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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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