82 FR 18277 - USDA Farmers Market Application; Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 73 (April 18, 2017)

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 Web site at www.usda.gov/farmersmarket.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 73 (Tuesday, April 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18277-18278]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07738]


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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 73 / Tuesday, April 18, 2017 / 
Notices

[[Page 18277]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-17-0028]


USDA Farmers Market Application; Notice of Request for Extension 
and Revision 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 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 Web 
site at www.usda.gov/farmersmarket.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 19, 2017 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Annie Ceccarini, 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 202/577-7462 or Fax 
202/690-0338. Comments should reference docket number AMS-TM-17-0028.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: USDA Farmers Market Application.
    OMB Number: 0581-0229.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval.
    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.
    Two new information collections--the USDA Farmers Market Customer 
Satisfaction Questionnaire and the VegUcation Questionnaire--are being 
requested so that AMS can receive feedback from market customers. The 
purpose of the USDA Farmers Market Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire 
is to learn who our customers are and what their preferences are in 
order to improve the USDA Farmers Market. Fruit and vegetable education 
classes called VegU take place weekly at the USDA Farmers Market. The 
classes are free for anyone to attend and are taught by USDA subject 
matter experts. The purpose of the VegUcation Questionnaire 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.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
is estimated to be .101 hours per response.
    USDA Farmers Market Application:
    Respondents: Farmers and/or small business owners complete to 
participate.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 68.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 68.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 68 hours.
    Participant Agreement:
    Respondents: Vendors accepted into the market submit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 32.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 32.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 0 (burden for this is 
included in the USDA Farmers Market Application).
    Sales Data (weekly):
    Respondents: Vendors accepted into the market submit each week.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 32.

[[Page 18278]]

    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,664.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 52.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 133.12.
    USDA Farmers Market Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire:
    Respondents: Customers at the market complete voluntarily.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 520.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 520.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 41.60.
    VegUcation Questionnaire:
    Respondents: Customers who attend the fruit and vegetable education 
program at the market complete voluntarily.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 520.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 520.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 41.60.
    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:
     Mail: Annie Ceccarini, 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.
     Internet: www.regulations.gov. All written comments should 
be identified with the docket number AMS-TMP-14-0005. 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.

    Dated: April 12, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-07738 Filed 4-17-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P