Local Food Resources
Minnesota has an amazing array of government, nonprofit, and for profit organizations working to strengthen and support the local food economy and bring great local foods to Minnesotans. Here is a partial list of resources related to local foods and sustainable agriculture.
Edible Twin Cities is a quarterly magazine that promotes the abundance of local foods in the Twin Cities area and surrounding communities. The magazine celebrates family farmers, chefs, food artisans, farmers’ market vendors and other food-related businesses committed to high quality, seasonal, locally grown products.
Phone: 612.229.0498
http://www.edibletwincities.net
Food Alliance Midwest, a program of Cooperative Development Services and the Land Stewardship Project, certifies farms and ranches that use sustainable agriculturalpractices. Visit the Food Alliance website to find a list of retail stores that carry Food Alliance certified products.
Food Cooperatives(co-ops) are grocery stores that are owned by their members. Many coops carry a variety of local products, especially natural food cooperatives. Anyone can shop at a co-op and while a few maintain their “crunchy” stereotype, most are modern, full-service groceries. Minnesota has more than forty consumer food co-ops. Find locations, store names and telephone numbers online at www.coopdirectory.org/directory.htm#Minnesota. Visit the Twin Cities Natural Food co-op website for farmer profiles and many great recipes.
Phone: 651.209.3382
http://www.coopdirectory.org/directory.htm#Minnesota
Green Routes, an initiative run by Renewing the Countryside, helps people find one-ofa- kind places to eat throughout greater Minnesota. A website and glove box maps also identify unique places to play, shop, sleep, and learn — places where the owners are committed to using principles of sustainability in managing their enterprises.
Phone: 612.871.1541
The Heartland Food Network, facilitated by the Minnesota Project, encourages the purchasing of local, sustainable or organic foods. Restaurants and distributors who participate in the network actively support local farmers and communities by purchasing local foods. Choose restaurants that display the Heartland Food Network logo!
Phone: 651.645.6159
http://www.heartlandfoodnetwork.org
The Homegrown Heartland Online Marketplace is a website that makes finding local foods easy for chefs, caterers and institutional dining establishments. Local farmers, producers, and food distributors update the site regularly so food buyers know what is and will be available. The website is a joint project of the Heartland Food Network (a program of Minnesota Project) and Renewing the Countryside
http://www.heartlandfoodnetwork.org
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy based in Minneapolis, advocates for policies and collaborates on projects that promote a healthy and local food system that strengthens agriculture’s economic vitality. IATP works on issues of food and health, agriculture and the environment, and making local, sustainably-grown foods available in low-income neighborhoods. ATP oversees the sow the seeds Fund that supports our local food system.
Phone: 612.870.0453
Land Stewardship Project features two farmer directories: the Stewardship Food Network — a list of LSP farmer and retailer members marketing sustainably-produced vegetables, fruits grains, meats and dairy product — and its Directory of CSA Farms delivering to shareholders in the Twin Cities metro area. This website also provides links to numerous other farmer lists, organizations and resources that connect consumers to fresh, local foods.
Phone: 651.653.0618
http://www.landstewardshipproject.org
The Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Association provides an online directory to great independent lodgings across the state. Choose from a Victorian mansion to a peaceful cottage in the woods, from a lakeside castle to a log house, from a former hospital to a former church. Many bed and breakfasts incorporate local ingredients into their menus. Ask about local foods when you make your reservation.
Phone: 651.438.7499
http://www.minnesotabedandbreakfasts.org
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Sustainable Agriculture and IPM Programs provides farmers and consumers with information and programs on organic production practices, certification, market trends and other topics.
Phone: 651.201.6012
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/about/divisions/agdev.htm
Minnesota Cooks brings together well-known chefs, farmers, and celebrities to discuss and celebrate the great foods produced in Minnesota. Through events, an annual calendar and a website, Minnesota Cooks shares stories of farmers and chefs, creative photography, recipes and essays. Minnesota Cooks is presented by Minnesota Farmers Union, Food Alliance Midwest, and Renewing the Countryside.
Phone: 651.639.1223
Minnesota Farmers Union is a nonprofit membership-based organization that works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. MFU is the founder and co-presenter of Minnesota Cooks events and website.
Phone: 651.639.1223
Minnesota Food Association works to build a more sustainable food system. MFA operates the Agricultural Training Center at Wilder Forest with the goal of relocalizing food systems. Programs include the May Farm CSA, the New Immigrant Agriculture Project, Big River Foods (a food distribution service), and a program that delivers fresh, local produce to area food shelves.
Phone: 651.433.3676
http://www.mnfoodassociation.org
The Minnesota Grown Program is a statewide partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesotans who grow or raise specialty crops and livestock. The Minnesota Grown Program features a statewide directory of nearly 700 farmers, markets, and CSA’s who market directly to consumers. Search on-line by product or location or request a free printed copy by mail.
Phone: 651.201.6510
The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture fosters connections between the sustainable agriculture community and the University of Minnesota. MISA’s website includes links to local food directories, publications and a calendar of events. Two recent publications include: Local Food: Where to Find It, How to Buy It (2005) and Marketing Local Foods (2007), a publication for farmers. Both are available at the MISA website.
Phone: 612.625-8235
Renewing the Countryside works to build a healthy food system by providing information and resources to eaters, farmers, food buyers and others. Through events, publications and online tools, RTC creatively brings the issues to life. RTC co-presents Minnesota Cooks, the Healthy Local Foods exhibit at the EcoExperience, and the Homegrown Heartland online marketplace for chefs, food buyers, and farmers. RTC also coorinates Green Router.
Phone: 612.625-8235
http://www.renewingthecountryside.org
The Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota supports the development and enhancement of sustainable farming systems through innovation, demonstration, education, and farmer-to-farmer networking. Chapters are located throughout Minnesota and many include local directories of farms and products.
Phone: 612.625-8235
The UMN Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships create partnerships between communities and the University of Minnesota that encourage production and use of locally grown foods and the development of self-reliant regional systems that provide nutritious food, nurture healthy environments and create economic opportunities for the people of Minnesota.
Phone: 612.625.8235