Educating Growers and Buyers The Minnesota Agroforestry Cooperative (MAC), a producer-owned cooperative, focuses on the economic gain and stability of the producer. Its goal is to collectively raise and market agro-forestry products for profit. The Co-op also aims to educate prospective growers about hybrid poplars and create public awareness about the advantages of agricultural fiber […]
Medicinal Herbs on the Urban Fringe
Unique Income Source Renne Soberg was raised on his family’s dairy farm in Lakeville, Minnesota, where his family have been farming since the 1890s. The farm, greatly reduced in size after surviving many permutations, is now under Renne’s care. After working in Washington for the USDA, Renne returned to Minnesota to finish his education, and […]
MOM’s
An Enterprising Family Minnesota Organic Milk (MOM’s) is a successful family-run organic dairy that sells their dairy products to numerous Twin Cities food co-operatives and grocery stores. The Hartman’s –Mike, Diane and Mike’s brother, Roger, are the family behind this successful enterprise. “When we were planning this, we had 52 farms lined up to go,” […]
Liberty, Land and Livestock
“On the Farm” Located in Hutchinson, Minnesota, The Lamb Shoppe is what owners Connie Karstens and Doug Rathke call their “on the farm” retail outlet for specialty meat from their farm Liberty, Land, and Livestock. Liberty, Land and Livestock is a 180-acre farm that allows Dorset sheep and Jersey cattle to graze freely on pasture […]



