Chad Hofsommer of Diamond Willow Corral with one of his piglets
It’s New Year’s Eve, time to take stock of 2021 and plan for the year ahead--and maybe even make some new year’s resolutions. How about resolving to buy your food more locally in 2022? I’m often asked by folks who want to support the local food system where to go, how to begin. And of course, as the manager of Virginia Market Square farmers market, I always suggest starting there...you can find your local farmers market at www.arrowheadgrown.org.
I also often suggest buying from retailers who make a special effort to carry local foods. Natural Harvest Food Coop in Virginia is all about local. And F&D Meats in Virginia has recently opened a local section—check it out! Virginia’s Canelake’s Candies is now carrying Red Lake Nation foods, local pasta by Nana’s Noodles, local pet treats, and Homestead Mills pancake and bread mixes. There are also Facebook pages/groups like Farm Direct Minnesota and Iron Range Grown where you can post a request for local food and usually get several replies. You can search for local growers who sell online and buy from them via Open Food Network (https://openfoodnetwork.net ) And last but not least, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture publishes an annual “Minnesota Grown” directory that is available online (https://minnesotagrown.com/ )
Dircks Farm Eggs
Based on the Grown on the Range profiles I’ve written and on my experience with area farmers markets, I’m going to offer a few options for those of you who are wanting specifics on where to buy direct from the local grower. If you want local eggs, Kudrle Farms (profile 57) sells them (www.kudrlefarms.com ) and you can get Dircks Farm eggs (profile 45) at Natural Harvest Food Coop. If you want to adopt your own chickens and produce your own eggs, watch out for city ordinances (Virginia does not allow but Mt. Iron and Britt do) and order unusual hens from the Eclectic Carton (see profile 34) https://www.facebook.com/the.eclectic.carton . If it’s local milk you’re after, you can purchase it right from the cow at Rice River Holsteins (profile 26) in Angora. Or, you can buy Johnston’s Riverview Farm milk (they are located near Floodwood and are the successors to Dahl’s Sunrise Dairy (profile 21) at Natural Harvest Food Coop.
If you’re looking for something rather unusual, like Brix-tested nutrient-dense food, then Craig Turnboom’s Skunk Creek Farm (profile 5) is where you’ll want to check ( https://www.skunkcreekfarm.net/ ) Or maybe you’d like local mushrooms—head to Homestead Ponds booth at the Grand Rapids Farmers Market (profile 7) or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Homestead.Ponds/ . If it’s flowers you’re after, even a weekly bouquet, Owl Forest Farm (profile 16) has acres full. https://www.facebook.com/owlforestfarm Perhaps you’re craving a northern-Minnesota-made wild rice burger? Check out Kelly G’s Wild Rice Burgers (see profile 19), made in Bovey, at https://kellygswildriceburgers.wordpress.com/about/ Or maybe you need some local honey to sweeten up your life. Try Early Frost Farms (profiles 2 & 25) in Embarrass https://www.earlyfrostfarms.com/ On the other hand, if spicy is what you’re after, go for Min’s Korean Kimchi https://www.facebook.com/MinMadeIt (profile 54)
Min Baker with her authentic Kimchi
Buying meat directly from the farmer is a great way to support local food. None of the Iron Range livestock farmers described below used confined animal feedlots or antibiotics. All of the animals are outside with access to shelter. I’ve written about Helstrom Farms (grass fed beef), Diamond Willow Corral (grass fed beef, barley and pastured pork), Bear Creek Acres (beef and pork all natural feed), Kudrle Farms (chicken, turkey and duck free range), and Willow Sedge Farm (grass fed beef, traditionally-fed pork, chicken, turkey). You can learn more about each of their operations in profiles 3, 20, 23, 41, 57 and by visiting their websites or facebook pages: www.helstromfarms.com , https://www.facebook.com/diamondwillowcorral , www.bearcreekacres.com , www.kudrlefarms.com , www.janesfarm.com . I’ll be writing soon about Grass Meadows Farm (grass fed beef and pork).
Lavalier’s Berry Patch and Orchard (profile 32) sells apples and berries and pumpkins and cherries https://www.lavaliersberrypatch.com/ and Peterson’s Berry Farm (profile 12) sells blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and maple syrup https://www.facebook.com/petersonsberryfarm in season. If you like your fruits made into jellies and jams, check with a Cottage Foods vendor. In Minnesota, jams, jellies, pickles and baked goods fall under “Cottage Foods,” non-hazardous foods made at home under a license exemption from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Many Cottage Food producers sell at craft shows and holiday markets year round. And some sell via Facebook or out of their homes. Check out Heather Mahoney’s Facebook page as an example (Profile 58) at https://www.facebook.com/heathershomegoodsembarrassmn or Rob and Jill Hietala’s page (profile 4) https://www.facebook.com/FloodwoodRiverfarms (try the pickled garlic and kohlrabi). Most Cottage Food producers sell at area farmers markets from June through October (profiles 1, 2, 29 & 52). To go with all that jam and jelly, Karl’s Bread (profile 30) is the ticket! The Jonas family sells their signature sourdough bread along with bagels, buns, pulla, biscotti, cinnamon rolls and focaccia at several area farmers markets. This year, they’ve also been baking through the winter and delivering orders to Iron Range communities. Kristine Jonas usually posts on her Facebook page when they’ll be baking and taking orders.
Microgreens growing at Alfred Smith’s Farm
While we’re in the deep of winter, we can dream about the wonderful produce of summer and find new recipes to enjoy the carrots and tomatoes and squash that farmers and growers will be starting from seed soon. If you want local seed, tried and true on the Range, check out Will and Jackie Clay Atkinson’s Seed Treasures at www.seedtreasures.com (profile 18). There’s no need to go without fresh veggies all winter—Alfred Smith’s Farm sells microgreens all year long (profile 61) www.alfredsmithsfarm.com and also will offer a limited number of CSA shares in 2022. The only other CSA in the area is Fat Chicken Farm (profile 27). We need more CSAs on the Range if you’re looking for a business opportunity!
That wraps up my tips on buying local food. All of you other veggie and fruit growers that I’ve written about so far, (profiles 1,2,4,5,14,22,29,31,52,54,56,57,58,59,61), I wish you good growing! Past profiles at www.irpsmn.org/directory-of-profiles
Jackie Clay Atkinson saving squash seeds