North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association Inc. 105 Simrall Blvd.

, Molberg Center #22 Bottineau, ND 58318

N o r t h D a ko t a F a r m e r s M a r ke t a n d G r o w e r s A s s n .

www.ndfarmersmarkets.com Board of Directors

Spring Issue 2013

New Food Safety Rules and You

In January of this year the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released the first drafts of the new Food Safety Modernization Act regulations. This release drew a lot of attention and in some cases a lot of concern on the part of small farmers and producers as to what it might mean to their operations. Initial proposals for this new law included extreme regulation of even the smallest operations and mountains of regulatory paperwork that could crush small vegetable producers and processors. During the creation and drafting of the legislation, authors of the bill struggled with how to give more authority to the Food and Drug Administration to oversee the safety and health of the nations food supply without over regulating the industry and pushing out small producers, farmers and processors with burdensome paperwork. At the last minute, before the Senate passed what would ultimately be the final version of the bill, an amendment was added to exempt small farms from many of the requirements. Co-sponsored by Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Kay Hagan, D-N.C., the amendment included exemptions that are important to the local foods industry. The good news is this; the new regulations will not apply to most small farmers and producers. Farms with less than $25,000 of farm revenue (gross) per year are entirely exempt and farms with less than $500,000 of farm revenue (gross) per year AND that sell the majority of their produce directly & within a 275-mile radius or within the same state are partially exempt, and will only have to follow fairly basic labeling requirements for traceability. Meaning, if a farm is a retail food establishment, meaning it sells more than half of its products directly to customers, the farm is also exempt from inspections, and the criteria requiring less than $500,000 in gross annual sales does not have to be met. The Tester-Hagan amendment is somewhat more expansive, in that it says that such direct-to-consumer sales may occur on the farm itself, at a farmers market, or at local stores or restaurants that purchase from the farm. Sales to distributors or wholesalers would not qualify as direct-to-consumer sales. Because of the wording exempting direct sales, at this time farmers markets are considered exempt as well. >>> page 2

Marvin Baker, President, NW Rep. Hero Barth, Vice President SW Rep Ilene Baker, Treasurer Randy Mehlhoff, NE Rep Bob Nowatzki, NE Rep. Roberta Hunt, NW Rep. Dan Rugroden, SE Rep. Karen Gehrig, SE Rep. Roberta Thorson, SW Rep. Pam Anderson, At Large Rep.

Page 7

Some examples:
Lets stay Connected ... Markets, Managers, and Vendors! Do you have a Facebook page, Blog, Twitter, Website or other social media site? If you do, please send us your link or address to: crystal.grenier@ dakotacollege.edu We can share ideas, insights, happenings, questions and concerns that relate to all aspects of holding and running a market and those vendors who make the market happen!
If a farm grows fruits and/or vegetables and sells less than $500,000 worth of food and more than half of it is sold to qualified end users, that farm is exempt from the produce safety standard being drafted by the FDA. There is no registration or paperwork required. If a farm processes or manufactures food products on-site and this can be anything from making maple syrup to cutting up vegetables to making preserves or baked goods and more than half of those products are sold on the farm, at a farmers market, or at another location controlled by the farm owners, directly to consumers, the farm is classified as a retail food establishment and is exempt from the new requirements. If a farm processes or manufactures food products and sells less than half of its products to individual consumers but more than half to a combination of those customers, local restaurants and stores, and the gross sales are less than $500,000, the farm is still required to register with the FDA under the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 (which requires any facility that holds, stores, processes or manufactures foods to register with the FDA. Retail stores and restaurants are exempt from this requirement, as are farms that sell direct to consumers). The farm operators also must demonstrate that they have identified potential hazards and are implementing preventive controls, OR demonstrate to FDA that they are in compliance with state or local food safety laws plan. The act grants the FDA the authority to withdraw any exemption if they deem it necessary: In the event of an active investigation of a foodborne illness outbreak that is directly linked to a facility or farm exempted under this section, or if the Secretary determines that it is necessary to protect the public health and prevent or mitigate a foodborne illness outbreak based on conduct or conditions associated with a facility or farm that are material to the safety of food, the Secretary may withdraw the exemption provided to such facility under this section. If you do not fall within these exemptions, as a producer or processor you should seek assistance in registering yourself or your company with the FDA and begin the process of developing systems to meet the new regulations. However, even though the exemptions are currently in the regulations, it is not time to sit back, relax your safety regimen or let down your guard. Retailers, distributors, and others who buy produce may require FSMA compliance even if FDA does not. Some retail produce buyers already require ALL of their supplier farms, regardless of size, to be certified to GAP Good Agricultural Practices or another food safety program. >>> page 4

The Key to Repeat Customers Good Communications!

Farms and their markets are like any other business they need satisfied customers to keep them in business! Below are some tips passed on from some CSA farmers in CT You dont want to constantly change your prices because you feel like it or because your neighbor does... keep your prices consistent and steady. You want to avoid customer sticker shock. Maybe pick an extra bin of all your produce so your final customers of the day see a large produce display just like your first customers of the day! How about a swap box? Perhaps there is something a customer doesnt like to eat or use which can be exchanged for another item. Companies that want to promote healthy lifestyle choices as part of their corporate wellness program will offer an afternoon office delivery of produce for its employees. A pick your own (PYO) for your CSA shareholders: Customers love the experience and you dont have to be out there in your crop for hours harvesting! Offer a full and two thirds share not a share proportionally. Farmers were giving too much in a half share losing money in their profits. Feedback showed that customers perceived the smaller shares as including enough food for a better value. Make sure realistic expectations are put forth with a pre-season contract and shareholder guide. Include in your newsletter or brochure, what you are offering in your shares, include photos of farmers in action, handling tips, recipes for uncommon veggies, a nutritional column w/health benefits/recipes, preserving tips, farm/ farmer stories, on-farm and partner events, other resources, and finish your season with a feedback survey. ** Whatever you sell, remember, good communication keeps them talking positively about you, your product, and they will keep coming back for more! A full-guide Tools for CSA Members can be downloaded at www.ctfarmrish.uconn.edu Source: Country Folks Grower, January 2013

Avoid Back Injuries while Gardening

* Place feet hip width apart to improve balance and center body weight * Maintain a good grip on the object and use the right gloves when needed * Keep a straight back (spine) when possible and avoid awkward postures * Hold the object as close to your body as possible * Never twist your back or waist, pivot with your feet if you need to turn * When you have the option, push rather than pull a load *Before lifting, make sure that your path is clear * Get extra help with heavy awkward loads Bottom line: Stay healthy and fit. Maintain good posture at all times and get regular exercise! Country Folks Grower March 2013

Page 2

Questions???? Contact the NDFMGA at 701-228-5649

Page 5

Pre-Planning for Market Success!

Moses Conference Books on Display!

Have Your Own Business Consultant

Have you ever thought it sure would be nice to have a business consultant or accountant all my own to help me with these business decisions? Well now you can! Help for North Dakota vegetable producers and specialty crop growers is now available through Dakota College at Bottineaus Entrepreneurial Center for Horticulture. The instructor, Keith Knudson, assists producers with financial and production farm management. The program provides training and support to vegetable producers in the following areas: * * * * * * * Writing Business Plans. Assistance with writing financial reports for lender financing. Recordkeeping and planting schedules. Financial planning (Start-up expenses planning, cash flow statements, balance sheets, income and expense statements). Business Analysis income tax estimating and analysis reports of past years performance. Sustainable crop planning and production for the coming year. Resources and technical assistance on specific production issues. (disease, plant and animal stress, pest management, nutrient requirements, high tunnel and greenhouse production, crop rotation, food safety plans and organic certification). Assist producers with marketing plans.

Marching into Spring

with some good reading! Presented at this years 2013 MOSES Organic Farming Conference. MOSES hopes to offer these and other books soon through their online bookstore (check Amazon to get now). Natural Beekeeping, 2nd Edition: Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture, by Ross Conrad, March 2013 revised/updated with new resources and photos a holistic program of natural hive management! Turn Here Sweet Corn, by Atina Diffley, March 2012a memoir of a MN organic farmer personally and politically. Organic No-Till Farming, by Jeff Moyer, March 2011 a map to an organic farming system that offers new technologies and tools to reduce and/or eliminate tillage.

As of August 2012, the USDA listed over 7800 farmers markets operating worldwide! As buying locally and eating fresh is becoming more prevalent in our society, farmers markets are remaining open year round. So plans must be made and executed to keep customers happy plus maintain cash flow. The storage of vegetables, low tunnels, and high tunnels can help you gear up for next seasons market stand. Your storage area needs to be the right temperature and maintain humidity levels depending on what produce it holds. A good resource to tap into for these specifics would be Production Guide for Storage of Organic Fruits & Vegetables, published by Cornell University Cooperative Extension. Low tunnels offer local and seasonal growing options to help extend the growing season, and they eliminate the need to buy from distant locales. Lots of salad greens can be grown in the ever-popular high tunnel! The versatility of a covered structure with the proper insulation can be most beneficial for seasonal production. And being ahead in your growing season can promote and build a good customer base as they become more familiar with your quality of produce. Source: Country Folks Grower, January 2013

Dakota Grown: The Cookbook

Recipes, farm stories, farmers market and/or vendor anecdotes and pictures are still NEEDED for our Cookbook! Please take some time to contribute to this local project! Take out that recipe box, type up a story, and dig out those pictures! The weather is still too cold outside to get anything started for Spring, so do some indoor digging and send us your contribution today! Send contributions to: Pam Anderson, NDFMGA at Large Rep.
Anderdon@bektel.com

New Food Safety Rules and You - cont. from page 2 Similarly, some retailers may require FSMA compliance. It is a good idea to have a food safety plan already in place or at least be educated on what a food safety plan includes. The Entrepreneurial Center for Horticulture regularly teaches workshops on creating a Good Agricultural Practices plan for your operation. A GAP or Good Agricultural Practices plan contains many of the elements necessary for a HAACP or Food Safety Plan and is a good start on ensuring you are meeting any quality or safety concerns and requirements for your customers. For more information on how the ECH can help you with a food safety plan, please call Keith Knudson at 701-228-2160. Some News In order to better serve you, our members, with more benefits, education and marketing opportunities, and maintain the stability and longevity of our association, we are raising our dues for 2013. New 2013 Farmers Market Membership Dues! <5 vendors $50 per year 6-10 vendors $75 per year 11-20 vendors $150.00 per year 20+ vendors $250.00 per year

The program is like having a professional consultant available to assist in making management and production decisions. There is usually an annual fee for this service, but right now a grant is available to producers which will pay for the whole program fee for two years! The instructor will make several visits directly to your home/farm/operation during the year and work one on one with you to improve your business. Of course this doesnt mean the instructor will do the work for you as a participant, it will be up to you to collect information and keep the records necessary for your business to track its progress and success. As an added bonus, producers will receive college credit for being enrolled in the program. The course is limited to 20 vegetable or specialty crop producers so please contact the college soon if you are interested. Contact Keith Knudson at keith.knudson@dakotacollege.edu or 701-228-2160 for questions and an application.

2033 38th St. SE

Page 4

Check us out on the web: www.ndfarmersmarkets.com

Page 3

Transplants made easy with farm-built pallets

Townsquare Media Invites You!
Wooden pallets made out of 2x4s and 1x3s can be so versatile on the farm and in the greenhouse! Pallets can be moved easily within long and short distances, and used in the greenhouse, the hoop house, and in the yard. They can be arranged in aisles, or separate (easy watering access or plant sales). A full-sized pick-up can hold 3 pallets (one in the bed and two straddling the sides) to take to the field for transplanting. Pallets can rest on dirt, gravel or grass or be lifted up on wooden crates or plastic lugs. Chip and Susan used pallets for curing onions and garlic in the greenhouse, or in the barn. By attaching a 4 piece of 7.5 plastic deer fencing over the slats, and laying the onions right after pulling with bulbs on the netting in the spaces between the slats, they could dry perfectly! Ventilation was increase by separating the pallets with a 2x4 scrap on each corner. The garlic was able to stand alone (no plastic needed) to support their bulbs! Wooden pallets are easy to build, and your materials will cost about $18.00. No need for treated lumber! Materials for one: ~ Two 8 2x4s set on edge as base ~ Eight 8 1x3s, one is your diagonal base, rest are cut in half for surface slats (your local hardware store may cut 4 free) ~ Course thread drywall screws, 1 5/8 Phillips head. Cordless drill. How to: Set the 2x4s on edge, 4 apart, and place a four-foot 1x3 on each end to make the frame. Square up, and attach with one screw. Add a second 1x3 at each end, next to and flush with first, square up again, and attach. You need the resulting 5 of surface at the pallet ends to support the two flats that will lie across the end flats 17 and 18. Arrange nine 4 long 1x3s as slats, leaving 5 of open space between the two 1x3s at each end and the adjacent slat. Leave 7 of open space between the rest of the 1x3 slats. When you get them spaced correctly, mark placement with pencil, and attach, one screw at each end. Turn pallet over, and attach the 8 1X3 diagonal brace. Insert these screws at an angle to avoid having them poke through on the top side. Viola! Chip and Susan Planck, Purcellville, Virginia, Growing for market February 2013

Consumer Trends 2013 Buy Local here to stay Health conscious Juicing - make premade juice kits to sell Special diets Asian flavors Pickled Veggies Sours Varietal vinegars DIY trend artisanal food themes Agritainment is still popular why not hold a corn roast or summer barby on the farm? Restaurants are wanting intense and healthy flavors Kids menus more fruits and veggies, more whole foods based, skewering , petite veggies, and edamame (good protein and kid friendly) Restaurants smaller plates are in with perfect portions Popcorn another great whole grain option, you can season it up with some shake or load it up with some chocolate!

Dakota Garden Expo 2013!

Bismarck Civic Center
Friday / April 12th 3 to 8 p Saturday / April 13th 8 to 4p Spring is in the air learn lawn care tips, gardening ideas, perennial planting, tree varieties, orchard start - up and much more! You can participate as a guest or a vendor. Interested vendors, please contact Stephanie Stevens, at 701-663-0145 or stephanie.stephens@ townsquaremedia.com

2013 Consumers are looking for value in nutrition, quality and freshness not how much costs and what its worth. Bill and Mary Weaver Country Folks Grower

Page 6

Suggestions? Send them to: NDFMGA, 105 Simrall Blvd. Molberg 22, Bottineau ND 58318