Minneapolis Farmers Market

What Minneapolis Farmers Market does

The Minneapolis Farmers Market is a nonprofit physical farmers market operating since 1876 at its flagship location at 312 East Lyndale Avenue North in Minneapolis, anchored by three signature red sheds dating to 1937. The market is operated by the Central Minnesota Vegetable Growers Association (CMVGA), a member-based nonprofit with over 100 grower members, and is supported by a charitable arm called Friends of the Minneapolis Farmers Market. The market serves two primary customer segments: Twin Cities consumers seeking fresh, locally grown produce, and the local farmers and producers who rent the market's 170 stalls to sell directly to those consumers. Weekend operations (Saturday–Sunday, 6am–1pm) feature the largest vendor presence (100+ vendors, 200+ growers), while weekday operations (Wednesday–Friday, 7am–1pm) offer a smaller selection, with a Winter Market running on select Saturdays outside the peak May–October season.

The business model is straightforward: revenue is generated primarily through vendor stall rentals, with vendors paying for stall space to sell their own produce and products directly to walk-in consumers. The market operates as a direct-to-consumer physical retail venue with no e-commerce or delivery component. Complementary programs include a SNAP-EBT and Market Bucks food access initiative (dollar-for-dollar matching up to $10) operated in partnership with Hunger Solutions, Farmers Market Nutrition Program voucher acceptance, a seasonal Food Access Internship, and a small set of community events (Walk a Mile in a Farmer's Boots, pasta workshops, National Farmers Market Week). The organization is run by a small core team of 9 employees alongside a 7-member board and rotating seasonal staff and volunteers, with Ashley Nathe serving as Executive Director (currently on leave, with Manuna Vang as Interim Executive Director) and Sophia Zimmerman as Marketing Manager and Food Access Coordinator. Marketing is conducted primarily through organic social media (Instagram @mplsfarmmarket, Facebook), an email newsletter, the Wix-hosted website, and on-site community events.

Name

Minneapolis Farmers Market

Legal name

Minneapolis Farmers Market

Website

https://mplsfarmersmarket.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Minneapolis Farmers Market is a nonprofit physical farmers market in Minneapolis, Minnesota, operating since 1876. Run by the Central Minnesota Vegetable Growers Association, it rents 170 stalls to 100+ local farmers and growers serving Twin Cities consumers with fresh produce and food access programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Farmers Market

NAICS

Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (44424)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Farm-to-Consumer Cooperative Markets (Local Producer Co-ops) (CRAHALAG)

Keywords

• Farmers market operations
• Vendor stall rentals
• Food access programs
• Local produce marketplace
• SNAP EBT matching

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Vendor Stall Rentals: The market generates revenue through renting vendor stalls to local farmers and producers. Vendors pay for stall space at the market to sell their products directly to consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Minneapolis Farmers Market is a physical open-air marketplace operating since 1876, providing farmers and vendors space to sell local produce, meat, cheese, baked goods, flowers, and crafts directly to consumers. It operates weekday and weekend market days at its flagship 312 E Lyndale Ave N location in Minneapolis during the peak April–November season, plus a winter market schedule, and integrates food access programs including SNAP-EBT acceptance with Market Bucks matching, FMNP voucher acceptance, and a paid Food Access Internship.

Product overview

The Minneapolis Farmers Market is a single-location physical farmers market operating since 1876. The market connects local farmers and gardeners with Twin Cities residents through a shared love of food. The organization operates a main market at Lyndale and Glenwood Avenue North with 170 stalls supporting over 100 vendors. Key programs include the SNAP-EBT & Market Bucks food access initiative, the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), and a seasonal Food Access Internship. The market operates year-round with different intensities: weekday markets (Wednesday-Friday) and full weekend markets (Saturday-Sunday) during peak season, plus a limited winter market on select Saturdays. The market is managed by the Central Minnesota Vegetable Growers Association (CMVGA), a nonprofit member association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Minneapolis Farmers Market Physical open-air marketplace where local farmers, growers, and food artisans sell fresh produce, meat, cheese, baked goods, flowers, and crafts directly to consumers at 312 E Lyndale Ave N, Minneapolis. Operates weekday and weekend market days during the main April–November season plus a separate winter market schedule.
• SNAP-EBT & Market Bucks Program Food assistance program accepting SNAP/EBT benefits at the market and providing matching Market Bucks (up to $10 per visit) to expand SNAP recipients' purchasing power for fresh, locally-grown food from market vendors.
• Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Vouchers Acceptance of federal Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers issued through WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, allowing eligible participants to purchase fresh produce from authorized market vendors.
• Food Access Internship Paid seasonal internship supporting food access programming at the market, including outreach to SNAP/EBT users, token distribution, and program coordination. Compensation is $17 per hour for 12–15 hours per week across the May–October season.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 vendors serving 200+ growers on weekends
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and supporting.

• Central Minnesota Vegetable Growers Association (CMVGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMVGA is a member-based, nonprofit association with over 100+ members. Members directly market their fruits, vegetables and farmstead products at the Minneapolis Farmers Market. CMVGA manages, educates and assists in improving production methods and direct-marketing strategies through partnerships with the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and Minnesota Grown Promotional Board.
• Friends of the Minneapolis Farmers MarketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMVGA's charitable fund created to broaden the market's impact as a community resource. Supports educational programming, community events, food access programming, family-oriented activities including live music and kids programming.
• Hunger SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Market Bucks program that matches SNAP-EBT spending dollar-for-dollar up to $10 at the farmers market, administered in partnership with Hunger Solutions.
• For Farmers MovementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner for Walk a Mile in a Farmer's Boots event. Supports small and mid-sized American farmers with grants and resources. 80% of event proceeds go to Minnesota and Wisconsin farmers.
• Groveland Food ShelfminorOthersPartner organization receiving food donations from the market's November Food Donation Drive to distribute to community members in need.
• University of MinnesotasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner through CMVGA for improving production methods and direct-marketing strategies for members.
• Minnesota Department of AgriculturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner through CMVGA for agricultural education and support programs.
• Minnesota Grown Promotional BoardsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState promotional partner through CMVGA for marketing Minnesota-grown products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St. Paul Farmers Market: One of the oldest and largest farmers markets in Minnesota, operated as a nonprofit in downtown St. Paul. Directly comparable in scale, heritage, vendor model, and regional food access mission.
• Mill City Farmers Market: Year-round nonprofit farmers market in Minneapolis that connects local farmers and producers with consumers. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and Twin Cities service area, and is the most cited local competitor to the Minneapolis Farmers Market.
• Kingfield Farmers Market: Neighborhood-scale farmers market in south Minneapolis with a focus on local farmers and community programming. Comparable as a nonprofit farmers market operating in the same metro, though smaller in scale.
• Linden Hills Farmers Market: Sunday neighborhood farmers market in Minneapolis offering local produce, flowers, and prepared goods. Comparable in operating model, vendor mix, and Twin Cities consumer base, though with smaller footprint and shorter season.
• Northeast Farmers Market: Saturday farmers market in Northeast Minneapolis focused on local produce and makers. Comparable in vendor model and direct-to-consumer local food positioning within the same metro.
• Fulton Farmers Market: Saturday neighborhood farmers market in Minneapolis, neighborhood-focused with a curated vendor mix. Comparable as a nonprofit farmers market serving overlapping Twin Cities consumers.

Regional players

• Green City Market: Chicago-based nonprofit farmers market focused on local, sustainable, and organic farmers. Comparable as a nonprofit, mission-driven farmers market with food access programming, but operates in a different region.
• Dane County Farmers Market: Largest producer-only farmers market in the United States, based in Madison, Wisconsin. Comparable as a heritage regional farmers market with strong vendor and SNAP program infrastructure, but operates in a different metro.

Broad incumbents

• Mississippi Market: Natural foods retail cooperative in the Twin Cities. Comparable as a consumer-facing local food retailer with overlapping values and customer base, but operates as a year-round grocery storefront rather than a periodic market.
• Seward Co-op: Consumer-owned grocery co-op in Minneapolis with strong local sourcing and food access programs. Comparable in cooperative structure, Twin Cities customer base, and support for local growers, but operates as a brick-and-mortar grocery rather than a market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/mplsfarmmarket
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minneapolis-farmers-market

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Minneapolis Farmers Market