[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11482-11483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05847]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 59 / Wednesday, March 27, 2019 /
Notices
[[Page 11482]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-TM-19-0031]
Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information
Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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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
revision of a currently approved collection titled ``Local Food
Directories and Survey''.
Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, AMS is
responsible for conducting research to enhance market access for small
and medium sized farmers. The role of the Marketing Services Division
(MSD) of AMS is to facilitate distribution of U.S. agricultural
products. This information is used to populate USDA's National Farmers
Market Directory and periodically market managers are invited to
participate in a comprehensive survey assessing the farmers market
sector. Beginning in 2020, the survey of the farmers market sector will
be administered by the National Agricultural Statistical Service.
Information will also be collected by AMS to populate the National
Farmers Market Directory, as well as three additional local food
directories: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Directory, Food Hub
Directory, and On-Farm Market Directory. All four directories are
national in scope and provide free advertising for producers of local
agricultural products. The directories also assist customers to locate
local food enterprises.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 28, 2019 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning
this notice. Comments should be submitted online at www.regulations.gov
or mail to Edward Ragland, Marketing Services Division, Transportation
and Marketing Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 4509, South Building,
Ag Stop 0269, Washington, DC 20250-0269.
All comments should be identified with the docket number (AMS-TM-
19-XXXX), the date, and the page number of this issue of the Federal
Register. All comments received will be posted without change,
including any personal information provided, online at http://www.regulations.gov and will be made available for public inspection
during regular business hours at the above physical address from 9 a.m.
to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, (except
official Federal holidays). Persons wanting to visit the USDA South
Building to view comments received are requested to make an appointment
in advance by calling (202) 720-8317.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Ragland, Marketing Services
Division, Transportation and Marketing Program, Agricultural Marketing
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW,
Room 4509, South Building, Ag Stop 0269, Washington, DC 20250-0269;
Tel. 202-720-8317 FAX 202-690-0031. Comments should reference Docket
No. AMS-TM-19-XXXX.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Local Food Directories and Survey.
OMB Number: 0581-0169.
Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2019.
Type of Request: Revision and Extension of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended
(7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.), AMS is responsible for conducting research to
enhance market access for small- and medium-sized farmers. The role of
the Marketing Services Division (MSD) of AMS is to facilitate
distribution of U.S. agricultural products. MSD identifies marketing
opportunities, provides analysis to help take advantage of those
opportunities, and develops and evaluates solutions, including
improving farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer marketing
activities. Various types of direct-to-customer local food enterprises
serve different parts of the food marketing chain but all focus on the
small-to medium-sized agricultural producers that have difficulty
obtaining access to large scale commercial distribution channels.
The definitions of farmers markets, on-farm markets, community-
supported agriculture (CSA), and food hubs, as utilized by AMS for the
purposes of the Local Food Directories and Survey are listed below.
Topic areas in USDA's National Farmers Market Managers Survey
include: Characteristics and history of farmers markets, types of
products sold, including fresh, locally-grown produce, location of the
markets, programs to encourage healthy eating, special events,
marketing methods, participation in federal programs designed to
increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, vendor retention
and recruitment, market growth and enhancement, information farmers
market managers have and how they derive estimates of the number of
customers, sales, and number of vendors.
A farmers market is a sales venue that features two or more farm
vendors selling agricultural products directly to customers at a
common, recurrent physical location. This marketing channel allows farm
vendors to receive retail prices for their products, capturing a larger
share of customers' food dollar.
An on-farm market is an area of a facility affiliated with a farm
where transactions between a farm market operator and customers take
place. An on-farm market may operate seasonally or year-round. On-farm
markets are an important component of direct marketing, adding value by
offering customers a visit to the farm and the opportunity to purchase
products from the people who grew them.
A CSA is another type of food-production and direct marketing
relationship between a farmer or farmers and a group of consumers who
purchase ``shares'' of the season's harvest in advance of the growing
season. The up-
[[Page 11483]]
front working capital generated by selling shares reduces the financial
risk to the farmer(s). Generally, farmers receive better prices for
their crops and have reduced marketing costs. Consumers benefit by
receiving a periodic (usually weekly) delivery of fresh locally-grown
fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs and other produce. They also benefit
from the ability to collectively support the sustainability of local
farmers.
A food hub is a business or organization that actively manages the
aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food
products primarily from local and regional producers to strengthen
their ability to satisfy wholesale, retail, and institutional demand.
This marketing channel also allows farm operators to capture a larger
share of consumers' food dollar.
On-farm markets, CSA, as well as food hubs, comprise an integral
part of the urban/farm linkage and have continued to rise in
popularity, mostly due to the growing consumer interest in obtaining
fresh products directly from the farm. On-farm markets, CSA, and food
hubs allow consumers to have access to locally grown, farm fresh
produce, enable farmers the opportunity to develop a personal
relationship with their customers, and cultivate consumer loyalty with
the farmers. They are also providing greater access to fresh locally-
grown fruits and vegetables, as well as playing an increasing role in
encouraging healthier eating.
Local Food Directories and Survey--0581-0169
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.26 hours per response, (rounded).
Respondents: Farmers market managers, farm operators that operate
on-farm stores, operators of CSA, farm operations, and operators of
food hubs.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 66,250.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 8,025.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: .26.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,069 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 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. 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.
Dated: March 22, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-05847 Filed 3-26-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P