We’re excited to announce that the Bongards Farmers Market now has the official designation as a Minnesota Grown market.
Look for more information and special events to come this season as we celebrate our 10th year.
Opening day is scheduled for June 1, 2022. We look forward to seeing you in a few short weeks!
Keep our events calendar and vendor list handy!
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:
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.
Check out our full vendor list, their offerings and market dates!
Here’s a list of our summer 2021 market activities for our PoP Club families.
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.
PRESS RELEASE: The Bongards Farmers Market, a fellowship and mission program of St. John’s United Church of Christ, is introducing a new free program: Power of Produce (PoP) Plus!
This program was created at the Oregon City, Oregon, farmers market in 2011. Due to its success, it has spread to farmers markets all over the nation. The PoP Club for youth has been in Minnesota since 2014 and is growing to markets around the state. Bongards Market has been participating in the Power of Produce program for youth since 2017.
Just like the youth participants, each adult age 65 and older participant will sign up and receive a $2 market token to be spent on fresh produce. Participants will receive their token once per market. They can choose to spend it on their own $2 selection of fresh, locally grown produce, or save their token for a future market.
The goal of the Power of Produce (PoP) is to empower participants to make healthy choices when selecting food to eat. The program offers an incentive for participants to explore the farmers market and learn about the different varieties of fruits and vegetables, while also learning about how food is grown, by connecting them with local farmers.
Beginning June 2 and running through September participants are welcome to visit the farmers market and join the PoP Plus! Registration and check-in will be located at the designated PoP desk at the market. More information about the program can be found on the Bongards Market website or on our Facebook page.
We hope to see you at the market!
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!
Bongards Farmers Market 