We explain what you need to know to be a farmers market food vendor in Minneapolis.

In this section

• License and permit requirements
• Seasonal food vendors
• Food trucks
• Exempt vendors
• Other vendors
• Handwashing and refrigeration rules

To sell or serve food or beverage at a Minneapolis Farmers market you may need one or two of the following based on your items:

• Minneapolis seasonal food vendor permit
• Minneapolis food truck license
• Cottage Food Producer registration with Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Meet product of the farm rules

Market managers decide which vendors will participate in their markets. Contact the market manager if you want to take part in a specific market.

Seasonal food vendor permit

This permit:

• Allows vendors to participate in farmers markets and public events in Minneapolis
• Is valid for one year, from April 1 through March 31
• Has an annual fee of $245
  View the City’s License Fee Schedule - When the Smartsheet opens, see the Seasonal Food Permit fee on line 323. 

You need a Seasonal Food Vendor Permit even if you have a:

• Restaurant license
• State retail or state mobile food license, such as a:
  • Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Mobile Food Unit license
  • Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Retail Mobile Food Handler license

Seasonal food permit vendors

These vendors typically:

• Provide food intended for immediate consumption
• Provide packaged food intended for off-site consumption
• Resell produce
• Are wild harvesters
• Are farm processors 

Complete your seasonal permit

Get help

Contact 311 and ask to speak with a health inspector on the food permit team if you have questions.

Contact us

Food trucks at farmers markets

Food trucks with a Minneapolis Mobile Food Vehicle Vendor license are allowed at farmers markets. 

• Give your license number to the market manager.
• Apply for a Minneapolis food truck license

Exempt vendors

State law allows certain vendors to operate without a State permit or license. You are an exempt vendor if you meet the definition of exempt vendor in state law.

You must tell the market manager if you are an exempt vendor.

Read about exemptions

Vendors who need a Minneapolis Seasonal Food Vendor Permit

Farm processor

• A vendor who sells products that are grown, raised or harvested on land owned or leased by the farm processor.
• The products have additional ingredients added that are purchased and/or not grown, raised or harvested by them on their land such as to produce sausage, bacon, cheese, flavors added to honey or maple syrup, etc.
• This vendor is licensed according to Minnesota law or city ordinance.

Wild harvester

• A vendor who sells products that are grown and harvested on land that is not owned or leased by the harvester.
• This vendor licensed according to Minnesota law or city ordinance. 

Vendors who need to register with the market manager

Food demo and sampler

• A market sponsored food demonstration and sampling activity. The main ingredient(s) used must be from vendors at the market.
• The demonstration must meet promotional or educational purposes as defined in Minnesota statute 28A.151.

Meat processor

• Farmers who sell meat from their own animals that have been processed at a state “equal to” or USDA facility.
• No ingredients may be added to the meat.
• To be exempt from licensing, farmers must only sell their inspected meat.

Product of the farm

• A grower, or a group of growers, who sell products that are grown, raised or harvested on land owned or leased by the grower(s) with no off-farm ingredients added.
• Examples include vegetables, fruits, eggs, meats, plants, flowers, honey, maple syrup, etc. as recognized byMinnesota statute 28A.15.

Vendors who need to register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and with the market manager

Cottage food producer

• A Cottage Food Producer is a person who prepares and sells home processed non-time/temperature control for safety food directly to the consumer.
• If you are a Cottage Food Producer, you must be registered with the MDA to be exempt from permitting.
• Cottage Food Producers must meet the requirements of MN Stat 28A.152

View MDA cottage food producer registration information

Poultry processor

• Farmers selling whole or cut up poultry (no other ingredients added) from their own flock that were slaughtered at an MDA inspected facility

View MDA poultry processing registration information

Handwashing

If you prepare or open any food onsite, you must have handwashing. Prepared food includes beverages that are:

• Poured over ice
• Garnished

You can see pictures of handwashing set-up options. Our guidelines are available in English and Spanish.

See food vendor guidelines

Using mechanical refrigeration

Vendors with cold time/temperature control for safety foods must use mechanical refrigeration. The refrigeration must be certified or classified for sanitation by an ANSI-accredited certification program such as:

• NSF
• CSA
• ETL
• UL