Minnesota Farmers' Market Association

06/26/2026

‼️SCAM ALERT‼️

Recent reports of a suspected farmers' market scam in the Twin Cities area serve as an important reminder for farmers, vendors, and food entrepreneurs to carefully vet markets and events before submitting applications, signing contracts, or sending registration fees.

Unfortunately, as farmers' markets continue to grow in popularity, scammers are increasingly targeting vendors through fraudulent event listings, fake registration websites, unofficial social media accounts, and requests for payment through unverified channels. These schemes can result in financial losses and create unnecessary stress for farmers and small business owners.

Before registering for a market, MFMA encourages vendors to do their homework and verify that the market is legitimate. Some red flags to watch for include:

🚫Requests for payment before an application has been reviewed or approved.
🚫Communication from personal email accounts rather than an official market email address.
🚫Limited or no information about market leadership, location, or operating history.
🚫No website or social media presence, or recently created accounts with little activity.
🚫Pressure to register immediately or claims that spaces are "almost gone."
🚫Inconsistent information about market dates, location, vendor requirements, or fees.
🚫Lack of a written vendor agreement, market rules, or contact information.

✅When in doubt, ask questions. Reach out to market organizers directly, talk with other vendors, and verify market details through trusted sources.

One of the best ways to identify established farmers' markets is by using MFMA's "Find a Market" directory, which helps connect farmers, vendors, and consumers with markets throughout Minnesota. The directory provides information about participating markets and can be a valuable starting point when exploring new market opportunities.

Taking a few extra minutes to verify a market opportunity can help protect your business and ensure you're investing your time and resources in legitimate, well-managed markets.

If you have questions about a market opportunity or would like assistance identifying farmers' markets in your area, please contact MFMA. We're committed to helping farmers, vendors, and market managers build strong, trustworthy market communities throughout Minnesota.

Visit MFMA's website for more resources: https://www.mfma.org/

06/22/2026

We finally made it to Morning Ag Clips - Minnesota for our latest press release.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association (MFMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Pa Thao as Director of Communications and Operational Development and the election of its new Board Officers. These leadership appointments reflect MFMA’s continued commitment to strengthening farmers’ markets, supporting local food producers, and building vibrant market communities throughout Minnesota and the sovereign Tribal Nations located within and across the region .

✅Read the rest of the article in the link below!

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Farmers' Market Association (MFMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Pa Thao as Director of Communications and Operational...

06/19/2026

On June 19, we commemorate Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in the United States learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Juneteenth is a time to celebrate freedom while also reflecting on the enduring contributions, resilience, and sacrifices of Black Americans throughout our nation's history.

From the earliest days of American agriculture, Black farmers and agricultural laborers played a vital role in cultivating the land, producing food, and building the agricultural economy. Much of this labor was performed under the brutal conditions of slavery, where generations of enslaved people applied their agricultural knowledge, skills, and labor without compensation or freedom. Their contributions helped shape the farming systems and food traditions that continue to influence our communities today.

Despite generations of discrimination, land loss, and barriers to opportunity, Black farmers have continued to innovate, steward the land, and strengthen local food systems. Their perseverance remains an important part of the story of American agriculture.

At MFMA, we recognize that strong farmers' markets and local food systems are built by people from many cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. We remain committed to supporting and creating opportunities for all farmers and food producers, including Black, Indigenous, and other farmers of color, immigrant and refugee farmers, beginning farmers, and historically underserved communities.

As we celebrate Juneteenth, we honor the legacy of Black farmers, acknowledge the sacrifices that helped build our agricultural system, and recommit ourselves to fostering an inclusive local food community where all farmers have the opportunity to thrive.

Happy Juneteenth from the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association.

06/18/2026

Ready to start selling your homemade food products?

Join MFMA Executive Director Kathy Zeman for a FREE Zoom Cottage Foods Tier 1 Training this Sunday!

This training is designed for current and aspiring cottage food producers who want to legally sell homemade food products in Minnesota. Participants will learn the requirements of Minnesota's Cottage Food Law and complete the training needed to qualify for Cottage Food Producer registration.

Whether you're interested in selling baked goods, jams, candies, dry mixes, or other approved homemade food products, this training is a great first step toward turning your passion into a business.

📅 Sunday, June 21st from 1-3pm
💻 Online via Zoom
🎟️ Free to attend

Register today!
https://www.mfma.org/event-6714271

06/15/2026

The MN Cottage Foods Law (Minnesota Statute 28A.152) was first passed in 2015, allowing for "non-potentially hazardous foods" (baked foods; certain pickled or canned foods; jams, jellies, etc.) to be made in your home kitchen without a license, as long as the cottage food producer (CFP) successfully completes the mandated food safety training and registers with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

MFMA offers FREE Cottage Food classes through our Cottage Food Academy training program to all who are interested in making cottage food to sale. Completion of our classes meets the mandated food safety training. Check out the upcoming dates of trainings.

JUNE:
✅️Cottage Foods Tier 1 Training, Application, & Test: Sun, Jun 21, 1 - 3pm

JULY:
✅️Cottage Foods Tier 1 Training, Application, & Test: Thu, Jul 9, 1 - 3pm
✅️Cottage Foods Tier 1 Training, Application, & Test: Sat, Jul 18, 1 - 3pm
✅️Cottage Foods Tier 1 Training, Application, & Test: Sun, Jul 26, 1 -3pm

Register for these trainings & more here: https://www.mfma.org/Events

06/14/2026

There are so many beautiful markets across MN! And how cool is it to have one by the lake!

Where in MN is your favorite farmers market?! Let us know! We would love to highlight them!

06/09/2026

MFMA is pleased to welcome four dedicated leaders into new board officer roles. Their experience, passion, and commitment to strengthening farmers' markets and local food systems will help guide our organization as we continue supporting markets, farmers, and communities across Minnesota.

Please join us in welcoming:

✅Bonnie Muellerleile (Hennepin County, Metro Region) as Board President
✅Tessa Parks (Rice County, South Central Region) as Vice President
✅Laura Fredrickson-Gosewisch (Ramsey, Metro) as Treasurer
✅ Sarah Larsen (Dakota, Metro) as Secretary

They bring valuable perspectives, leadership experience, and a deep commitment to Minnesota's farmers' market community. Their service comes at an exciting time as MFMA continues to expand educational opportunities, strengthen market support services, and advocate for the important role farmers' markets play in local economies and healthy communities.

We are grateful for their willingness to serve and look forward to their leadership in helping advance our mission of supporting vibrant farmers' markets, successful vendors, and resilient local food systems throughout Minnesota.

Please join us in congratulating our new board officers on their new leadership roles and thanking them for their dedication to Minnesota's farmers' markets.

Learn more about our Board of Directors here: https://mfma.org/Board

06/05/2026

The Invisible Wounds Project is hosting the Friday Night North St. Paul Car Show this year and are adding a farmers & makers market to the lineup this year!

Dates are: June 5, June 19, July 17, July 31, August 14, August 28 and September 11. The fee for all 7 dates is $150. They are offering a 10x10 space. Vendors must be setup and ready to go by 5:45 at the latest. The market will be open from 6pm to 9-9:30pm, depending on the crowd and how long the vendor would like to stay.

Vendors interested in signing up, can do so via their website (click on Farmers/Markers Market): https://iwproject.org/north-st-paul-friday-night-car-show/

Please contact Laurie Blank at (855) HELP-IWP with any vending questions!

06/05/2026

We Want to Hear From You!

MFMA's e-newsletter weekly is designed to provide timely, relevant, and useful information to farmers, market vendors, market managers, and local food advocates across Minnesota and Tribal Nations. As we continue to grow and improve our communications, we'd love your feedback.

What topics, resources, or information would you find most valuable? Are there specific challenges you're facing or questions you'd like addressed? Whether it's pricing and profitability, market management, food safety, policy updates, marketing tips, funding opportunities, vendor success stories, or emerging industry trends, we want to hear from you.

To help us better understand your interests and needs, we invite you to complete our short survey. Your feedback will help shape future newsletters, educational resources, trainings, and technical assistance opportunities, ensuring that we provide content that is meaningful and useful to you and your business.

Take our quick survey here: https://forms.gle/LXG4iWpBCC2iK5XK8