Renewing the Countryside

The 2025 FEAST Local Foods Network Tradeshow was one for the books!! There were 60 food and beverage businesses who attended and made connections with buyers from schools, co-ops and more. It was a strong day for local foods systems AND we had the chance to say thank you to SMIF President Tim Penny for all he’s done for the local foods movement. Renewing the Countryside is a founding partner of Feast, which launched in 2014, along with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and Compeer Financial.

In February, RTC team members hit the road for the Rochester Farm to School Roadshow, connecting with the people working hard to keep fresh, local food in schools. With USDA funding cuts hitting local producers and Farm to School programs, that work is getting even tougher. Now, more than ever, we must show up, speak up, and fight for a stronger local food system. ???? Get the full story on what these cuts mean for our communities: [ https://lnkd.in/gKn7T4AM ] #FarmToSchool #SupportLocal #KeepFoodLocal For those without a subscription to the West Central Tribune who want to stay in the loop, click here [ https://lnkd.in/gFybCfPW ]

The federal funding freeze is disrupting grants, payments, and essential programs, creating real challenges for farmers, organizations, and communities. If you’ve been affected, we want to hear your story. Click the link to share your experience: https://lnkd.in/gEs82dmR Your voice strengthens our fight for resources and supports sustainable agriculture needs now more than ever.

What a powerful day advocating for small farms, farmland access, farm to school, local foods and sustainable agriculture RTC was a co-host and sponsor at the Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Family Breakfast and Lobby Day. RTC’s Sara George spoke on Farm to School during breakfast and many RTC staffers attended lobby meetings throughout the afternoon, speaking to local legislators about our good work. To quote Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, “Building something that people want to be a part of matters.” #farmlandacess #farmtoschool #farmtoearlycare #smallfarms #farmtokids #SustainableAgriculture #localfoods #renewingthecountryside

Last year, Renewing the Countryside received a grant from Compeer Financial's Rural Fund for America to help connect volunteers with emerging farmers. The grant is aimed to connect communities with farming operations through hands-on experiences while building infrastructure for two farms. Last month, RTC staffer Matt Barthelemy and Courtney Tchida from Wild Farm Alliance organized 18 volunteers at the Minnesota Tool Library to build 10 nest boxes for Urban Ventures Farm. Urban Ventures, a nonprofit with an urban farming program, sells its produce at a pay-what-you-can market in South Minneapolis at Midtown Greenway & 5th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408. Despite minimal prior building experience, participants exceeded expectations, constructing 18 nest boxes. Twelve will be installed at two farm sites to support Avian pest control, while the remaining six went home with volunteers, including one placed at Macalester College’s student garden! ???

Exhibitor spots for the 2025 FEAST! Tradeshow are full, but attendee registration is still open! If you're a food & bev entrepreneur who'd like to join us for networking and the Founders Forum, or a support service industry professional, you can still sign up to be a part of this one-of-a-kind #localfoodstradeshow — head to https://lnkd.in/gsbY8rB6 to learn more and sign up!

How grateful we are for passionate and resilient staff ready to speak up! Last weekend, RTC Staffer Sara George trekked to Chippewa Falls, WI to attend a town hall discussion hosted by the Wisconsin Farmers Union where farmers expressed concerns about the future of the industry to State Representatives Christian Phelps and Jodi Emerson, State Senator Jeff Smith, and US Representative Mark Pocan. Legislators in attendance agreed to hold an agricultural roundtable again in the future. They are also encouraging anyone with questions or concerns to contact their offices.

The RTC team had an incredible weekend at the Marbleseed Organic Farming conference this past weekend. It was great connecting with longtime friends & partners, those new to RTC, and taking in all the educational sessions over the weekend. If you missed us in the exhibit hall, visit renewingthecountryside.org to learn more about our current projects and initiatives!

It's CSA Week!! Did you know that for Renewing the Countryside's Farm to Early Care initiative, CSA boxes are purchased from partners such as the Hmong American Farmers Association and delivered to roughly 10 Early Childcare providers across the east side of St. Paul?! We love that this initiative brings fresh, local food to our youngest eaters and introduces them to new foods & flavors! #CSA #CommunitySupportedAgriculture #CSAWeek #farmtoearlycare #localfood #localfoodsystems

All kinds of wholesale buyers come to the FEAST! Local Foods Tradeshow in Cannon Falls, MN to discover a wide range of local products— from meat and cheese to specialty sauces to sweet treats and more. For this video, FEAST! team member Matt Barthelemy from Renewing the Countryside had a fun chat with Tammy from Strawberries Galore & More, a farm store in Albany, MN. We're just past the 5-week mark until this year's event on March 20! Vendor registration is still going but we're almost full—buyer and industry attendee registration is ongoing. Learn more at local-feast.org/tradeshow #localfeast #localfoodstradeshow #localfood #localfoods