Notice2024-22452
USDA Farmers Market Application; Notice of Request for an Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 1, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension and revision of the currently approved information collection for USDA Farmers Market Application.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79886-79887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22452]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-TM-24-0060]
USDA Farmers Market Application; Notice of Request for an
Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention
to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget, for an
extension and revision of the currently approved information collection
for USDA Farmers Market Application.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 2, 2024 to
be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments
concerning this notice by using the electronic process available at
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> or mailed to ToiAyna Thompson, Market
Manager, Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural Marketing
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Room 1097 South Building, Washington, DC 20250. Comments should
reference the document number and the date and the page number of this
issue of the Federal Register. All comments will be available for
public inspection in person at USDA-AMS, Transportation and Marketing
Programs, Marketing Services Division, Room 4523-South Building, 1400
Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1
p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, (except official Federal
holidays) or can be viewed at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Persons
wanting to visit the USDA South Building to view comments received are
requested to make an appointment in advance by calling (202) 690-1300.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be posted without
change, including any personal information provided, at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and will be included in the record and made
available to the public. Please be advised that the identity of the
individuals or entities submitting the comments will be made public.
Comments may be submitted anonymously.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ToiAyna Thompson, Market Manager,
Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 1097
South Building, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone 202-7450-7691.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: USDA Farmers Market Application.
OMB Number: 0581-0229.
Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2024.
Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-
1627) 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.
On December 23, 2005, the AMS published a final rule in the Federal
Register (70 FR 76129) to implement established regulations and
procedures under 7 CFR part 170 for AMS to operate the USDA Farmers
Market, specify vendor criteria and selection procedures, and define
guidelines to be used for governing the USDA Farmers Market. In
conjunction, the USDA Farmers Market Application was developed to
receive information from farmers and small business owners who are
interested in participating in the market. Prospective vendors fill out
the Application online once per year. Copies of this one-time yearly
application form to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Farmers Market may be obtained by calling the AMS Transportation
and Marketing Program contact listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section
or visiting <a href="https://www.usda.gov/farmersmarket">https://www.usda.gov/farmersmarket</a>.
The information collected on the Application allows AMS the means
to review and select participants for the annual market season. The
type of information requested on the Application includes: (1)
Certification the applicant is the owner or representative of the farm
or business; (2) applicant contact information including name(s),
address, phone number, and email address; (3) farm or business
location; (4) types of products grown or to be sold; (5) business
practices and direct sourcing relationships with local farmers,
ranchers and growers; (6) weekly sales data; (7) insurance coverage;
and (8) all applicable food safety documents. Vendors selected to the
market provide a signed copy of the Participant Agreement, which states
that the vendor has read, understands and agrees to adhere to all
applicable rules and guidelines as outlined in the USDA Farmers Market
Rules, Procedures, and Operating Guidelines. Sales Data is collected
from vendors weekly. This information is useful in letting AMS know how
well the market and vendors are doing overall.
We collect sales data at the beginning of every market day from the
previous week. This is collected on an Excel spreadsheet that is stored
by market manager. It then gets documented in a shared office file,
that tracks the sales all season. Collecting sales gives us feedback as
to how each vendor did each week and the success of the market each
year. We use these numbers to determine the success of the market, the
marketing strategies of each vendor, and uniqueness of each product. It
is also
[[Page 79887]]
noted with a quick snapshot of the weather for each corresponding day,
to determine if the sales were affected by extreme rain, heat, or any
other natural disaster that would deter marketgoers from visiting and
purchasing from the vendors.
The USDA Farmers Market Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire and the
VegUcation Questionnaire will be combined into one survey and submitted
under 0581-0269 Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative
Feedback on Agency Service Delivery. The purpose of this survey is to
learn who our customers are and what their preferences are in order to
improve the USDA Farmers Market. The VegUcation classes take place
weekly at the USDA Farmers Market and are free for anyone to attend and
are taught by USDA subject matter experts. The purpose is to learn how
familiar attendees are with the featured fruit or vegetable, if they
found the class valuable, and if their attendance affected their market
purchases. The Vendor Satisfaction Survey is used to determine the
success of the market from the participating vendors for each season.
Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection
is estimated to be 7 minutes per response.
Respondents: Farmers and/or small business owners.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 68.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,764.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 25.98.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 201.12 hours.
Comments: 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 will
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 the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
The information collected is used only by authorized employees of
the USDA, AMS. All responses to this notice will be summarized and
included in the request for OMB approval.
All comments will become a matter of public record.
Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-22452 Filed 9-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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