On Sunday, April 26th, the Clair Nelson Center in Finland, MN, hosted its first Farm to Market mini-conference. This debut event provided a comprehensive guide to the “ins and outs” of launching a small food business, drawing 20 attendees ranging from casual home gardeners to professional farm managers.
The atmosphere was fueled by lively conversation regarding the vital need to bring more local food to the proverbial table. Because Lake County does not currently have a dedicated Agriculture Educator, organizers encourage residents to reach out to the St. Louis or Cook County Extension offices with ongoing agricultural questions.
The conference was free to the public, made possible by the Laura Jane Musser Fund, marking the kickoff of a yearlong series of funded events.
The day featured three specialists from the University of Minnesota, each addressing a critical pillar of food production:
• Autumn Stoll (Food Safety Extension Educator): Autumn opened with a deep dive into Minnesota’s Cottage Food Law. She provided an overview of how to safely and legally produce food in a home kitchen, covering essential safety practices and requirements for selling directly to consumers.
• Annalisa Hultberg (Statewide Food Safety Educator): Annalisa focused on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). She discussed methods farmers can use to reduce foodborne illness risks and shared strategies for keeping produce safe when selling to institutional buyers like schools, hospitals, and restaurants.
• Jane Grimsbo Jewett (Associate Director of the MN Institute for Sustainable Agriculture): Jane tackled the regulations surrounding animal proteins. She explained the “Product of the Farm” exclusion, navigated the complexities of licensing, and offered advice on finding approved food-processing spaces.
Between sessions, attendees enjoyed a catered curry lunch provided by Baptism River BBQ.
The conference concluded with a networking session to share resources and discuss possible future workshops of Nourish the North. A workshop series organized by the North Shore AgroEcology Center and the Finland Food Chain.
The North Shore AgroEcology Center serves as a research and demonstration farm for regenerative agriculture, while the Finland Food Chain works to build the infrastructure and skills necessary for a thriving local food economy.
Upcoming Workshops
Many of the workshops are free and open to the public. Mark your calendars for May 30th (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) for a Mushroom Cultivation class at the AgroEcology Center. Other upcoming topics the workshops will focus on include:
• Soil health and garden pest control
• Raising proteins (meat, eggs, and dairy)
• Hands-on builds, including a cider press
• Chicken butchery and miso making
• Artisan bread and cheesemaking Beyond education, the initiative is working to establish an Equipment Lending Library. Supported by the Laura Jane Musser Fund and a grant from the LaBounty Family Fund, the library will allow community members to check out specialized tools such as:
• Food dehydrators and canning equipment
• Sausage grinders and stuffers
• Chicken pluckers
For more information regarding upcoming workshops or the equipment lending library, please contact:
Charlotte Hughes: farmmanager@organicconsumers.org
Laurie Kallinen: laurie@friendsoffinland.org
