Working Together, Promoting Local Foods

Minnesotans care about their farms and their foods, and it shows! The state has an amazing array of government, non-profit and for profit organizations working to strengthen and support the local food economy and bring great local foods to Minnesotans. Among other things, these groups all work to promote local foods. Recognizing our shared and varied goals we came together to discuss local foods issues and promote one another’s work.

Visit our partner’s websites to learn more about their work, and stay tuned as this valuable collaboration develops.

Edible Twin Cities is a Twin Cities magazine that celebrates the abundance of local foods, season by season.

Food Alliance Midwest is a collaborative program by two non-profit organizations, Cooperative Development Services (CDS) and the Land Stewardship Project (LSP). Food Alliance Midwest operates a farm and ranch certification program that creates market incentives for sustainable agricultural practices. To earn certification, farms and ranches undergo a third-party site inspection that determines performance on environmental criteria, including: conservation of soil and water, protection of wildlife habitat, reduced pesticide use and toxicity through integrated pest management, and planning for continuous environmental improvement.

The Green Routes website is an easy-to-use tool to help you find one-of-a-kind places to eat throughout Greater Minnesota. The website also identifies unique places to play, shop, sleep, and learn—places where the owners are committed to using principles of sustainability in managing their enterprises.

Choose restaurants that display the Heartland Food Network logo. These establishments and participating distributors actively support local farmers and communities by purchasing local foods.

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.

Land Stewardship Project (LSP) features two farmer directories: the Stewardship Food Network (a list of LSP farmer and retailer members marketing sustainably-produced vegetables, fruits and grains, meats and dairy product) and a 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.

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.

Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) 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. Membership is open to farmers and nonfarmers.

On Minnesota Food Association's website find out about joining May Farm CSA, information about how we assist immigrant farmers, details on our newly instituted food brokering program, and more about all our work in relocalizing our area's food system.

The Minnesota Grown Program features a statewide directory of nearly 650 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.

The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) has a mission to foster connections between the sustainable agriculture community and the University of Minnesota. MISA's website includes links to local food directories, informative publications about local food, and contact information for staff members who can answer questions and help people make connections with researchers.

Renewing the Countryside profiles innovative examples of small food makers, farmers, and other rural entrepreneurs across the country.

The Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota supports the development and enhancement of sustainable farming systems through innovation,demonstration, education, and farmer-to-farmer networking. We are a nonprofit organization with members and chapters located throughout Minnesota.

The UMN Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships create partnerships between communities and their 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 and our neighbors.