Minnesota State Wire

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced that applications are now open for the 2025 Produce Safety Mini-Grant. This initiative is designed to help produce growers improve on-farm food safety systems by reimbursing certain expenses.

The MDA plans to award approximately $42,400 through this program. Eligible farmers can receive up to $800 per farm without the need for matching funds.

To qualify, applicants must have farmed in Minnesota and grown specific crops such as leafy greens, apples, berries, and more in 2024. They also need to have completed the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Produce Safety Grower Questionnaire or verified their farm’s Produce Safety Rule status with the MDA between 2022 and 2025.

Expenses eligible for reimbursement include items like harvest totes, waxed boxes, market containers, carts and pull wagons, water testing for generic E. coli, sanitizer for wash water and food contact surfaces, supplies for portable handwashing stations, and portable produce washing stations. These expenses must occur on or after November 1, 2023 or be planned before June 30, 2025.

Applications will be accepted until March 22, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Additional details and application forms are available on the MDA website. Farmers seeking a paper copy can contact the MDA Produce Safety Program at 651-539-3648.

The funding comes from a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect USDA views.

A note accompanying this announcement warns that due to recent Executive Orders, federal funding may be reduced or canceled. Publishing this request for proposals does not obligate the state to award any federal funds.