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Aaron Wills, owner of Little Hill Berry Farm in Northfield, Minn., and member of Cannon Valley Grown.

COVID-19 Impact “Some [farmers] had unexpected expenses like having to
develop new signage, or implement new safety measures for
cleaning and sanitizing,” Mann explains. “Many previously
As these groups were getting their brands up and running, the relied on in-person sales and needed help building an online
pandemic hit. While food producers were able to continue
operations, there were new restrictions on face-to-face sales presence.” They also built handwashing stations to distribute
and disruptions to distribution channels.. SMIF reached out to farmers for free and are creating marketing campaigns to
create more awareness about their brands.
to Cannon Valley Grown, Driftless Grown and Renewing the Despite these new challenges, farmers have seen a silver
Countryside—SMIF’s long-time nonprofit partner in local lining. As customers raced to the stores to stockpile groceries,
foods efforts—to form an alliance to support farmers during
COVID. Each organization received a $10,000 Grow a Farmer the uncertainty about food shortages caused many people to
Assistance Grant from SMIF to connect consumers with look for local products in a way that they previously had not.
“We’ve known all along that buying local is how we are the
approximately 120 farmers in southern Minnesota.
most secure,” says Mann. “The pandemic has demonstrated
that importance.”
With food producers from these regional foodsheds
working together and learning from each other, they are
creating a stronger, more resilient food system in southern
Minnesota. And that’s not just good for their stability and
bottom line—it’s good for us all.

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation supports local food
entrepreneurs through a variety of initiatives, primarily through the
FEAST! Local Foods Network. SMIF also offers low interest loans
through its Grow a Farmer Loan fund. Find out more at smifoundation.
org. To learn more about these regional foodshed brands visit
cannonvalleygrown.org and driftlessgrown.com.

Katie Godfrey Demmer is the communications director at SMIF. She lives in
Erin Johnson, owner of Open Hands Farm in Northfield, Minn., and Owatonna with her husband and infant daughter. She enjoys experimenting
member of Cannon Valley Grown. with different recipes using vegetables she grows in their big garden.
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