The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is currently accepting application for its Produce Safety Mini-Grant 2023
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/25/2023
Size of the Grant: Up to $800
Details:
The Produce Safety Mini-Grant helps reimburse Minnesota produce farmers for expenses that improve on-farm food safety systems including water testing for generic E. coli and/or other on-farm food safety improvements..
Funding Information
- The Produce Safety Program has approximately $26,400 to distribute via this mini-grant.
- This grant provides reimbursement up to $800 per farm. No matching funds from the applicant are required.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be a Minnesota produce farmer that sells one or more of the following crops:
- Leafy greens, apples, berries, carrots, cucumbers, garlic, green beans, herbs, melons, micro greens, mushrooms, onions, peppers, sprouts, summer squash/zucchini, tomatoes.
- Have an eligible expense that occurred between January 1, 2022 – March 25, 2023 or planned expense between March 26, 2023 – July 14, 2023
Eligible Expenses
Expenses related to improvements in on-farm food safety systems including : water testing for generic E. coli and other on-farm food safety improvements. Below is a list of items eligible for reimbursement.
- Water testing for generic E. coli:
- Pre-harvest water: Must be a quantitative testing method for generic E. coli.
- Post-harvest water: Can be presence/absence or quantitative testing method for generic E. coli.
- Other on-farm food safety improvements:
- Plastic or paper liners
- Harvest collection tools
- Market containers
- Supplies to build or purchase a portable hand washing station
- Canvas bags
- Sanitizer used for wash water and food contact surfaces
- Consultation fees for developing an on-farm food safety plan
- Supplies to build or purchase portable produce washing station
- Harvest totes
- Carts and pull wagons
- Waxed boxes
For more information, visit MDA.