Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association Insurance Program
(Insurance provided through Stearns Insurance Services)

The Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association (MFMA) continues to work closely with Stearns Insurance Services to provide a low cost liability insurance program available exclusively to MFMA members! MFMA members (both Market and Vendor membership levels), may take advantage of this program starting in 2012.

Plan Features

General Liability Insurance including Products and Completed Operations

Limits of Liability: $5,000,000 aggregate

$2,000,000 per occurrence

$250.00 Deductible per claim

Policy term: March 1, 2012 to March 1, 2013

Underwritten by Atain Specialty Insurance Company, AM Best A rated

Coverage Guidelines & Eligibility

Market Insurance: – Your Farmers’ Market must be an MFMA member to be eligible for this member benefit.

-Market size is limited to the “average # of vendors per event multiplied by the # of

events in the policy year” being less than or equal to 1,500. Examples:

Eligible market: 20 vendors x 75 events = 1,500 or 30 vendors x 45 events = 1,350

Ineligible market: 30 vendors x 52 events = 1,560

Vendor Insurance: – A vendor must be an MFMA member to be eligible for this member benefit.

-Vendors will have coverage at any established* farmers’ market or established* event in

the state of Minnesota.

-Ineligible markets & vendors: Individual insurance programs are available for markets and vendors who do not qualify for this program. Please contact Stearns Insurance Services for an individual proposal.

-No concessionaires are eligible. For example, vendors who sell pizza, hamburgers, or pop meant to be

consumed onsite while at the market are ineligible for this program.

-Only small, one-of-a-kind, non-mass-produced crafts will be permitted to be sold.

-Only locally grown/raised products are eligible for this program.

-Premiums will be charged as a flat amount for the policy period. No refunds for cancellations. No reduced premiums for late entry into the policy period.

-Premiums noted include all processing fees and state taxes.

-Insurance is only valid in the state of Minnesota.

-Coverage is valid at your market only. There isn’t any coverage for sales from your home.

-See the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s website for Farmers’ Market food safety guidelines.

-Contact the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association (MFMA) for market or vendor membership.

-A certificate of insurance will be emailed or mailed to you as your proof of insurance.

Definitions

*          Established Farmers’ Market or Established Event: Market or event is formally organized, has a board of directors, and is insured.

**        Food-Unprocessed: Vendors who grow their own food products and do not process. Food goes directly from the ground to the stand. Examples: tomatoes, apples, potatoes, flowers, and plants.

***      Food Processed: Vendors who grow their own food products and perform processing before sale. Examples: jam, jelly, honey, maple syrup, bread, baked goods, and spices. This category also includes cut meat, eggs, and mushrooms.

****    Food-Unprocessed/Processed, Crafts: Vendors who grow and/or process their own food products AND/OR sell small, one-of-a-kind, non-mass produced crafts. Examples: jewelry, soap, birdhouses, and hand-made wearable items.

For more information on the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association (MFMA) and to apply online for your MFMA membership and/or general liability insurance, go to www.mfma.org and click on the “Memberhsip” tab at the top of the page for membership information, and click on the “Resources” tab at the top of the page for insurance information.