LITTLE FALLS, Minn. — Central Minnesota’s specialty crop producers (e.g., fruit and vegetable, grass-finished beef, pastured dairy, honey, maple syrup, breads baked with heritage grains, etc.), bakers, and other interested farmers and consumers are invited to attend the Sustainable Farming Association Central Chapter’s annual meeting from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat., Jan. 14, at the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace, 609 13th Ave NE, Door 8, Little Falls, Minn.
The event, “Wellness from the Ground Up: How to Market the True Value of Your Farm’s Products,” will include a chef demonstration and panel discussion to teach farmers about marketing the true value of their products, such as explaining to consumers the important connection between soil health and nutrient density of the food produced in it, how to cook with whole foods, and the talk track consumers are hearing from nutritionists and health managers within our area healthcare facilities. Plus, attendees will enjoy a locally sourced meal prepared by Chef Tom Zimmerman of The Black and White as well as a tour of the Sprout facility.
The panel will be monitored by an SFA board member, and panelists include Zimmerman, Christian Klatt of the USDA Plant Science Research Unit, Alicia Bauman of Lakewood Health Systems, and Audra Zastro from CentraCare.
“The annual meeting is a family friendly event that brings informal farmer-to-farmer and farmer-to-consumer networking to our Central Minnesota family farms,” said Jim Chamberlin, SFA Board Member from Deerwood, Minn. “On Jan. 14 we will learn more about what consumers care about and how we as farmers can address those concerns with our dairy, meat and produce. We know consumers want to buy from family farms that use environmentally and economically sound agricultural practices, but we don’t always know how to explain in simplified terms how and why the food we produce is better than processed or non-local food.”
Cost is $10 per adult for SFA members; $25 non-members; $40 includes individual membership and meal; $60 includes farm membership and 2 meals (children under 16 eat free).
Information/registration: www.sfamn.org/central or contact Lisa Baker at 320.309.0746 or central@sfa-mn.org.
— Sustainable Farming Association
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