USDA Farmers Market Operating Procedures

AGENCY:

Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking comments on procedures to administer the USDA Farmers Market at 12th Street & Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. These procedures would allow AMS the means to demonstrate and experiment with direct marketing techniques (operate a farmers market), while at the same time educate consumers on the significance of small farms, the nutritional benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the merits of food recovery. Included in this proposed rule is the establishment of vendor criteria, selection procedures, and guidelines for governing the operation of the USDA Farmers Market. Information collection requirements are also included to establish a one-time yearly submission on a required application form.

DATES:

Comments on this proposed rule must be received by April 18, 2005. Comments on the information collection requirements of this proposed rule must be received by April 18, 2005 to be considered.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments concerning the proposed regulations and information collection requirements. All comments should be sent to Errol R. Bragg, Associate Deputy Administrator, Marketing Services Branch, Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA, Room 2646-South, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 20250. Comments may also be sent by e-mail to USDAFMComments@usda.gov or by fax to 202/690-0031. State that your comments refer to Docket No. TM-04-09 or Internet: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Errol R. Bragg, Associate Deputy Administrator, Marketing Services Branch on 202/720-8317, fax 202/690-0031, or by e-mail USDAFMComments @usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This proposed rule is authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The Act directs and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct, assist, and foster research, investigation, and experimentation to determine the best methods of processing, preparation for market packaging, handling, transporting, distributing, and marketing agricultural products, 7 U.S.C. 1622(a). Moreover, 7 U.S.C. 1622(f) directs and authorizes the Secretary to conduct and cooperate in consumer education for more effective utilization and greater consumption of agricultural products. In addition, 7 U.S.C. 1622(n) authorizes the Secretary to conduct services and to perform activities that will facilitate the marketing and utilization of agricultural products through commercial channels. Pursuant to 7 CFR 2.79, the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs has re-delegated these authorities to the Administrator of AMS.

Executive Order 12866

This rule has been determined to be not significant for the purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the office of Management and Budget.

Paperwork Reduction Act

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this proposed rule also announces that AMS is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection request.

Title: USDA Farmers Market Operating Procedures.

OMB Number: 0581-New.

Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of approval.

Type of Request: New information collection.

Abstract: AMS is seeking to establish procedures to administer the USDA Farmers Market at 12th & Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (Act). These procedures would allow AMS the means to demonstrate and experiment with direct marketing techniques (operate a farmers market), while at the same time educate consumers on the significance of small farms, the nutritional benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the merits of food recovery. Included in this proposed rule would be the establishment of vendor criteria, selection procedures, and guidelines for governing the operation of the USDA Farmers Market.

In this proposed rule, information collection requirements include a one-time yearly submission of the required information on the application form which is included in an Appendix at the end of this action.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.08 hours per response.

Respondents: Farmers and/or vendors completing the application to participate in the USDA Farmers Market.

Number of Responses per respondent: 1.

Number of Respondents: 20.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1.66 hours.

Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information would have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments concerning the information collection requirements contained in this action should reference the Docket Number TM-04-09, together with the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. Comments on this proposed collection of information may be sent to Errol R. Bragg at the address listed above or to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Washington, DC 20503. Comments must be received by April 18, 2005. All comments received by AMS will be available for public inspection during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, at the same address.

Executive Order 13132

AMS has analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132, Federalism, and have determined that it does not have Federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism assessment under that order.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their regulatory actions not specifically required by law on state, local and tribal governments. This proposed rule contains no Federal mandates that would result in the expenditure of $100 million or more for these groups or for the private section. Therefore, no written statement or cost-benefit analysis is required under this act.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

AMS has reviewed this proposed rule under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, and determined that it will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This program does not impose requirements on small entities that are not eligible to participate in the program, and imposes on small entities applying for and participating in the program only minimum requirements necessary for proper administration and oversight of this program. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and was not performed.

Background

Farmers markets are more than just a place to buy fruits and vegetables; they are intermediate social structures linking the urban and rural sectors of the economy. They provide consumers with locally-grown, good-value farm products at a convenient location and provide farmers with a profitable, well-organized and operated retail marketplace. Farmers markets not only give members of the public direct contact with producers, but also provide alternatives to the uniform and standardized mass produced, mass marketed products that dominate the U.S. economy. Farmers markets are usually located within or near urban centers and may be owned and maintained by community development groups, farmers cooperative associations or by local, state or the federal governments. Generally open for a specific time period seasonally or throughout the year, farmers markets may range from an open outdoor lot where farmers park their vehicles and display products, to enclosed buildings with display counters, lights, heat, and refrigeration. The number of farmers markets operating in the United States has seen a steady growth in recent years, increasing from 1,755 in 1994 to over 3,600 operating in 2004.

AMS developed a Farmer Direct Marketing Action Plan to identify USDA's role in supporting marketing opportunities for small farmers and to enhance farmers' ability to thrive in their businesses by facilitating the marketing of agricultural products. Farmer direct marketing, or growers selling their products directly to consumers, has become increasingly popular in recent years with farmers markets being one of the leading methods for this type of marketing. Farmers markets also play a vital role in accomplishing USDA's mission of ensuring that all Americans have access to reasonably priced, high-quality, and nutritious foods.

To further this mission, USDA began its own farmers market in August of 1996, which has continued to operate and grow progressively since that time. The USDA Farmers Market is a producers-only market which offers a wide range of farm products such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, honey, maple products, baked goods, cut flowers, meats and fresh fish. With spiraling interest among consumers and a steady supply of farmers products, the market's season increased from four market days in 1996 to five months in 2003. In addition to local farmers from Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania selling at the market, outreach was expanded to include regional farmers from a wider geographical area, including the states of West Virginia, Delaware, and North Carolina.

This rule applies only to the USDA Farmers Market at headquarters on the corner of 12th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC. When the farmers market program began in 1996, and for several years thereafter, USDA co-sponsored several farmers markets at neighboring Federal agencies in the DC metropolitan area, including the Departments of Transportation (DOT), Labor, Energy, State, and the USDA Carver Center. Since that time three markets have closed. The DOT and USDA Carver Center markets continue to operate, having acquired substantial startup and technical assistance from USDA and are now self-sustaining.

In an effort to further educate market customers about the nutritional benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the merits of food recovery, an informational booth displaying various literature and educational materials is set up on the market each week. Materials displayed in the informational booth include “How-To-Buy” produce guides, food pyramids, brochures about the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and Food Stamp program and other program-related publications. This dissemination of information is joined by several USDA agencies, including the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). One successful educational activity is the cooking demonstrations organized by FNS. During a cooking demonstration, chefs purchase fresh produce from the market and teach how to prepare the foods for a healthy meal. In addition, the USDA Employee Services and Recreation Association sponsors special activities and events at the market.

The USDA Farmers Market contributes to other USDA-sponsored programs, such as the Food Recovery and Gleaning Initiative, the Women, Infants, and Children Farmers Market Nutrition Program, as well as other programs of FNS and the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 170

• Agricultural commodities
• Farmers

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, it is proposed that title 7, chapter 1 of the Code of Federal Regulations be amended as follows:

1. A new subchapter G, consisting of part 170 is added to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER G—MISCELLANEOUS MARKETING PRACTICES UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING ACT OF 1946

PART 170—USDA FARMERS MARKET

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

PART 170—USDA FARMERS MARKET