Sow the Seeds Announces Grants to Support Local Food Systems in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa

Sow the Seeds, a project of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) in partnership with the Wedge Co-op, is pleased to announce the grants given to support farmer education and outreach on season extension for fruit and vegetable production in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Season extension strategies like low-tech hoop house/high tunnel structures enable farmers to start growing earlier in the spring and extend their harvest later into the fall.

"Season extension can be a great opportunity for farmers to diversify their income while expanding the supply of fresh, locally grown produce," said JoAnne Berkenkamp, Director of the Local Foods program at IATP. "The organizations receiving support from Sow the Seeds are some of the region's leaders in helping build our local food system and strengthen our local farm community."

Generous support from individuals, natural food grocery retailers, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and other organizations helped make these awards possible. The grants ranged from $450 to $5000, with all funded activity to take place in 2009. More information about Sow the Seeds is available at www.sowtheseedsfund.org. Funds are being awarded to the following organizations:

• Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI)
• The Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association
• Growing Power
• Land Stewardship Project (LSP)
• University of Wisconsin - Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (UW-CIAS)
• Minnesota Food Association (MFA)

Sow the Seeds was initiated by the Wedge Community Co-op and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy to educate and engage members of the public while supporting local, sustainable food production.

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy works locally and globally at the intersection of policy and practice to ensure fair and sustainable food, farm and trade systems. www.iatp.org.