Transportation and Marketing Program; Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection, 72442-72443 [2022-25744]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 226 (Friday, November 25, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72442-72443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25744]


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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 226 / Friday, November 25, 2022 / 
Notices

[[Page 72442]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-22-0081]


Transportation and Marketing Program; Request for Extension 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 
extension of a currently approved collection titled ``Local Food 
Directories and Survey'' (OMB 0581-0169). 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.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 24, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this notice. Comments should be submitted online at https://www.regulations.gov or mailed to Edward Ragland, Marketing Services 
Division, Transportation and Marketing Program, Agricultural Marketing 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, 
Room 1529, South Building, Ag Stop 0269, Washington, DC 20250-0269. All 
comments should reference docket number (AMS-TM-22-0081), the date, and 
the page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All 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.

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 1529, South Building, Ag Stop 0269, Washington, DC 20250-0269; 
Telephone (202) 720-8317; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2020, the survey of the farmers market 
sector was administered by the National Agricultural Statistical 
Service, (NASS). AMS plans to partner again with NASS in 2025 to survey 
the farmers market sector. 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 
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.
    Title: Local Food Directories and Survey.
    OMB Number: 0581-0169.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2023.
    Type of Request: 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. 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 collection of 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 a single farm operation that sells 
agricultural and/or horticultural products directly to customers on its 
farm property or on property adjacent to its farm. Most products sold 
at the on-farm market are either grown on the proprietor's farm or are 
sourced from neighboring farms. 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 enterprise is defined as a farm or network/association of 
multiple farms that offer customers regular (usually weekly) deliveries 
of locally-grown farm products during one or more harvest season(s) on 
a subscription or membership basis. Customers have access to a selected 
share or range of farm products offered by a single farm

[[Page 72443]]

or group of farmers based on partial or total advance payment of a 
subscription or membership fee. The up-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 to multiple buyers from multiple producers, primarily local 
and regional producers, to strengthen the ability of these producers to 
satisfy local and regional 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: 0.26.
    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.

Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-25744 Filed 11-23-22; 8:45 am]
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