MFMA’s Report to

Markets, Vendors, Shoppers

Leadership Team

In January, Kim Guenther left MFMA as Communications Director but joined MFMA as a Board Director repping the SW Region!

In January, Sina W.P. joined MFMA as Engagement & Inclusion Director.

Maeve Mallozzi-Kelly’s VISTA appointment ended, but she stays with MFMA as our Database Manager.

Kathy Zeman continues as Executive Director, entering her 12^th year with MFMA.

Leadership Team

MFMA Board Directors

NW – your name here?

NC – your name here?

WC – Ron Branch

C – Robin Heinen

SW – Kim Guenther

SC – Michele Koppinger

SE – your name here?

Metro – Sarah Larsen, Bonnie Muellerlie, Tom Nechodomu, Ruth White

NE - your name here?

Our Work Is Grounded in Our M & V

MFMA provides services, programs, and leadership that support and promote farmers' markets across Minnesota.

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We envision a community of vibrant, profitable, and professionally managed Minnesota farmers’ markets that:

• cultivates, nourishes, and inspires a vibrant local foods community;
• provides accessibility to all to local farm fresh foods;
• allows local food producers to thrive and grow.

MFMA’s 3 Buckets for the 360°

Our customers

Our markets

Our farmers / vendors

Education 2023

• Developed Cottage Foods Academy
• Classes & resources for 8,700⭡ registered CFPs (15,000 in ‘24)
• Zooms, in-person, multiple languages
• Potentially a > $52M industry in MN
• “Buy at least 1 ingredient from your local farmers”
• Developed Farmers’ Market Academy
• Classes & resources for 375+ markets; 10,000+ vendors
• Zooms and collaborations with partners (UME, LSP, etc.)
• Triple offerings: weekdays, evenings, weekends
• “Meet you where you are”
• Free – no charge

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Education 2023

• Emerging Farmers Conference
• Steering Committee
• Content committee
• 2 day schedule
• Selecting Presenters
• Working with partnering Orgs.
• In-person training cottage foods Tier 1
• Midwest Farmers of Color Collective
• Partnered Listening Session
• Grounding Policy in the Voices of Farmers

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Education 2024

• Expand Cottage Foods Academy
• Focus on growth, food safety, profitability
• “Buy at least 1 ingredient from your local farmers”
• Expand Farmers’ Market Academy
• Focus on growth, food safety, profitability
• Increase classes for vendors
• Welcome more guest trainers
• Continue triple offerings: weekdays, evenings, weekends
• “Meet you where you are”
• Free – no charge

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Education 2024

• Emerging Farmers Conference
• Committee Goals & Ideas

Public Policy 2023

• Asked for $4.5M for $10K grants to 375+ farmers’ markets
• Awarded $200K to implement SNAP EBT (infrastructure)
• Asked for and received $500K in Market Bucks for 2024-2025
• Led by Hunger Solutions Minnesota
• Co-sponsored LSP’s Day at the Capitol
• LOS & testimony
• Urban Ag funding
• LEAFF funding
• Universal school meals (from MN food farmers)
• IOW – if it supported growth in MN’s local foodshed, we support

Senator Aric Putnam (14, DFL)

District 14: Benton & Stearns Counties, more or less

Senate Responsibilities:

• Chair Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development
• Vice Chair Higher Education
• Member Jobs and Economic Development
• Member Taxes

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Putnam Day On The Farm

<<< And at the MN Senate Building, Ag Committee Hearing

Public Policy 2024

• Ask for $5M for $10K grants to 375+ farmers’ markets
• Ask for $500K to fund FM360 > UMN
• Amend M.S. 28A.151 “Safe Food Sampling”
• Agreement from MDA, MDH, LFAC
• Positive hearing from Senator Putnam’s Ag Cmte
• Amend language in $200K for SNAP EBT to allow stipends to people
• Continue to support
• Urban Ag funding
• LEAFF funding
• Universal school meals (from MN food farmers)
• IOW – if it supports growth in MN’s local foodshed, we support

Marketing 2023

• Insurance: markets & vendors
• 2^nd year w/ a claim
• Tents! Wind!
• Expect a premium increase (maybe 11% - ?)
• 2024 renewals will start ASAP
• Sina Kicked Off TV Campaign, June - November
• “Shop at your farmers’ markets” & “Support your farmers”
• Minnesota Live - Mornings At The Market
• Twin Cities Live
• Fox 9 Good Day

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Marketing 2023

• National Farmers’ Market Week
• Winona Farmers’ Market – 50^th Anniversary
• Senator Erin Murphy, State & Local Gov’t Cmte
• Inc’d MBs 60% from $325K to $500K
• Stabilized Market Weekly (Thurs 6am)
• Not just reporting but engagement

Marketing 2023

• Collaborate with Minnesota Grown
• MFMA = markets
• MNG = shoppers

Marketing 2023

• North Loop Winter Market

Marketing 2024

• North Loop Winter Market - Rinse & Repeat!

Marketing 2024

• Multiple TV spots
• New theme: food preservation
• New resource: “Farmers’ Market Kitchen” webpage
• Cooking demos videos
• Celebrity guests
• Preserve that produce!
• Canning, dehydrating,
• Food safety videos
• Displaying foods at market
• Food sampling at markets
• Cottage foods
• Cleaning & sanitizing
• Testing pH, Aw

Marketing 2024

• Annual North Loop Winter Market
• Policy Session
• Farmers’ Market Season May - Oct.
• Education

Marketing & Education 2024

• Emphasis on profitability for markets, vendors
• Emerging Farmers Profitability Cohort
• $100,000 grant MDA Emerging Farmers Office
• $78,000 directly to farmers
• Financial records > Sch Fs
• Field Conditions & Market Prices Reports in Multiple Languages
• MDA grant
• ~$125,000
• Details: tomorrow @10:20am

Education

Everyone Leans In

• Please serve on MFMA’s Board of Directors
• All food vendors need to buy at least 1 ingredient from a local farmer
• Answer the public policy calls (Laura’s up next!)
• You should join MFMA ☺
• Markets & Vendors: $70
• Friend of MFMA (individual): $35
• Friend of MFMA (organization): $100
• BENEFITS

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MFMA’s Report to

Markets, Vendors, Shoppers