Venison Donation in Minnesota
— Cody Hanson, Crow River Food Council Member Minnesota deer hunters have the opportunity to donate their harvest to families in need in our [...]
Harvesting and Storing Winter Squash and Pumpkins
— Jamie Stang, Wright County Master Gardener and Master Food Preservation Specialist, Crow River Food Council Member Now that fall is [...]
Cooking Demos Highlight Local Produce
— Colleen Wolbeck, Crow River Food Council Member The Crow River Food Council is driven to make food grown by local producers readily [...]
What is the Food Council up to this Summer?
— Stacy Besonen, Crow River Food Council Member Our group of dedicated community volunteers are working hard to connect our community to local [...]
Farmers Markets Get Social
‘Tis the Season! Yes, I know (and am thankful) that it is not December - but I am positively joyful about fresh, great-tasting, affordable AND [...]
SHIP Supports Growth at HL-W-W High School
Just south of the small town of Howard Lake lies the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School, a school of about 330 students with a robust Future [...]
Buffalo Community Middle School Offers Healthy Variety
The Buffalo Community Middle School Kitchen is all about providing a healthy variety of lunch options for students. Recent changes to our Grab [...]
Winter Farmers’ Markets Offer Hints of Summer Sweetness
— Jeff Aldrich, Crow River Food Council Member. Feature image by Mary Sue Stevens. What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of [...]
Food Council Hosts Farmers Market Managers
— Katie Henson, Crow River Food Council Member As the summer farmers markets came to a close, another gathering took place this fall. All of [...]
Creating a Community that Boosts Local Living
— Colleen Wolbeck, Crow River Food Council Member Can local living create a culture to support our community? “Shop Local” is a phrase [...]
News & updates
Upcoming Events
january
thu16jan - 17jan 168:00 amjan 17Northern Growers & Marketers Conference8:00 am - 6:00 pm (17) St. CloudRiver's Edge Convention Center
Time
16 (Thursday) 8:00 am - 17 (Friday) 6:00 pm
Location
River's Edge Convention Center
St. Cloud
fri24jan - 25All DayEmerging Farmers Conference(All Day) 1890 Buford Ave., St. Paul, MNUniversity of Minnesota Continuing Education & Conference Center
Event Details
"The annual Emerging Farmers Conference (formerly the Immigrant & Minority Farmers Conference) serves to advance the success and sustainability of farmers who traditionally face barriers to the [...]
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Event Details
"The annual Emerging Farmers Conference (formerly the Immigrant & Minority Farmers Conference) serves to advance the success and sustainability of farmers who traditionally face barriers to the education and resources necessary to build profitable agricultural businesses, including immigrant farmers and farmers of color.
REGISTER
This innovative conference focuses primarily on the needs and interests of these farmers, and supports their contributions to local economic development and building healthy communities. It does so by connecting farmers, farm advocates, educators, professionals, experts, and agency officials.
The Emerging Farmers Conference (EFC) is FREE for all farmers and language interpretation is available in Spanish, Hmong, Karen, Bhutanese, Vietnamese, and Somali. Interpretation is based on registration. (We do our best to accommodate all farmers, but cannot guarantee interpretation for last-minute registrations.)
Continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided. Childcare is not provided.
The EFC is a program of Big River Farms. It is planned and hosted by a collaborative of farmers and volunteers, government, nonprofit, and University of Minnesota personnel. "
Time
24 (Friday) - 25 (Saturday)
Location
University of Minnesota Continuing Education & Conference Center
1890 Buford Ave., St. Paul, MN
mon27jan1:00 pm- 5:00 pmBlazing Trails1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Sartell Community Center
Event Details
“Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. Three workshops will be offered in central Minnesota on [...]
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Event Details
“Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. Three workshops will be offered in central Minnesota on January 27, January 28, and February 5, 2020.
This workshop will offer insight into the world of food regulations. It is a chance for anyone with a passion for local farms and local food but is confused or intimidated by food regulations. This program is designed to be valuable to a wide range of people working in local foods markets; farmers, chefs, and business owners are a few of the expected professions of the attendees.
The Central MN Blazing Trails event will be held on January 27th in Sartell from 1:00-5:00 pm, January 28th in Cold Spring from 8:30 am -12:30 pm, and February 5th in Little Falls from 8:30 am -12:30 pm. Light refreshments will be provided. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required: z.umn.edu/centralmnblazingtrails.
This event is hosted by University of Minnesota Extension. For more information on the Blazing Trails project visit: www.misa.umn.edu/resources/blazing-trails. Please contact Katie Drewitz, Local Extension Educator for Horticulture, Small Farms and Local Foods in Stearns, Benton and Morrison Counties with any questions or if you need registration assistance. Katie can be reached at wins0115@umn.edu or 320-255-6169 ext. 1.
Time
(Monday) 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
tue28jan8:30 am- 12:30 pmBlazing Trails8:30 am - 12:30 pm Cold SpringRiverside Inn Events Center
Event Details
“Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. Three workshops will be offered in central Minnesota on [...]
more
Event Details
“Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. Three workshops will be offered in central Minnesota on January 27, January 28, and February 5, 2020.
This workshop will offer insight into the world of food regulations. It is a chance for anyone with a passion for local farms and local food but is confused or intimidated by food regulations. This program is designed to be valuable to a wide range of people working in local foods markets; farmers, chefs, and business owners are a few of the expected professions of the attendees.
The Central MN Blazing Trails event will be held on January 27th in Sartell from 1:00-5:00 pm, January 28th in Cold Spring from 8:30 am -12:30 pm, and February 5th in Little Falls from 8:30 am -12:30 pm. Light refreshments will be provided. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required: z.umn.edu/centralmnblazingtrails.
This event is hosted by University of Minnesota Extension. For more information on the Blazing Trails project visit: www.misa.umn.edu/resources/blazing-trails. Please contact Katie Drewitz, Local Extension Educator for Horticulture, Small Farms and Local Foods in Stearns, Benton and Morrison Counties with any questions or if you need registration assistance. Katie can be reached at wins0115@umn.edu or 320-255-6169 ext. 1.
Time
(Tuesday) 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location
Riverside Inn Events Center
Cold Spring
thu30jan8:30 am- 5:00 pmFSMA Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Course8:30 am - 5:00 pm 21201 Memorial Drive Rogers, Minnesota 55374Rogers Community Center
Event Details
"Who should attend? This one-day training course is for produce growers. If your farm is not excluded or exempt from the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, at least [...]
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Event Details
"Who should attend?
This one-day training course is for produce growers. If your farm is not excluded or exempt from the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, at least one responsible party from your farm must complete a training that uses FDA-recognized curriculum or equivalent. This course meets those requirements. All produce growers interested in learning about produce safety, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and the FSMA Produce Safety Rule are welcome to attend. Contact the MDA Produce Safety Program to learn if your farm is covered by the rule.
What to Expect at the FSMA Produce Safety Rule Training Course?
The training will consist of both practical guidance for implementing Good Agricultural Practices as well as the requirements of FSMA Produce Safety Rule. Key Topics:
- Microorganisims relevant to produce safety and where they may be on the farm
- Practices that reduce risks, and practical methods to implement these practices on the farm
- Parts of the farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
- Requirements of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them
- Your questions on the rule and how it is being implemented in Minnesota
Time
(Thursday) 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Location
Rogers Community Center
21201 Memorial Drive Rogers, Minnesota 55374
Show More Events
february
wed5feb8:30 am- 12:30 pmBlazing Trails8:30 am - 12:30 pm Little FallsMorrison County Commissioner's Board Room
Event Details
“Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. Three workshops will be offered in central Minnesota on [...]
more
Event Details
“Blazing Trails" is a project of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Renewing the Countryside, and the Minnesota Farmers' Market Association. Three workshops will be offered in central Minnesota on January 27, January 28, and February 5, 2020.
This workshop will offer insight into the world of food regulations. It is a chance for anyone with a passion for local farms and local food but is confused or intimidated by food regulations. This program is designed to be valuable to a wide range of people working in local foods markets; farmers, chefs, and business owners are a few of the expected professions of the attendees.
The Central MN Blazing Trails event will be held on January 27th in Sartell from 1:00-5:00 pm, January 28th in Cold Spring from 8:30 am -12:30 pm, and February 5th in Little Falls from 8:30 am -12:30 pm. Light refreshments will be provided. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required: z.umn.edu/centralmnblazingtrails.
This event is hosted by University of Minnesota Extension. For more information on the Blazing Trails project visit: www.misa.umn.edu/resources/blazing-trails. Please contact Katie Drewitz, Local Extension Educator for Horticulture, Small Farms and Local Foods in Stearns, Benton and Morrison Counties with any questions or if you need registration assistance. Katie can be reached at wins0115@umn.edu or 320-255-6169 ext. 1.
Time
(Wednesday) 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location
Morrison County Commissioner's Board Room
Little Falls
sat8feb8:00 am- 5:00 pmSFA Annual Conference8:00 am - 5:00 pm 37 College Ave S, Saint Joseph, Minnesota 56374College of Saint Benedict
Event Details
"The SFA Annual Conference will be Feb. 8, 2020, at the Gorecki Center at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph. Through Jan. 31, members pay $50 [...]
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Event Details
"The SFA Annual Conference will be Feb. 8, 2020, at the Gorecki Center at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph.
Through Jan. 31, members pay $50 and nonmembers $60. Registration will be available to all at the door for $70.
Children's registration from Veggie Buds for ages 3-12 is also open for just $10 and includes all-day programming. Where else can you get all-day child care for $10? Sign up the whole family today.
REGISTER HERE. You must be logged in to your member record to receive the discount. Questions? Email jason@sfa-mn.org or visit our FAQs page. Also:
Session Schedule: Session schedule is now being compiled. Watch the Annual Conference 'Sessions and Features' page for updates.
Friday Social: SFA hosts a FREE pre-conference event, “Meet Your Farmers and Foodies Social & Jam Session,” from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday before the SFA Conference at Minnesota Street Market, 27 Minnesota St W, St. Joseph.
Sponsor/Exhibitors: Registration is also now open for sponsors and exhibitors for SFA's 2020 conferences. Click here to download an application."
Time
(Saturday) 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location
College of Saint Benedict
37 College Ave S, Saint Joseph, Minnesota 56374
wed19feb10:00 amUSDA Midwest Farmers Market Partner Webinars10:00 am
Event Details
Announcement from USDA: Save the following 2020 dates for Midwest Farmers Market Partner Webinars: February 19, 2020 @ 10:00 AM Central May 13, 2020 @ 10:00 AM Central October 14, 2020 @ 10:00 AM [...]
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Event Details
Announcement from USDA:
Save the following 2020 dates for Midwest Farmers Market Partner Webinars:
February 19, 2020 @ 10:00 AM Central
May 13, 2020 @ 10:00 AM Central
October 14, 2020 @ 10:00 AM Central
Sign up HERE to get interesting news and updates from Farmers Market Partners Network delivered to your inbox.
Looking Ahead! USDA will host three Midwest Farmers Market Partner webinars! As always, we are looking for speakers. Is it you? Is this your year? Here is your chance to show off your market, discuss your research or engage other markets in conversation about a certain topic. If you are interested in presenting or have questions or ideas, please contact penny.weaver@usda.gov or call her at 312 353 1647. Details on the first webinar will be out soon.
A USDA Food and Nutrition Service facilitated collaborative of Midwest farmers market coordinators, vendors, educators, federal nutrition program partners and community leaders that meet to discuss the challenges, successes, news, and events of interest to farmers markets.
Time
(Wednesday) 10:00 am