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Guest column by Tim Penny

This time of year, the farmers’ markets in southern Minnesota are rich with vegetables, bread, meat, jam, honey and apples. It’s a visual testament to the abundance of our region and the ever-growing local foods economy that is sustained by consumers who want to buy directly from area farmers. At Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), we support the local foods economy through a variety of initiatives.

Since 2014, SMIF has supported the FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace, an event where over 1,500 people gather to shop for gifts from regional food vendors. This event is the region’s largest local food festival, and the premier place to find outstanding food and beverage companies from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. The local foods scene has grown so much that last year Mayor Kim Norton of Rochester declared the first Saturday in November “Local Foods Day.” The Marketplace will be held on Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester.

The FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace will also feature cooking demos, music, kids’ activities, craft alcohol tastings, prize drawings and more. FEAST! is presented by SMIF, Renewing the Countryside, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and Compeer Financial and participating members of the FEAST! Local Foods Network. Tickets for the event can be purchased online at www.local-feast.org/buytickets or at the door.

SMIF also champions local entrepreneurs, many of whom are deeply invested in the local foods movement, directly through our business financing services. From the farm-fresh slices at Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm in Waseca to the handcrafted spirits at Black Frost Distilling in New Ulm, our loan clients are helping to transform the regional food scene. But it doesn’t stop there — SMIF also fosters collaboration through its Local Foods Peer Network, a vibrant community where entrepreneurs reglarly gather to exchange ideas, tackle challenges, and celebrate their successes together.

What I truly appreciate about our region is the abundance of organizations dedicated to uplifting local food producers. Alongside our support for FEAST!, SMIF is proud to have provided grants to numerous other organizations throughout the region over the years. Cannon Valley Grown and Driftless Grown are both networks of farmers, makers and producers that are located in either the Cannon River Valley or in the Driftless Region which covers parts of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois. Sharing Our Roots (Northfield) and The Village Agricultural Cooperative (Rochester) both provide land access and resources to farmers and gardeners, many of whom are immigrants and refugees.

As we enter this season of abundance, it’s clear that supporting local food producers not only strengthens our communities but also sustains the heart of our regional economy. By attending events like the FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace and choosing to buy from local farmers, makers and artisans, we help preserve the vibrant, sustainable food system that makes southern Minnesota so unique. Together, we can ensure that these hardworking producers continue to thrive, contributing to the health and vitality of our region for years to come. Let’s celebrate and support the incredible diversity and richness of local foods this season and beyond.

You can learn more about the regional food scene by picking up the most recent copy of the Local FEAST! Magazine in different locations around the region, or by viewing it online.

As always, I welcome your comments and questions. You can reach me at timp@smifoundation.org or 507-455-3215.

Tim Penny is the president and CEO of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. He represented Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1982 to 1994.