Eat the News in Bites: Local Food Community News, March 2021
Every 13th of the month, we’ll recap some of what’s happening in the local food community and how you can get involved. Some of it might make you joyous, some of it might make you pissed, but all of it shows the resilience of Minnesota food folks working toward a regenerative future that nourishes all people, all beings, and the entirety of our living planet.
What’s in this edition?
Women’s Environmental Institute teaches women to grow food and environmental justice
The Hmong American Farmers Association prepares for the 2021 CSA season
The Good Acre trains a new wave of farm-to-school chefs
Twin Cities Relief Initiative honors George Floyd through community food
Slow Food USA hosts the Slow Fish Virtual Gathering
Spotlight: Women’s Environmental Institute
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the work of the Women’s Environmental Institute. WEI is an all-encompassing hub dedicated to empowering women and allies through environmental justice work. WEI’s programming is far-reaching, covering everything from farm equipment training to art therapy. The organization hosts workshops, retreats, field demonstrations and more at their WEI campus in North Branch, Minnesota. Many of their classes teach women the hands-on agricultural training historically only offered to men. The Amador Hill Farm site also houses an organically-certified education farm where WEI members showcase soil building, sustainable farming practices. Over two hundred varieties of produce grow on the farm, many of which go into WEI’s CSA shares. Women’s Environmental Institute also partners with a host of organizations around the greater Twin Cities to further food, environmental, and racial justice.
join in
WEI is hosting lots of exciting workshops this spring. Their next event is a “Love your Tractor” class on March 20th, which will teach participants the ins and outs of tractor operation, maintenance, and safety. Learn more about upcoming classes here.
Sign up for a spring, summer, or fall CSA share from Amador Hill Farm. Shares can be picked up at a number of different spots--see a list of drop-off locations here. Sign up for a share here.
Interested in hands-on work? WEI is hiring farm crew members for the 2021 season. They also welcome volunteers to their farm year-round--sign up here.
Support WEI by donating.
Stay up-to-date on everything happening at Women’s Environmental Institute by subscribing to their newsletter and following them on social media: @w.e.institute (Instagram) and @WEITCROTC (Twitter)
hmong american Farmers association gets ready to grow in 2021
The prominent color out our Minnesota windows is shifting from white to brown to green, which can only mean one thing: spring is arriving! And with spring comes the start of the growing season. Members of the Hmong American Farmers Association are feeling the excitement as they prepare their farms for a bountiful season. HAFA was formed in 2011 to support the Hmong-American farming community and advocate for Hmong-American farmers in the Minnesota food system. The organization helps farmers access land and capital, develop farm business plans, and establish diverse markets for their produce. HAFA operates a 155-acre incubator farm in Vermillion Township, where farmers can lease land and experiment with sustainable farming practices. The HAFA Food Hub aggregates produce from their member-farmers that they sell to the greater Twin Cities community through their Community-Supported Agriculture program and wholesale partners. HAFA farmers grow over 160 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, many of which feature in the CSA shares. CSA customers can choose to buy a spring, summer, or fall share, or all three.
Join In
Registration is now open for the 2021 CSA program. HAFA delivers shares to a number of drop-off locations around the Twin Cities metro--check out the list of drop-off spots here. Read more about the CSA program on their FAQ page.
Sign up for a CSA share here.
Support the Hmong-American Farmers Association by volunteering or donating.
If you are an institutional buyer or chef, you can purchase wholesale produce from HAFA. Learn more about their program here.
Keep up-to-date on all of HAFA’s work by signing up for their email list and following them on social media: @hafafarmers (Instagram and Twitter)
Looking for more CSA options?
Head to the Minnesota Grown website to learn more about community-supported agriculture and search their CSA directory of 80 farms to find a program that works for you.
The Good Acre prepares to welcome second cohort to VoCul program
The Good Acre began working with K-12 schools over five years ago, providing schools with wholesale produce from partner farmers. But they realized that, even with a bounty of fresh produce, area schools couldn’t develop robust farm-to-school programs without enough trained chefs. The Good Acre and partners launched the Vocational Culinary (VoCul) pilot program in 2020 as an innovative way to address these staffing shortages in farm-to-school programs. During the 14-week program, participants learn to bulk cook nutritious, made-from-scratch meals designed to get kids excited about healthy eating. Students learn through a combination of online classes and hands-on kitchen training, and practice their new skills during a four-week internship at one of the program’s partner kitchens. The program is led by renowned local chef Lachelle Cunningham, the founding executive chef of Breaking Bread Cafe and The Good Acre’s Culinary Education Director. Internship host sites currently include Minneapolis Public Schools Culinary and Wellness, Roseville Public Schools, Robbinsdale Public Schools, Eat for Equity, and Chowgirls Catering. VoCul participants receive a weekly living stipend and graduate with their ServSafe certification, armed with the skills necessary to work in any farm-to-school program.
join in
Learn more about the VoCul program during the virtual open house on May 6th. Space is limited, so make sure to RSVP here.
Applications for VoCul’s second cohort (beginning late summer 2021) are now open. Click here to apply.
Support The Good Acre by donating or volunteering.
Stay connected with The Good Acre’s work by signing up for their newsletter and following them on social media: @thegoodacremn (Instagram/Twitter)
twin cities relief initiative honors george floyd through mutual aid
The trial gets underway this month for Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd in May 2020. For many people, the trial brings renewed trauma and memories of last spring’s unrest. After Floyd’s death, the founders of Twin Cities Relief Initiative felt that profound sadness and pain all too clearly. They met each other while volunteering in the aftermath of Floyd’s murder, cooking meals and distributing supplies for protestors at the intersection of 38th St and Chicago Avenue. Amidst that sadness, they recognized the importance of mutual aid as both a means of community empowerment and as a way to honor George Floyd. Twin Cities Relief was born out of that spirit of mutual support, as a nonprofit dedicated to serving the community where it needs it most. The organization provides free meals and essential items to community members in need all around the Twin Cities metro. Since its beginning as a single grill and folding table at George Floyd Square, Twin Cities Relief Initiative has grown to serve over 37,000 people and donate over 95,000 pounds of food. The organization hopes to expand its food distribution and production in 2021, potentially rebuilding community gardens in George Floyd Square and beyond.
join in
Volunteer to help distribute supplies at one of Twin Cities Relief’s events. Check out their website and send them an email to sign up.
Donate to Twin Cities Relief Initiative to ensure supplies are available to everyone who needs them. Click here to donate.
Follow Twin Cities Relief Initiative on social media to keep up-to-date on all of their projects: @twincitiesrelief (Instagram and Facebook)
celebrate seafood at slow fish 2021
Join Slow Food USA for the Slow Fish 2021 Virtual Gathering, March 18th-27th. Slow Fish is an online collective of folks in and around the seafood supply chain—fish harvesters, experts, and enthusiasts—from across North America and around the world working to create more direct and equitable seafood systems. Slow Food is hosting seven days of interactive programming including Deep Dive discussions on critical issues, World Café roundtables, Marketplace of Ideas, music, poetry and more ways to connect, collaborate, and celebrate.
Join in
Register for Slow Fish 2021 here.
Check out the presenters and full session lineup here.
Needs-based scholarships are available for this year’s gathering. Scholarship applications are accepted through March 15th--apply here.
Keep an eye on the Slow Food USA events page for information on all upcoming events.
About Lydia Fermanich
Lydia's relationship with the food system is grounded in communications and environmental stewardship. She has worked in training new sustainable farmers, food access, nutritional outreach, and urban gardening. Lydia is also an avid cross-country skier and outdoor recreationist.