerated, cook eggs until yolks are firm, and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly."
The requirements for selling your eggs at a farmers' market are the same as they would be if you were selling eggs to a food facility such as a restaurant or grocery store. Refer to the answer for the above question.
Egg sales made directly to the consumer from the farm are permitted. If you are selling eggs from your own flock, you are excluded from licensing and are exempt from inspection as long as you have fewer than 3,000 layers. If customers are picking up the eggs at a location other than your farm (i.e., the sale is occurring away from the farm premises), you must meet the requirements described in the answer to the first question above.
Eggs must be clean and free of debris prior to sale. Dry cleaning with an abrasive material such as sandpaper is generally recommended. Wet cleaning using rags, sponges, or other devices to scrub or wipe by hand is prohibited. Any washing equipment used must meet Minnesota rules for cleaning eggs.
Egg cartons may be reused for selling eggs. The cartons must be clean and maintained in a sanitary manner. You must apply the required labeling information to the cartons and cover or cross out any claims or label information not pertaining to the eggs in the carton.
You may sell eggs from any domesticated fowl, including chicken, turkey, duck, goose, and other species.
As a low-income senior, you may be eligible to receive $50 per summer to buy fresh, locally grown produce from approved fa
As a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program participant, your household may be eligible to receive $30 per summer to b
November 7, 2024
Online applications are now open for anyone wanting to grow or process hemp in Minnesota in 2025. A license from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is required for individuals and businesses.
Applications must be submitted by April 30, 2025, and a license is valid for the 2025 calendar year.
The application can be found on the MDA website. Along with the online form, first-time applicants and authorized representatives need to submit fingerprints and pass a criminal background check. These licenses are for growing and processing industrial hemp only. The hemp grower or processor application is not for the growth or sale of adult-use or medical cannabis. The application is also not intended for the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Adult-use cannabis information can be found on the Office of Cannabis Management website.
Growers and processors need to be aware of the following for 2025:
- All authorized representatives designated by the applicant must pass a criminal history background check prior to the issuance of a license.
- Every lot of hemp grown requires pre-harvest THC regulatory testing. Each official regulatory sample collected by the MDA will cost $100.
- The MDA licenses processors that handle raw hemp and initially process it by extraction, decortication, devitalization, crushing, or packaging, and the department will continue random inspections of processor locations.
- License fees will remain the same. The minimum cost of a grower license is $400. A processing license is a minimum of $500. A 5% license surcharge is being added to support the modernization of the MDA’s technology systems which will provide better online services and more efficient processing of applications.
While the deadline to apply or renew is April 30, 2025, those actively growing hemp plants indoors past December 31, 2024, must renew their license before expiration at the end of the year.
Questions about the MDA’s Industrial Hemp Program should be sent to hemp.mda@state.mn.us or 651-201-6600.
Background
Industrial hemp and adult-use cannabis are both types of the same plant, Cannabis sativa. They differ by the concentration level of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) within the plant. Hemp has less than 0.3% THC, and levels above that are considered marijuana.
Minnesota operated under a hemp pilot program from 2016-2020. In 2021, the program began operating under a new, federally approved state plan that governs production and regulation.
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Media Contact
Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications
651-201-6131
Brittany.Raveill@state.mn.us
