Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace - Place-based Transformation

Region Five Development Commission

Funding Received: 2016
Little Falls, MN
$440,000
Funding Period: 2 years and 11 months
https://www.facebook.com/SproutMN8/
sproutmarketplace@sproutfoodhub
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January 6, 2017

The monthly cultural activities kick off with the first market in two weeks on January 28 where “Youth” (under age 25) of all cultures will be featured and recognized as artists, musicians, and of course, growers and makers. Guests can sample youth-inspired foods created by Chef Matt Annand of Prairie Bay. Music will be performed by area youth.  Sprout is inviting talented folks in our community under the age of 25 to demo their craft (e.g., music, dance, visual art), be a vendor to sell their food or art, and attend the market on January 28th to see and support growers and makers their age.

The educational focus for January is “Growers” of all cultures. Sprout will host the Sustainable Farming Association (Central Chapter) “Wellness from the Ground Up: How to Market the True Value of your Farm’s Products” event, which will include a chef demonstration and panel discussion to teach farmers about marketing the full value of their products, such as explaining to consumers the important connection between soil health and nutrient density of the food produced in it, how to cook with whole foods, and the talk-track consumers are hearing from nutritionists and health managers within our area healthcare facilities. Chef Tom Zimmerman from The Black & White restaurant in Little Falls will demonstrate how to store and cook whole foods in Minnesota winters to help farmers explain to consumers easy meal planning strategies that go hand in hand with cooking whole foods