Food Choices

Many consumers are demanding sustainably-grown products produced in ways that are economically viable, ecologically sound, and socially responsible. In recent years, the fastest growing market segment in the grocery business has been organic and natural foods and foods produced in a healthful, friendly fashion. Traditional farmers and new specialty growers in southeast Minnesota are looking to tap into this rapidly developing market.

The Land Stewardship Project office in Lewiston, Minnesota promotes sustainable farming in rural communities and emphasizes the marketing of fresh area foods such as those featured by Dennis Rabe, in the accompanying photograph, at his swine farm near Lake City. Dennis and wife, Sue, have a sustainable farming operation and market their high-quality pork products directly to the public in southeast Minnesota.

The Land Stewardship Project has undertaken a special initiative called Food Choices. Food Choices is a long-term effort that involves

* producers
* processors
* distributors
* institutions
* retailers
* and consumers.

By inter-linking the different interests in the food chain, Food Choices is helping to create a regional food system. The establishment of a regional food system will create an invaluable piece of infrastructure providing new economic opportunities for farmers, growers, and processors.

One goal of Food Choices is to develop a verification system for foods grown through sustainable practices. Consumers currently have difficulty in knowing the conditions under which food is grown, raised, or produced. Food Choices is helping to set standards for sustainably raised meats that will encourage consumers to make food choices that fit with their priorities. Once the standards have been tested and refined, inspectors will offer seals of approval to farms that meet product-specific, environmental and social guidelines.

A second activity of Food Choices is assisting a new cooperative of swine producers. The cooperative is characterized by valued-added and sustainable production and is working to implement a business plan. One priority of the plan is marketing. They are discussing innovative ways to

* promote
* order
* process
* store
* and deliver products from the cooperative

Again, this effort is central to establishing a regional food network that localizes food chain links and supports a homegrown economy that brings new opportunities to farming in the region.

The Land Stewardship Project has been central to the faculty discussions of the Southeast Minnesota Foods Working Group’s proposed University collaboration. A variety of University faculty has been called upon for individual consultations on the Food Choices Project. Land Stewardship has had a history of involving University of Minnesota resources in field days, marketing training, farm policy and organizational development work.

A project supported by the Experiment in Rural Cooperation (651 345 4336).