[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79886-79887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22452]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
https://www.regulations.gov 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 https://www.regulations.gov. 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 https://www.regulations.gov 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 https://www.usda.gov/farmersmarket.
    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