Search

Whole or minimally processed foods

These foods must be grown and raised in Minnesota. Examples include but are not limited to:

• • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Herbs
  • Meat, fish, and poultry
  • Dairy (excluding fluid milk)
  • Eggs
  • Legumes
  • Grains
  • Maple syrup and honey

Processed foods

These foods must have at least one primary ingredient (excluding water) that is 80% grown or raised in Minnesota and be approved by Minnesota Department of Agriculture staff. Examples include:

• • Hot dogs
  • Tofu
  • Bread
  • Tortillas
  • Pre-made smoothies
  • Granola

See the “Definitions” section for more information.

Local: For this program, local means grown or raised in the state of Minnesota.

Minnesota grown or raised: Food is defined as Minnesota grown or raised if at least 80% of the product was produced and processed in Minnesota.

Processed: Foods that are made in Minnesota with at least one primary ingredient (excluding water) that is 80% grown or raised in Minnesota. To receive reimbursement for processed food items, you may need to submit a written attestation from the food business that certifies that their product meets this definition.

Unprocessed or minimally processed: Foods that are whole or minimally processed using the following allowable methods:

• Cooling
• Refrigerating
• Freezing
• Size adjustment made by peeling, slicing, dicing, cutting, chopping, shucking, and grinding
• Forming ground products into patties without any additives or fillers
• Drying or dehydration
• Washing
• Packaging (such as placing eggs in cartons), vacuum packing, and bagging (such as placing vegetables in bags or combining two or more types of vegetables or fruits in a single package)
• Adding ascorbic acid or other preservatives to prevent oxidation of produce
• Butchering livestock and poultry
• Cleaning fish