Your guide to finding fresh food produced right here in the Northern Wilds
There’s nothing like the taste of a homegrown tomato or a handful of sugarsnap peas fresh off the vine to tell you that summer is here. Fresh, locally grown vegetables are not just available to gardeners, either. Consumers from Thunder Bay to Duluth to the Iron Range can find locally grown produce in an increasing number of venues all over the region this summer.
Farmer’s markets, co-ops and grocery stores as well as many restaurants are depending on local producers to provide meats, dairy products and fresh fruits and vegetables for their customers.
“It’s very exciting, and it’s also happening regionally and nationwide,” says Melinda Spinler, a grower for a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture, a local food subscription service) in Cook County. She serves on the board of the Minnesota Sustainable Development Project and is also active in the Lake Superior Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association.
One reason for this surge of interest, she maintains, is taste. “The taste is more intense, and they’re served at their peak.”
More often than not, local produce is organic. Consumers today are much more aware of wanting to eat foods that haven’t been treated with chemicals, Spinler noted. There’s an economic incentive, too. By supporting local growers, you are helping the local economy and providing a base for food security in the future.
All of these factors play into the increasing consumer interest in buying food that is grown in their neighborhoods, said Ardy Nurmi-Wilberg, executive director of the Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability, which is based in Virginia. The partnership was formed three years ago as an information and networking hub for sustainability. Its annual convention, called the Iron Range Earth Fest, has become one of the biggest gatherings of its kind in the state. The “Everyday Guide to Sustainable Living on the Iron Range” includes a guide to finding farmer’s markets and local food producers in the region.
Duluth has one of the oldest farmer’s markets in the region (it celebrates its 100th anniversary this year) and producers sell fruit, vegetables and crafts as well as eggs and poultry.
Thunder Bay is another a great place to find locally produced food. There are three farmer’s markets there during the summer as well as pick-your-own opportunities at Belluz Farms and Mountain View Farms and locally made cheese at the Thunder Oak Cheese Farm. It’s always advisable to call ahead at pick-your-own establishments to see what’s available.
