This session will break down how food hubs can support small and mid-sized farms. We will discuss the power of relationships, developing a value chain, and strategies for success. This session will include a panel of operating food hubs and farmers who work with them, of various locations and  styles, recommendations on how to work with an aggregator, and information on how to get in touch with hubs around the state. 

PRESENTERS

Steve Young-Burns, The Good Acre, Wholesale Manager Steve manages our wholesale program, which fits in with his passion to feed the world, one local, sustainable food item at a time. He coordinates with growers to provide local produce to hunger relief institutions, Farm To School programs, grocery stores, and other wholesalers. His main goals in life are to spend as much of every summer on a bike or in a canoe as possible, and to save points for airplane tickets.

Yee Moua, farmer in Farmington, MN, is a market and wholesale farmer in the Twin Cities metro area. He grows a wide variety of vegetables, and recently purchased a farm and will be spending this winter getting ready for his first season on the new land next spring.

Sara George, Renewing the Countryside, Project Coordinator, Pepin, WI Sara is leading a project working with 9 mostly rural MN farmers’ markets developing systems aggregating farmer vendors to wholesale and institutional buyers. Sara provides TA and training to help markets support their farmers utilize an online marketing platform. Sara is also part of the MN State Farm to School Leadership Team, is a FSMA trainer, manages the Red Wing Farmers market and owns and operates a small produce farm in Pepin, Wisconsin.

Cynthia Johnson, Sprout Growers and Makers Marketplace, Food Systems Program and Outreach Coordinator Little Falls, MN Cynthia entered the community of food hubs as a driver for Sprout’s “Amish Run”, transporting produce from a variety of Amish growers, packing CSA boxes and CSA distribution. She is the food entrepreneur navigator,  coordinates Cooking For Our Neighbors events, and also works in a shared position with SFA as Chapter Coordinator. She is currently building her role as a connector and guide to people and resources, She enjoys exploring foods and cultures, is building her skills in spinning and weaving with natural fibers, and expanding her pollinator garden.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has an Emerging Farmers Office that was created to serve emerging farmers like you. In this session we’ll talk about the priorities of the office and the Emerging Farmers Working Group. We would like to listen to your feedback on how the office and Minnesota Department of Agriculture staff can be an effective resource for you. How do you want to access services? What kinds of communications are useful to you? We look forward to hearing your ideas.

PRESENTERS

Lillian Otieno (she/her) is the current Emerging Farmer Outreach & Engagement Coordinator for the new Emerging Farmer Office at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), Commissioner’s Office, where she also serves on the MDA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. Lillian has worked with the MDA in other outreach roles, most recently with the Produce Safety Program. She is also a 2021 graduate of the State’s Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI). Before joining the MDA Commissioners’ Office, Lillian briefly served as a Public Engagement Liaison with the Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in 2021 – and again, from April -June 2022 with the Governor’s Office in the same role. Her background spans several years in the food safety industry both in retail and manufacturing. A native of Kenya, a proud mom to two beautiful ladies, and a passionate advocate and community leader. Lillian is the President of the Association of Kenyans in America (AKIA), among other community leadership roles and sits on the Books for Africa board. Lillian believes that we can all boldly begin to intentionally address the structural and institutional racist systems of oppression that advance inequity within communities of color. She also believes that relationship building is the foundation that allows for effective engagement and communication that will help break down the “us” versus “them” structures that have plagued state governments and many institutions for decades.

This workshop will facilitate an actual farmer issue caucus. Farmers & co-founders of the Midwest Farmers of Color Collective Zoe Hollomon & Sophia Benrud, will lead an interactive workshop about policy, advocacy and organizing with farmers during this session.  Attending farmers will help generate and prioritize a list of various policy and program issues they care about. The resulting priority list will be part of the notes of the conference and can be used with the conference attendees, partnering organizations and agencies.

PRESENTERS

Zoe Hollomon grew up in Buffalo, NY and began her food justice work with urban youth, immigrant families, and local farmers to support a regional food system for 10 years. She is a multi-racial black, queer, abolitionist farmer and community organizer with over 19 years of experience in food justice and community food systems and policy. Zoe is a founding member of the Rootsprings Land Equity Cooperative, a 36 acre Farm & Retreat Center for BIPOC/ LGBT health & healing in Annandale, MN. She has worked with communities across New York State and the Upper Midwest and has worked with many national and local organizations, including Rooted in Community National Youth & Food Justice Advisory Council, the Minneapolis Food Policy Council, Urban Farm & Garden Alliance, Hmong American Farmers Association, Land Stewardship Project, the Good Food Purchasing Twin Cities Chapter, Toxic Taters Coalition. In 2020 Zoe co-founded the Midwest Farmers of Color Collective, which has over 90 urban, rural and suburban farmers in the midwest in its network.  Zoe has lived in Minneapolis, with her partner Erin since 2012.  She also serves as the Organizing Co-Director for Pesticide Action Network North America, MN lead.  Zoe received her B.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from Cornell University in 2001 and her M.S. in Community Economic Development in 2007.

Sophia Benrud is a Black multiracial queer community organizer, postpartum doula and chef currently residing in Minneapolis, MN. Sophia is the environmental justice organizer and cofounder of  Black Visions a Black led Queer and Trans centering organization committed to strengthening community and community led safely —building connections between BIPOC climate and environmental, food, and healing justice. Sophia is committed to transforming the current movement by centering communities directly impacted by these issues while building stronger movements to break down systemic violence; and a co-founder of Divine Natural Ancestry, a project of 2 seasons that supports community through tools, supplies and knowledge for growing food in BIPOC communities. Sophia is a board member of Spiral Collective an organization supporting people in reproduction, abortion and loss.  During the past two summers Sophia has facilitated youth projects and programs focused on environmental justice through the sierra student coalition.

Growing tomatoes over and over again in the same tunnel can lead to disease pressure and other problems. In this session, three farmers will share the innovative ways that they have diversified the high tunnels on their farms.

PRESENTERS

Aaron Willis and his wife Molly own and operate Little Hill Berry Farm in Northfield, which they started in 2011. They grow certified organic blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, pumpkins and potatoes, focusing on pick-your-own and on farm sales.

Laura Frerichs co-owns and operates Loon Organics, a 40-acre certified organic vegetable farm in Hutchinson, MN. Loon Organics grows produce for a 150-household CSA and wholesales to the local school districts.  Before starting Loon Organics in 2005, Laura worked on over five different vegetable and fruit farms across the country and in Brazil. She is also a certified Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Trainer for the MN PSA Grower Trainings.