Contact: Marjorie Ross, LSP, 651-653-0618, extension 202

4/9/04
ST. PAUL, Minn.—Buying vegetables, meat and dairy products direct from farmers can be an excellent way to get a top quality, healthful product while supporting local family farmers. But how does an urban or suburban consumer go about networking with such farmers? Find out Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., during the 2004 Community Food and Farm Festival, being held at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds’ Education Building, 1265 Snelling Avenue, St. Paul. There is no admission fee for this event. For more information, call Marjorie Ross in the Land Stewardship Project’s Twin Cities office at 651-653-0618, extension 202, or log onto http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/foodfarm-main.html#links.

During the past six years, the Community Food and Farm Festival has evolved into one of the region’s most popular venues for meeting farmers who are direct marketing various kinds of food. This event is a great opportunity to meet some of these farmers and learn about the foods they have available. At the Festival, farmers will be available to answer questions about the sustainable methods they use to produce foods with minimal environmental impact. Farmers will also be offering CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) memberships and discussing options for consumers to purchase farm products directly.

As in the past, this year’s event will be held in conjunction with the Living Green Expo, a two-day event highlighting options and ideas for sustainable living. Expo exhibits include information and products for clean transportation, energy efficiency, remodeling, yard and garden care, and recycling. For more information on the Living Green Expo, visit http://www.livinggreenexpo.org or call 651-215-0218 or 612-331-1099.

The Community Food and Farm Festival is co-sponsored by the Land Stewardship Project and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Minnesota Grown Program.

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