Annalisa Hultberg, Extension Educator, Food Safety
Like all industries in Minnesota, agricultural businesses have had to make significant changes to their operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some updates related to the new guidelines that pertain to farms and farmers' markets from the most recent executive order.
As per the Governor's Executive Order 20-74 all critical businesses, including farms, farmers’ markets, and other agricultural businesses that were designated critical businesses are required to develop and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan by June 29.
Who needs a plan? All farms and farmers' markets that have employees, and/or those that interface with the public, including during sales, receiving deliveries etc. Workers include paid staff, volunteers, interns, or contractors.
Does it need to be sent in? The plan does not need to be submitted to any agency or other authority. However plans must be communicated to workers and posted at the workplace in a manner that is accessible for workers to review, and must be made available to the DLI (Department of Labor and Industry) upon request.
Templates The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has created a preparedness plan template that includes all required plan components and is available in Hmong, Somali, and Spanish. Your farm may use other templates, such as this produce farm-specific plan from the University of Minnesota Extension, if all components outlined in the DLI template are addressed.
Can I get help with creating and reviewing my plan? For additional information or assistance in developing a plan, businesses can contact Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) Workplace Safety Consultation at 651-284-5060 or osha.consultation@state.mn.us.
OSHA has a specific agricultural-focused reviewer who can review your plan and offer free and confidential feedback. Contact Michelle Smith Safety Consultant Principal Workplace Safety Consultation at Michelle.k.smith@state.mn.us.
As a business, you can choose one of the following basic ways to offer food under the current guidelines. If you choose to allow onsite food consumption, you must follow the applicable guidance provided for restaurants and bars.
There are two options: a designated eating area or the entire farm as eating area.
Designated eating area:
Or, you can choose to designate the entire farm as the eating premises. In this scenario, you can have people eat anywhere on the farm, but they must be seated while they eat, and you are limited to 250 customers on the farm at one time.
All businesses, including farms, must follow applicable guidance that applies to their operation. Find those guidance documents here. You might need to find guidance for multiple industries depending on your situation.
Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture COVID-19 Preparedness Plans site https://www.misa.umn.edu/covid-19/preparedness-plan
Stay Safe MN - https://staysafe.mn.gov/industry-guidance/index.jsp
DLI - https://www.dli.mn.gov/updates
MDH - https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/
MDA - https://www.mda.state.mn.us/covid-19-agriculture
Like all industries in Minnesota, agricultural businesses have had to make significant changes to their operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some updates related to the new guidelines that pertain to farms and farmers' markets from the most recent executive order.
Webinars with MDA, MN OSHA and UMN on June 26 and 30 covered these topics. Listen to the recordings here.
WEBINAR: COVID-19 Preparedness Plans - Workplace Safety (6/26)
WEBINAR: COVID-19 Preparedness Plans - Serving Food and On-Site Consumption (6/30)
WEBINAR: COVID-19 Preparedness Plans - Serving Food and On-Site Consumption (6/30)
COVID-19 Preparedness Plans
As per the Governor's Executive Order 20-74 all critical businesses, including farms, farmers’ markets, and other agricultural businesses that were designated critical businesses are required to develop and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan by June 29. Who needs a plan? All farms and farmers' markets that have employees, and/or those that interface with the public, including during sales, receiving deliveries etc. Workers include paid staff, volunteers, interns, or contractors.
Does it need to be sent in? The plan does not need to be submitted to any agency or other authority. However plans must be communicated to workers and posted at the workplace in a manner that is accessible for workers to review, and must be made available to the DLI (Department of Labor and Industry) upon request.
Templates The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has created a preparedness plan template that includes all required plan components and is available in Hmong, Somali, and Spanish. Your farm may use other templates, such as this produce farm-specific plan from the University of Minnesota Extension, if all components outlined in the DLI template are addressed.
Can I get help with creating and reviewing my plan? For additional information or assistance in developing a plan, businesses can contact Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) Workplace Safety Consultation at 651-284-5060 or osha.consultation@state.mn.us.
OSHA has a specific agricultural-focused reviewer who can review your plan and offer free and confidential feedback. Contact Michelle Smith Safety Consultant Principal Workplace Safety Consultation at Michelle.k.smith@state.mn.us.
On-Site Consumption of Food and Beverages at Farms and Farmers' Markets
Under Executive Order 20-74, Minnesota farmers’ markets and farms may offer food and beverage for on-site consumption in indoor and outdoor locations if they wish, as long as state guidelines are met, including occupancy guidelines.As a business, you can choose one of the following basic ways to offer food under the current guidelines. If you choose to allow onsite food consumption, you must follow the applicable guidance provided for restaurants and bars.
There are two options: a designated eating area or the entire farm as eating area.
Designated eating area:
- You must have fewer than 250 customers in the eating area
- At least 6 feet between tables
- Limit table service to 4 persons, or 6 if part of one family unit
- Customers must be seated to eat, not walking around
- Use a rope or other way to indicate the eating area
- All eating must occur in eating area
- All workers (staff, volunteers) in the designated eating area must wear face coverings
- The business must provide protective equipment and supplies, such as source control face coverings, face-shields, gloves, hand-sanitizer, disinfectants, and provide training when required and on proper use.
Or, you can choose to designate the entire farm as the eating premises. In this scenario, you can have people eat anywhere on the farm, but they must be seated while they eat, and you are limited to 250 customers on the farm at one time.
- You must have fewer than 250 customers on the farm at one time
- At least 6 feet between tables
- Limit table service to 4 persons, or 6 if part of one family unit
- Customers must be seated to eat, not walking around
- You must have an entrance and exit to monitor numbers
- You must count the customers – must remain fewer than 250 total at any one time on the farm property
- People can eat anywhere on the farm that you allow
- All workers (staff, volunteers) on the entire farm must wear face coverings
- The business must provide protective equipment and supplies, such as source control face coverings, face-shields, gloves, hand-sanitizer, disinfectants, and provide training when required and on proper use.
All businesses, including farms, must follow applicable guidance that applies to their operation. Find those guidance documents here. You might need to find guidance for multiple industries depending on your situation.
Key Resources:
Minnesota Farmers' Market Association COVID-19 page: https://www.mfma.org/COVID-19/Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture COVID-19 Preparedness Plans site https://www.misa.umn.edu/covid-19/preparedness-plan
Stay Safe MN - https://staysafe.mn.gov/industry-guidance/index.jsp
DLI - https://www.dli.mn.gov/updates
MDH - https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/
MDA - https://www.mda.state.mn.us/covid-19-agriculture
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