By Scout Nelson
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced the 2025 Produce Safety Mini-Grant to help farmers improve food safety on their farms. The program offers reimbursements of up to $800 per farm, with a total funding pool of $42,400. No matching funds are required.
Eligible applicants must farm in Minnesota and have grown and sold at least one qualifying crop in 2024. These include leafy greens, apples, berries, carrots, cucumbers, garlic, green beans, herbs, melons, microgreens, mushrooms, onions, peppers, sprouts, summer squash, zucchini, or tomatoes. Applicants must also have completed the MDA Produce Safety Grower Questionnaire or verified their farm’s compliance with the Produce Safety Rule between 2022 and 2025.
Reimbursement covers expenses incurred on or after November 1, 2023, and planned expenses through June 30, 2025. Eligible purchases include harvest totes, waxed boxes, market containers, carts, wagons, water testing for generic E. coli, sanitizers for food contact surfaces, and supplies for portable handwashing or produce washing stations.
Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on March 22, 2025. More details and the application form are available on the MDA website. Farmers can request a paper application by calling 651-539-3648.
The grant is funded through a cooperative agreement with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. However, recent Executive Orders may impact federal funding availability. The MDA reserves the right to adjust funding or cancel awards if necessary.
Photo Credits:gettyimages-valentinrussanov
Categories: Minnesota, Government & Policy