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Homegrown Minneapolis is a citywide initiative 

expanding our community's ability to grow, process, 

distribute, eat and compost more healthy, sustainable, 

locally grown foods.

March 3, 2017

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Events

March Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council Meeting

Wednesday, March 8 | 5:30 – 7:30 pm meeting; 5 pm presentation from MPS Culinary & Wellness Services

Minneapolis Public Schools Culinary & Wellness Services, 812 Plymouth Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411 (map)

Meeting Agenda

GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) Food Safety Workshop for Fruit and Vegetable Farmers and Gardeners

Learn how good business practices, good agricultural practices, and marketing are interconnected and can benefit your farm. While this workshop will not result in you being "GAP certified", it will provide the information and resources necessary to help your farm prepare for a GAP audit. Many wholesale buyers and institutions are increasingly requiring GAP audits, or at the minimum a food safety plan. This workshop will help you develop your farm's food safety program and plan that will help you get an audit if desired. Hosted by University of Minnesota Extension On-Farm GAPs Education Program, West Broadway Farmers Market and Appetite for Change. Space is limited. If the workshop fills you will be added to a waiting list. 

Cost: Free! Thank you to the MDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for support for 2017 GAPs workshops and to USDA Farmers' Market Promotion Program for covering cost of materials and lunch.

Friday, March 31 | 9 am – 3 pm | UROC, 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis MN

Register athttp://z.umn.edu/2017gaps by March 20, 2017

Community Connections Conference

Registration is open for the sixth annual Community Connections Conference – Your Voice, Your City: CommUnity at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Saturday, April 1. All are welcome to make their voices heard, participate in interactive sessions, robust learning and exhibits and enjoy a delicious cultural lunch. The conference is designed to showcase and build successful community collaborations between neighborhoods, cultural communities, residents, and the City.
Consider attending as a participant or exhibitor, or both!

Register for the free conference. Registration will close March 24.

Exhibitor registration and payment must be received before Friday, March 10, 2017.

Saturday, April 1 | 8 am- 3 pm | Minneapolis Convention Center (map)

Minneapolis Arbor Day Tree Planting Celebration 

Everyone is welcome to join in the Arbor Day festivities at Lake Hiawatha: tree planting, tree climbing, a nature play area, food trucks, a beer garden, tree themed yard games, a trail run, an outreach area, and more! An exciting part of our Arbor Day tree planting will include establishing a fruit and nut tree orchard at Lake Hiawatha Park on the east side of the lake in three newly established agricultural zones.

Organized by People for Parks, Brewing a Better Forest, Friends of Lake Hiawatha, Brewery Running Series, Ecological Design, Hiawatha Food Forest, and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board as the lead event organizer and host. More information.

Friday, April 28 | 4:00 - 8:00 pm | Lake Hiawatha Park, 2701 E 44th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406


Resources


2017 Community Garden Compost Program Accepting Applications for Minneapolis Community Gardens

The City of Minneapolis will provide Community Gardens with low or no-cost compost.
Qualifying community gardens may request one delivery of up to 10 cubic yards of compost. The amount of compost and the number of compost deliveries are limited, and not guaranteed.  Compost and compost deliveries are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. However, community gardens that have never received compost, have poor soil quality, or are start-up gardens will get priority.  More information.

  • Spring/Summer compost deliveries begin May 1 and end September 30. Spring compost requests must be submitted by April 21. Request Spring/Summer Compost
  • Fall compost deliveries begin October 2 and end November 1. Fall compost requests must be submitted by September 22. Request Fall Compost

Good Food Access Program Request for Proposals

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Good Food Access Program (GFAP) is now requesting grant proposals for equipment and physical improvements. For-profit and not-for-profit grocery stores and small food retailers can apply for equipment to help stimulate sales of affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods in underserved and low- and moderate-income communities. Purchases may include equipment like retail display coolers and freezers, storage coolers and freezers, shelving, mobile food trucks, permanents infrastructure at farmers’ markets installation costs, and more.  $150,000 is available through the GFAP Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant. Proposals are due on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 4:00 pm.
For more information, visit http://www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/grants/gfapequipmentgrant.aspx.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MN Foundation Funding RFP

The Foundation announced the Healthy Communities: Health Equity in Action 2017 funding opportunity. Qualified nonprofits can apply for up to $100,000 to support projects that advance health equity and promote systems change related to the social and economic determinants that drive health: education, income, employment, community safety and family and social support. This is the foundation’s largest grant opportunity for 2017; a total of $1,000,000 will be under consideration. For questions, contact the BCBSMN Foundation at foundation@bluecrossmn.com or 651-662-3950. More information.

Survey to Examine Local Agricultural Production and Intermediated Markets

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is asking farmers to participate in a 10-minute survey. They are interested in examining the opportunities and risks of four main marketing opportunities for farmers—direct-to-consumer, direct-to-institution, direct-to-retail, and selling to intermediaries (such as distributors or food hubs), who in turn sell the products as local food. NCAT is interested in all farmers’ perceptions of these markets, whether currently selling to these markets or not. If you would prefer to complete a paper version of the survey, you can request a copy by contacting Lydia Oberholtzer, Penn State, at 301-­891-­0470 or lso3@psu.edu

The study is funded by USDA, and led by Syracuse University, New York University, the Pennsylvania State University, and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT).

Jobs

Senior City Planner: City of Minneapolis 

Whittier Farmers Market Manager: Calvary Baptist Church

Seasonal Market Day Staff: Mill City Farmers Market

Full-time Retail Specialist, Part-time Retail Specialist, Driver:
Twin Cities Mobile Market

View additional information on the Homegrown Minneapolis website.

"Like" the Friends of Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council on Facebook!

Homegrown Minneapolis brings together key partners from local government, area businesses, community organizations,

non-profits, and residents to build a healthy, local food system.

www.minneapolismn.gov/homegrown

 

 

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