The demand for local food is increasing nationwide and here in Minnesota, allowing farmers' markets to expand beyond their typical weekly markets. 

Aggregation at Markets to Food Shelves

Three markets have collaborated with community partners to move local food to underserved neighbors. Each model is different in function and funding, but all increase sales for their food farmers and provide that local, fresh produce to people in their communities. 

• Brightside Produce in Minneapolis has an online Farmers' Market that functions similarly to the farmers' market food hubs, including a delivery service.
• St. Paul Farmers' Market started Produce for the People in 2020, buying tons of food from their farmers and delivering that to various food shelves. 
• Riverwalk Market Fair works with the Northfield Community Action Center via grants to buy end-of-market-day produce from their farmers who then deliver the food to the CAC. 

Farmers' Market Food Hubs

MN has four farmers' markets that are licensed food hubs with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Their MDA food license type depends on whether the majority of their sales are retail or wholesale. The farmers' market as a licensed food hub idea began in 2016 at the Wabasha Farmers' Market when the school wanted to buy products directly from farmers - but no one farmer had enough product to meet that demand. However, the market could buy product from multiple farmers and sell those products to the school - and that buy / sell transaction required a license. Supported by numerous grants, MFMA, Renewing the Countryside, and Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture collaborated with MDA and the Minnesota Department of Health to develop the protocols needed to allow farmers' markets to legally and safely function as licensed food hubs. 

Since 2016, a dozen farmers' markets have tested the food hub idea, with four continuing with this model: Aitkin Farmers' Market, Grand Rapids Farmers' Market, Red Wing Farmers' Market, and Richfield Farmers' Market.

While farmers' market food hubs in Minnesota are not financially sustainable without grants, they are providing a critical need in their communities connecting food farmers to both individuals (retail) and to food establishments (wholesale), helping to build a more resilient local foodshed. To learn more about the legal requirements and food safety protocols needed to operate a farmers' market food hub in Minnesota, visit the Farmers' Market Hub documents page. For more information, please email info@mfma.org.

Click here to enjoy an article about the Great Apple Caper orchestrated annually by the Aitkin and Grand Rapids Farmers' Market Food Hubs, in conjunction with the Virginia Food Hub. 

Watch the farmers' market food hubs in action!

<<< Introducing farmers' market food hubs & how they benefit their communities!

<<< Aitkin Farmers' Market Food Hub manager Allison Rian delivering to The Joint.

<<< Hannah Colby explains SHIP's role in the Aitkin Farmers' Market Food Hub.

<<< Grand Rapids Farmers' Market Food Hub.