Farmer Workshop on Direct Marketing of Local Food March 25 in Ortonville

CONTACT: Tom Taylor, LSP, 320-269-2105; ttaylor@landstewardshipproject.org

3/10/10
ORTONVILLE, Minn. — Marketing food raised on family farms will be the subject of a workshop Thursday, March 25, beginning at 7 p.m., at First United Methodist Church of Ortonville (803 Roy Street). This workshop is free of charge, but participants are encouraged to pre-register by contacting the Land Stewardship Project’s Tom Taylor at 320-269-2105 or ttaylor@landstewardshipproject.org.

The growing interest in local foods continues to provide unique marketing opportunities for farmers prepared and willing to align themselves with this movement. This special evening workshop is geared toward farmers that want to learn some of the important ways area producers have found to tap into local foods markets. This diverse presentation will provide good background on how local farmers have successfully pursued different value-added food ventures.

Presenting farmers are: Audrey Arner of Moonstone Farm, a grass based poly-culture beef operation; Mike Jacobs, who operates Easy Bean Farm, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operation; and Helaine Fonder from JMJ North Fork Organics, a certified organic dairy farm.

Moonstone farm, located near Montevideo, has been successful in marketing its production through restaurants and other direct marketing endeavors. Moonstone operates an on-farm store as well as an agri-tourism Broodio that provides farm stays. Easy Bean Farm, which is near the community of Milan, has been a CSA operation since 1999, and during the growing season delivers produce weekly to about 200 shareholders. JMJ North Fork Organics, which is in Milbank, S. Dak., was the first certified organic dairy farm in South Dakota and markets its milk through Organic Valley.

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