Resources & Contacts

People Resources
Other Resources

People Resources to get you started in Local Foods:

Land Stewardship Project
Connect to farmers
Website: www.landstewardshipproject.org
Contact Person: Terry VanDerPol (Community Based Food Systems Program Director)
Phone: 320-269-2105
E-mail: tlvdp@landstewardshipproject.org

Sustainable Farming Association
Connect to farmers
Website: www.sfa-mn.org
Contact Person: Mary Jo Forbord (Executive Director)
Phone: 320-760-8732
E-mail: mforbord@sfa-mn.org

University of Minnesota, Morris
Service-Learning opportunities and student internships to assist and connect with farmers and organizations working on local foods and sustainable agriculture
Website: www.morris.umn.edu
Contact Persons: Jessica Beyer (Center for Small Towns--student interns/assistants); Argie Manolis (UMM Service-Learning); Carol McCannon (UMM Service Projects for students)
Phone & E-mail: Jessica at 320-589-6451, jbeyer@morris.umn.edu
Phone & E-mail: Argie at 320-589-6257, manolis@morris.umn.edu
Phone & E-mail: Carol at 320-589-6083, mccanncs@morris.umn.edu

West Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership
Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign and membership
Website: www.regionalpartnerships.umn.edu
Contact Person: Dorothy Rosemeier (Executive Director)
Phone: 320-760-3735
E-mail: rosemeie@umn.edu

UM Extension
Farmers Market educational assistance and Buy Fresh Buy Local Farmers Market marketing
Web Site: www.extension.umn.edu
Contact Person: Ryan Pesch (Farmer marketer, Extension Regional Educator)
Phone: 218-998-5794
E-mail: pesch@umn.edu

Wine Growers of the Upper Minnesota River Valley
A program that works to connect veteran and novice grape growers, collaborating with the U of M and MN Grape Grower's Association
Contact Person: Audrey Arner (Moonstone Farm, Wine Growers Program convener)
Phone: 320-269-8971
E-mail: moonstone@mvtvwireless.com

Other Resources

Local Food Links
To learn more about buying locally grown and sustainably produced food, visit these links:

Food Routes
Local Harvest
MN Grown
Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
Victory Garden
2007 & 2008 Presentations from Congressman Peterson's Home Grown Economy Conferences

Seasonal Food Guide
Our Seasonal Food Guide can help you become aware of what products are available when so that you know what to expect when you are purchasing local foods. Click here to download our Seasonal Food Guide in PDF format.

Locally Grown Fact Sheets
If you would like to learn about the legalities of buying local foods, download our three fact sheets (in PDF format).

Locally Grown Produce
Sale of Shell Eggs
Meat and Poultry Products

Hosting a Local Foods Dinner
One of the best ways to raise awareness of local foods in your community is to host a local foods dinner. Learn more about the logistics of organizing a local foods dinner by downloading the following information sheets (in PDF format).

Local Foods Dinner Planning Questions and Ideas
Local Foods Dinner Planning Checklist

Farm Beginnings
Farm Beginnings is a Land Stewardship Project initiative that provides opportunities for beginning and transitioning farmers to learn firsthand about values clarification and goal setting, whole farm planning, business plan development, and low-cost, sustainable farming methods.

This year-long training program provides 36 hours of training and hands-on learning opportunities in the form of classroom sessions, farm tours and mentorships.