Online Marketplace
Producer Agreement
The online market is a network between local producers/sellers and consumers.
Online Marketplace Schedule
Thursday, 10pm to Wed 4pm - Producers list items they have for sale that week
Friday, 12pm to Wed 4pm
- Consumers are allowed to shop at this time
- Producers watch their items and adjust quantities for sale as needed
Wednesday after 4pm
- Ordering is 'closed'. Producers can see what sold, print reports, etc.
Thursday, 4:30pm to 6:30pm - Producers are at the distribution center to give products to consumers
Online Marketplace Location
Distribution is Thursday 4:30-6:30pm at The Buﬀalo Community Center, 206 Central Ave, Buﬀalo MN.
Consumers may shop at the online site located at https://www.localfoodmarketplace.com/localroots/
Products.aspx
Food Broker License
Local Roots Food Co-op carries a Food Broker’s License. This license governs the co-op’s actions AND
certain responsibilities that producers must uphold.
Producers must adhere to requirements of said license, as follows (initial each):
______ Co-op staﬀ and volunteers cannot handle food items
______ The producer must be present at all times to distribute their own goods or designate a
“representative of their business” to distribute their products on their behalf
______ No money can change hands at distribution
______ Any producer selling product that requires licensing from MN Dept of Ag (MDA) or MN Dept
of Health (MDH) must provide a copy of this license to the Market Manager. Upon annual renewal of
said license, a new copy must be provided to the Market Manager.
At distribution:
______ Producer is responsible to know regulations of their licenses and uphold those
requirements
______ Producer is responsible to provide safely handled, clean, high quality food
______ Producer must be in good health while distributing food to consumers
______ Produce sellers must be on tile. Packaged goods can be on carpet
______ Sampling must be within 20 feet of a hand washing sink therefore, sampling will be done
by the kitchen in the Community Center.
______ Food and its containers must be at least 6" oﬀ the floor at all times
______ Food must be kept at the appropriate temperatures (cold must be kept cold.) Producer is
responsible for providing temperature appropriate devices (coolers, warmers, etc.)
Producer Licenses
In addition to the above, under the requirements of the Food Broker License, producers must adhere to
higher licensing standards than is allowed at farmers markets and other ‘oﬀ the farm’ sales models.
Produce: Any unaltered produce being sold requires no additional licensing.
Meat, Cheese or Prepared Foods: Any prepared products, including altered produce from its
original grown state, must be prepared in a commercial kitchen. In addition, an MDA or MHA
license AND possibly a mobile license must be obtained.
Online product descriptions and physical product containers must comply with all labeling
requirements. Please be aware these requirements might include ingredient lists, nutrition facts,
weight, grade & allergy warnings
** Note: Please contact MN Department of Health or MN Department of Agriculture for more information
regarding licensing and labeling requirements and costs.
Product Pricing
This is a fair trade market where consumers choose who to purchase from. As such, Producers are free
to mark their products at prices they see best.
Providing the online marketplace in a food broker capacity, Local Roots Food Co-op marks up the
producer’s product from the producer’s price a certain percentage as deemed appropriate by the co-op
board. Consumers do not see the producer’s price, but only see the ‘retail price’ which is the
combination of the Producer Price + Co-op Markup.
There is a one-time producer set-up fee of $30 payable to the co-op for the use and administration of
the online marketplace. Send payment to: Local Roots Food Co-op, PO Box 722, Buﬀalo, MN 55313.
Product Listing
As an online producer, you are empowered and solely responsible for your online marketplace presence
including properly detailed product listings, up-to-date availability, numbers, and accurate website
information.
Producers are free to list products for sale when available. Only products with a quantity greater than 0
are to be listed. Producers are expected to list on weeks when they can commit to distributing products
during the distribution hours shown on page 1 of this agreement.
Transparency of products is a requirement of the online marketplace. Producers are asked to use the
descriptions provided on Addendum A: Product Transparency to fully, clearly, and completely describe
the products they are selling.
As an online producer, it is your responsibility to ensure your listings do not infringe on copyrights,
including photograph licenses.
Agreement of Terms
I agree to the terms of this Producer Agreement and Addendum A. I also agree that Local Roots Food
Co-op is NOT liable for any injury, theft, or damage to either the buyer or seller, or their property, arising
out of or pertaining to the preparation for or participation in the Local Roots Food Co-op Online
Marketplace, whether such injury, theft, or damage occurs during the distribution of the online market. I
understand that it is recommended that I carry my own general liability and product liability insurance
because Local Roots Food Co-op does not provide this coverage.
Signature of Seller:________________________________________Date:_________________
Print Name of Seller: ______________________________________
Print Company of Seller: ___________________________________