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On May 17, 2021, the Minnesota House and Senate passed SF 958 that contains the policy portion of the House and Senate Agriculture Committee omnibus bills. Policy items passed in the bill included updates to the Cottage Food Law (MS Sections 28A.152 and 25.391) effective August 1, 2021. Key changes included:

• • An exemption for cottage food pet treats (MS section 25.391) for individuals who prepare and sell home-processed pet treats for dogs and cats, provided certain conditions are met.
  • A higher cap on Tier 2 annual gross receipts of $78,000.
  • An increased cap on Tier 1 annual gross receipts. This amount is currently $5,000 but will be adjusted by January 1, 2022, based on the consumer price index using 2002 as the index year. This means the Tier 1 gross receipts cap will increase in 2022.
  • Individual registrants may organize their cottage food business as a business entity recognized by state law.
  • Labeling must include the individual’s name and registration number OR the individual’s name and address.
  • All product labels must also include the statement, “These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection.”
  • Water activity value of .85 specified in what makes a food non-potentially hazardous.

The on-line training for Tier 1 producers has been updated to reflect the recent changes in Cottage Food Law and will be available on August 1. In addition, Tier 1 producers must pass an exam based upon the updated training material annually to register.

Please take time to familiarize yourself with these changes. More information can be found on the MDA Cottage Food Registration page and the Cottage Food Law Guidance page. If you have questions regarding this announcement, please email mda.foodlicensingliaison@state.mn.us.

Don’t let the clouds fool you!

Here’s a list of our summer 2021 market activities for our PoP Club families.

June

• 2nd – Seed Planting Kit, Asparagus Recipe and Asparagus Coloring Page
• 9th – Fruit and Vegetable Crossword and Granny’s Soup Coloring Page
• 16th – Why Do We Need Bee’s? Read the Book and Take Home a Coloring/Puzzle Page
• 23rd – Healthy Maze and “Food from Plants” Word Search
• 30th – Play the Game “Is that a Vegetable?”

July

• 7th – Play the Game “How and Where Does it Grow?”
• 14th – Draw a Flower or Veggie then Make a Seed Art Picture
• 21st – Make a Clothespin Carrot and Find a Way Through the Carrot Maze
• 28th – Play the Game “Is it a Fruit or a Vegetable?”

August

• 4th – States Known for Super Foods Crossword Puzzle and “Does it Grow in Minnesota?”
• 11th – Paint a Garden Rock
• 18th – Scavenger Hunt and Vegetable Word Search
• 25th – Make a Thank You Card for Favorite Farmer and Get a Pencil for Back to School

PRESS RELEASE:  The Bongards Farmers Market will open for the season on June 2nd.  Vegetable growers are busy planting, and some early crops are ready by now. Some of your favorite growers from last year will be at the Bongards Market again (Akerberg Acres, Nurturing Natural Living, Tom Casey, and Bear Country Blooms). For the first week, we expect to see early offerings of asparagus, rhubarb, maybe some radishes, green onions, and spinach if weather continues to cooperate. There are sure to be some bedding plants (tomatoes, herbs, and peppers) as well. In the past,  growers have brought raspberry and strawberry plants, too.  Local maple syrup, honey, and poultry eggs will also be available.

We are excited to again be able to sponsor and host the Power of Produce Club for children ages 4 to 12. Each week the PoP kids will receive a $2 Token to purchase their choice of fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, or food-bearing plants. Special PoP club kids activities will also be returning.  This year, we will have take home activities for the month of June. We will begin on June 2nd with a Yardlong Bean Egg Carton Seed Starting Kit. This kit contains seeds, soil, directions, and all you need to start growing your own Yardlong Green Beans. So, stop by the PoP Booth on our first Market day to get signed up, get your $2 Token and your Yardlong Green Bean Kit!  We also have a new Facebook Group where activities will also be posted and shared.

New at the market this year, we are introducing PoP Plus, a Power of Produce program designed for adults aged 65 and over. PoP Plus participants will also receive a $2 token each week to spend on fresh fruits, vegetables, and/or plants that produce edibles. Stop by the PoP Booth at the Market to get signed up and start saving on fresh fruits and vegetables!

We are pleased that Fatbellies BBQ will be back with their pulled pork and ribs, starting on June 9th. To satisfy our sweet and salty snacking cravings, Three Mad Poppers will be selling their various flavors of gourmet popcorn. Cottage Foods (home baked pies, cookies, breads, jams, jellies, pickles, and salsas) will be available from several of your favorite vendors (Akerberg Acres, Nurturing Natural Living, Tom Casey, 4MamaBearMade, JJ’s Red Head Salsa).  

Also, craft vendors are welcome back this year, so come look what they have been crafting during the past year.  We are also welcoming new vendors to join our community.  More information can be found on our website regarding requirements and and application.  A booth space is $10/week or $100/season. 

Be sure to check out our Vendor Listing as we will anticipate updates throughout the season. 

You can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

Our 2021 market season is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday, June 2nd at 3pm.  We have already confirmed several vendors and will spotlight them in the coming weeks leading up to the market.  Check out our list here!

There is still time to register and become a new Vendor.  Click here for vendor registration information.

The Bongards Farmers Market is celebrating it’s 9th year!  Become part of a growing community and volunteer at the market as a helper.  We’re looking for folks that would like volunteer along side our market team, assisting vendors with setting up at the start of the market and assisting vendors with packing up at the end of the market.  Must be 18 years of age.  Send us an email if you’re interested!

Our 2021 market season is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday, June 2nd at 3pm.  We have already confirmed several vendors and will spotlight them in the coming weeks leading up to the market.  Check out our list here!

There is still time to register and become a new Vendor.  Click here for vendor registration information.

The Bongards Farmers Market is celebrating it’s 9th year!  Become part of a growing community and volunteer at the market as a helper.  We’re looking for folks that would like volunteer along side our market team, assisting vendors with setting up at the start of the market and assisting vendors with packing up at the end of the market.  Must be 18 years of age.  Send us an email if you’re interested!

Our 2021 market season is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday, June 2nd at 3pm.  We have already confirmed several vendors and will spotlight them in the coming weeks leading up to the market.  Check out our list here!

There is still time to register and become a new Vendor.  Click here for vendor registration information.

The Bongards Farmers Market is celebrating it’s 9th year!  Become part of a growing community and volunteer at the market as a helper.  We’re looking for folks that would like volunteer along side our market team, assisting vendors with setting up at the start of the market and assisting vendors with packing up at the end of the market.  Must be 18 years of age.  Send us an email if you’re interested!

COVID-19 restrictions on Farmers Markets have been modified for the 2021 season, allowing us to include craft vendors and businesses. 

 Click here for more information and the documents.

COVID19 Response Plan – April 2021

Farmers Markets are a Source of Healthy, Safe Food for Your Family!

The Bongards Farmers Market Team continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 health crisis, seeking guidance from our partners at Carver County Public Health, the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association, and adopting best practices from markets in Minnesota and across the country.  Governor Tim Walz has recognized farmers markets as essential public institutions that serve the public with fresh, nutrient-dense foods.

The health and safety of our vendors, customers, and volunteers is the market’s top concern.  In these unique times, the market will operate as a food store, not a social gathering.  Social distancing will be enforced, and customers will be encouraged to get in, get the goodies, and go home.

We are taking the following steps to keep our customers, vendors, and volunteers safe and healthy:

1. All customers, volunteers, and vendors should stay home if they feel sick or if a member of their family is not feeling well.
2. Public hand washing stations and hand sanitizer will be available.  Shoppers will be encouraged to use these upon entry and exit from the market (and as often as you like in between.)
3. Vendor booths will be spaced farther apart to avoid crowding. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture requires a 12-foot spacing between vendor stalls to allow for social distancing.
4. Placement of an empty table in front of where purchases are made, and money is exchanged will aid in maintaining 6 feet of social distancing between shopper and vendor. (As noted below vendors must wear a mask if social distancing cannot be maintained.)
5. For now, the market will be a shopping destination, not a social gathering. As our market is an outdoor market there are no capacity limits if 6-foot social distancing can be maintained.

1. • Shoppers do not have to wear masks but must maintain 6-foot social distancing.
   • Workers (vendors, market staff, volunteers) only need to wear masks if 6-foot social distancing cannot be maintained.

6. Food vendors are allowed with all ready-to-eat food and drink packaged “to go.”
7. Non-food vendors such as craft vendors are welcome to sell at our market this year.
8. Because Bongards Market is not considered a VENUE, which would require implementation of further precautions, (face masks required by all, capacity limits, etc.,) activities which fall under the definition of VENUE activities are not allowed. These activities include:
9. Onsite food consumption, including food sampling, will not be allowed.
10. Live music and other entertainment are not allowed.
11. Cooking demonstrations are not allowed.
12. Personal care services such as massage therapy are not allowed.
13. We are working with vendors to create and enhance their online sales presence, allowing customers to pre-order and prepay with no-contact payment methods.
14. Our PoP (Power of Produce) program will be offered this season with some modifications.
15. We will add to and modify this list of strategies as the public health situation changes and as we learn of new best practices.  Thanks for your patience and patronage of local farmers and food businesses.