DEPARTMENT: Environmental Resources
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Implement 2026-2027 Pilot Grant Program For Farmers Market Food Rescue
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize the implementation of a 2026-2027 Pilot Grant Program for a Farmers Market Food Rescue to recover unsold edible produce from farmers markets for distribution to Dakota County food shelves.
SUMMARY
In Minnesota, metropolitan counties are responsible for waste management policy and programs to achieve state goals for waste management (Minn. Stat. § 115A.551) and support the State Waste Management Hierarchy, with waste prevention being the most preferred waste management method (Minn. Stat. § 115A.551) because it has the greatest environmental benefit for managing waste. Food waste prevention has the greatest benefit for managing organics. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Waste Reduction Model calculates that preventing one ton of food waste results in 20 times fewer greenhouse gas equivalents than composting one ton of food waste.
By Resolution No. 25-456 (September 23, 2025), the County Board adopted the 2024-2044 Dakota County Solid Waste Management Plan (Solid Waste Management Plan). The County’s plan incorporates the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)-mandated enhanced focus on waste prevention, including food waste prevention. Staff proposes developing and piloting a Farmers Market Food Rescue Grant Program (Grant Program) to support implementation of Solid Waste Management Plan strategy 11a: “Provide support (e.g., funding, technical assistance) to organizations (e.g., food shelves, restaurants, grocery stores, schools) to improve the safe storage and transportation of surplus edible food.” Seasonal farmers markets operate in Dakota County where vendors provide direct sale of produce to residents. Many vendors participate in multiple markets during the week to sell as much of their produce as possible. Some fresh produce will spoil before it is able to be sold at the next available market.
Staff proposes to pilot a 2026-2027 Grant Program for Farmers Market Food Rescue (Grant Program) to provide funding to organizations to support the recovery, collection, and transportation of produce that would go bad or spoil before it can be sold at the next farmers market and would otherwise be disposed of. Rescued edible produce will be redistributed to Dakota County food shelves, as defined in Minnesota Statutes. Program components are included in Attachment: Grant Program Summary and include an annual application period, guidelines with eligibility criteria for participants and expenses, an application and selection process, a reimbursement process, and performance reporting. Applicants will be eligible to request $10,000 -$85,000 annually for eligible activities during the farmers market season. The program will be administered through a contract between the County and the selected applicant(s). The program aligns with other Department grant programs to implement the Solid Waste Management Plan and other Metropolitan county food rescue funding programs.
Dakota County receives Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment (SCORE) grant funds from the State of Minnesota to implement landfill abatement programs. The County is required to expend at least 50 percent of SCORE funds that exceed the State’s fiscal year 2014 allocation on organics programming ($286,876 in 2025) (Minn. Stat. § 115A.557). Dedicated organics programming SCORE grant funds can be used to implement food waste prevention programs, including the proposed Grant Program. A recommendation for funding after 2027 will be made based on demonstrated ability of grant projects to help achieve Solid Waste Management Plan food waste prevention objectives.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends approving the pilot Grant Program for the period of July 1, 2026, through December 1, 2027, with program funding not to exceed $85,000 per calendar year.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The 2026 Environmental Resources Department Operating Budget includes $85,000 to implement the proposed Grant Program, which is funded through dedicated organics programming State SCORE grant funds. Environmental Legacy Funds are used to meet the required 25 percent County match for State SCORE grant funds. It is anticipated the funds will continue to be included in the County Manager’s Recommended Budget for 2027.
Program 28400134 Organics
|
Fund |
Department |
Funding Source |
Total Approved Budget |
Available Budget |
|
Environmental Legacy Fund |
Environmental Resources |
State SCORE Funding (Dedicated Organics Programming Funding) |
$283,000 |
$85,000 |
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, in Minnesota, metropolitan counties are responsible for waste management policy and programs to achieve state goals for waste management and that support the State Waste Management Hierarchy, with waste prevention being the most preferred waste management method (Minn. Stat. § 115A.551); and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 25-456 (September 23, 2025), the County Board adopted the 2024-2044 Solid Waste Management Plan (Solid Waste Management Plan) which incorporates Minnesota Pollution Control Agency-mandated enhanced focus on waste prevention, including food waste prevention; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County is responsible to implement the Solid Waste Management Plan strategy 11a to “Provide support (e.g., funding, technical assistance) to organizations (e.g., food shelves, restaurants, grocery stores, schools) to improve the safe storage and transportation of surplus edible food,”; and
WHEREAS, seasonal farmers markets operate in Dakota County where vendors provide direct sale of produce to residents, and some produce spoils before it is able to be sold at the next available market; and
WHEREAS, staff proposes to pilot a 2026-2027 Grant Program for Farmers Market Food Rescue (Grant Program) to implement food waste prevention at farmers markets to support the recovery, collection, and transportation of unsold produce that would otherwise be disposed of with rescued edible produce to be redistributed to Dakota County food shelves; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Grant Program components include guidelines, an application and selection process, a reimbursement process, and performance reporting; and
WHEREAS, organizations will be able to request $10,000-$85,000 annually for eligible Grant Program activities implemented during the annual farmers market season; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County receives Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment (SCORE) funds from the State of Minnesota to implement landfill abatement programs and is required to expend at least 50 percent of SCORE funds that exceed the State’s fiscal year 2014 funding allocation on organics programming (Minn. Stat. § 115A.557); and
WHEREAS, dedicated organics programming SCORE funds can be used to implement a grant program to prevent food from being wasted at farmers market; and
WHEREAS, the County’s obligation for eligible Grant Program participants shall not exceed $85,000 per calendar year.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners herby authorizes a 2026-2027 Pilot Grant Program for Farmers Market Food Rescue (Grant Program), in an amount not to exceed $85,000 annually through December 31, 2027, as presented at the June 23, 2026, County Board meeting; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Environmental Resources Director to execute grant agreements with selected applicants, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
25-456; 9/23/25
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Grant Program Summary
BOARD GOALS
☐ Thriving People ☒ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Nikki Stewart
Author: Renee Burman