[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 103 (Thursday, May 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32003-32004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11429]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 103 / Thursday, May 28, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 32003]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-20-0047]


USDA Farmers Market Application; Notice of Request for Extension 
and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of renewal 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 an 
extension of and revision to the currently approved information 
collection for USDA Farmers Market Application. 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 or visiting the 
website at www.usda.gov/farmersmarket.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 27, 2020 to be 
assured of consideration.

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. Comments 
should reference docket number AMS-TM-20-0047.
    Internet: www.regulations.gov. All written comments should be 
identified with the docket number AMS-TM-20-0047. All comments received 
will be available for public inspection during regular business hours 
at the same address. It is our intention to have all comments whether 
submitted by mail or internet available for viewing on the 
Regulations.gov (www.regulations.gov) internet site. Comments submitted 
will also 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). 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.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: USDA Farmers Market Application.
    OMB Number: 0581-0229.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2020.
    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.
    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 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 renamed 
as The USDA Farmers Market Survey

[[Page 32004]]

submitted under OMB 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 also under OMB 0581-0269 will only 
be used by the current vendors to give anonymous feedback on the 
market. This information will be used to gauge the market experience 
from the vendor's perspective. Tracking the overall communication, 
logistics, support of the market team can provide feedback on how 
successful the operational procedures are executed. In addition to 
receiving feedback on the market operations, it is imperative that 
USDA's Farmers Market offers support and best marketing practices to 
the vendors. The success rate is not only tracked for the internal 
office use but also to better represent the vendors.
    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: 25.94.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 201.12 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 comments will become a matter of public 
record and may be sent to the following address:

Bruce Summers,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-11429 Filed 5-27-20; 8:45 am]
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