Person handing over a wooden crate filled with fresh vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, sweet peppers, cucumber, and sweet potatoes.

Restoring Bountiful

Food Systems

We are transforming the local and regional food system to empower under-represented farmers and strengthen communities. We bridge the gap between food production and access. By advancing their economy and keeping food in the community where it is grown; we strengthen the local food system and distribute it to those in need across Minnesota.

Donate Today

Thank You to Our Supporting Sponsors

  • Logo of Olmsted Medical Center with a stylized teal circular emblem and black text.
  • Logo for the City of Rochester, Minnesota, featuring stylized design elements and text.
  • US Department of Agriculture logo with stylized green and navy blue 'm' and downward text.
  • Seal with four quadrants and a Latin inscription. Top left features a ship and a cross, top right has a lion; bottom left shows a star, and bottom right displays a castle tower. Latin text and an outer ring with inscriptions surround the seal.
  • Mayo Clinic, Rochester
  • Logo for People's Food Co-op featuring a farm and buildings with trees in the background, and text 'People's Food Co-op' and 'Established 1973'.
  • Logo for the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation featuring a teal silhouette of Minnesota with four colorful leaf shapes and the text 'Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation'"
  • Logo of Think Bank with purple and black text.
  • Display of various jars of homemade berry preserves and jams at an outdoor market stall.

    Protecting 

    Minnesota's ecosystems are responding to climate change and food system challenges. We store and protect seeds and the ecosystem from soil to mouth.

    Learn More
  • Woman at outdoor farmers market examining a purple head of cabbage with green kale sprouting from top, surrounded by other vegetables and blurred shoppers in the background.

    Preserving 

    Minnesota's unique and diverse array of crops that meet community's diverse dietary needs; growing healthy communities and serving so much more than commodity crops.

    Read Stories
  • Person harvesting fresh tomatoes and vegetables from a garden, placing them into a metal bowl. The person is wearing a plaid shirt and boots, working among tomato plants with green leaves.

    Rebuilding

    Minnesota's food producer's economy. Managing every element of the food web economy from source to table, food producers can plan well, and depend on markets created to meet community needs and prevent waste.

    Donate & Sponsor

We believe that local food producers should have the opportunity to advance their income and market share while enhancing their communities access to health & fresh food.

Join us by supporting our local food producers & the communities in need of access to their food. Together, we can create a more equitable and sustainable food system for all.

  • Illustration of a turnip with green leaves

    Local Economies

    Strengthening the connection between local food producers and their communities. In 2024 we increased local farmer economies over $95k by procuring crop overages, and redirecting that food to the communities where it is most needed.

  • A stylized illustration of a green cabbage.

    Food Waste

    Diverting surplus food from waste streams to reduce environmental impact. In 2024 we rescued and procured 250k pounds of food and avoided 375 metric tons of greenhouse gases by recovering & redistributing locally produced foods.

  • Illustration of a strawberry with green leaves and white seeds.

    Emergency Preparedness

    Building local and regional food system provides safety of our food supply to meet community demands for food and mitigate supply chain disruptions and larger system food gaps. In 2024 we delivered 25k grab-and-go breakfasts, 50k fresh food snacks, and 175k pounds of fresh food.

  • Illustration of three blueberries with green leaves on top.

    Food Insecurities

    We serve learning institutions K-12 student pantries with nutritious, fresh, and culturally appropriate diets. Our services are designed and informed by the BIPOC communities we serve. We partnered with the Dakota and Ojibwa communities. We partnered with the Native American Education Plan in Austin Public School Systems, teaching food sovereignty and Indigenous gardening in small spaces.

  • Transforming Food Systems Empowering Communities

    Through innovative programs and partnerships, we ensure that food grown in our community stays in our community, nourishing families, fostering resilience, and the ability to thrive.Together, we can restore local and regional food systems that provide regenerative local food economies, protect the environment, and normalize food security.

Apple a Day

Our mission is to ensure every student in Southeast Minnesota has daily access to fresh, local produce—starting with crisp, Minnesota-grown apples—while strengthening our regional food system and supporting the farmers who grow it.

Explore Apple a Day

Milkweed Economy Project

Our goal is to build and scale a sustainable milkweed collection that supports ecological restoration, community-based economies and regenerate supply chains in Minnesota and beyond.

Explore Milkweed Project

Harvesting Health

OMC is partnering in this effort because they believe good health starts with great care. By making nutritious food part of your care, Harvesting Health supports you in building strong habits that can make a lasting difference in your life.

Explore Harvesting Health

Community Supported Agriculture

Throughout the season, members can expect vibrant heirloom tomatoes, crisp mixed greens, sweet summer corn, farm-fresh carrots, peppers, apples, and hearty fall squash — harvested at peak freshness and grown with care.

Our Food Producers

Join in the efforts to become a produce partner. Connect with us for the details on how to get started.

Become a Partner

  • Farmers

  • Minnesota AG Producers

  • Hiawatha Honey

  • Cedar Grove Orchard

  • Root Prairie Galloways

  • Amish Community

  • Fiddlehead Knob

  • Sekapp Orchard

  • RedC Farms

  • Turkey River Farm

  • Easy Yoke Farm

  • Five Acre Farm

  • Cannon Valley Ranch

  • Dream of Wild Health

  • Design Depot

  • Revolutionary Earth

  • Mille-Lacs Ojibwa Band Pollinator Group

  • Twin Oaks Orchard

  • Marlie’s Sourdough

  • Fairview Farms

  • INFUZN Foods