New Ways to Support Local Food

Brought to you by the Heartland Food Network

Who doesn't love fresh-picked strawberries, the crunch of the season's first sweet corn, warm roasted winter squash, rich farmstead cheddar or the subtle earthiness of bison?

As Wedge shoppers, you already appreciate the great flavors of local foods and know the value of supporting your local farmers. And, thanks to a great community of food co-ops, ever-growing farmers markets and numerous CSAs, you have many opportunities to buy local foods. But, how do you get local foods when you're not preparing your own meals?

Third Thursday is a monthly event celebrating local foods and local restaurants, organized by the Heartland Food Network (HFN). Chefs at HFN member restaurants offer seasonal specials featuring local ingredients. Different specials every month let you experience the flavors of the season and the creativity of the chefs.

The debut of Third Thursday was a January success (yes, local foods in January!). Some of the fabulous specials included local Three Cheese Potato Gratin from Bridgewood Café, Minnesota Wild Rice and Walleye cakes from Firelake Grill, Homemade Mushroom Duxelle ravioli from Duluth's Chester Creek Cafe and Wisconsin Rainbow Trout with Ginger-Cranberry Brown Butter from Café Brenda. If Minnesota chefs can do all that with local ingredients in the middle of winter, just think what the harvest season will have to offer! So, mark your calendars and enjoy a meal out every Third Thursday at one of the HFN member restaurants.

To locate participating restaurants and to find more information, visit www.heartlandfoodnetwork.org or call the Third Thursday hotline 651.645.6159 x 111.

Though the Third Thursday event is new, HFN has been growing for several years. Beginning in 2004, working closely with several statewide organizations, The Minnesota Project facilitated a number of conversations with farmers, chefs, restaurant-owners and food distributors to identify barriers to using local foods. Although the exceptional flavors speak for themselves, it isn't always easy for food establishments to acquire great local foods. Contract obligations or liability and insurance requirements make it difficult for large restaurants and institutions to buy directly from producers. Small, independently owned restaurants face different challenges such as juggling multiple product invoices and identifying/locating local producers who can meet their needs on a regular basis.

In June 2006, The Minnesota Project launched the Heartland Food Network to address these challenges and expand the availability of local foods served in restaurants and public dining establishments such as museums, universities, schools, corporate campuses and hospitals. Uniting all components of the "food system," HFN is a collaboration of chefs, restaurateurs, farmers and distributors whose mission is to:

"Encourage and facilitate the increased consumption of local and seasonal foods as a way to build stronger communities, healthier lives and a cleaner environment."

The Heartland Food Network provides a unique opportunity to measurably increase the amount of local foods served in Minnesota. In just the first 7 months, 11 restaurant members, 2 distributor members and more than 30 local producers joined HFN. HFN facilitates relationships among producers, distributors and chefs so that whether chefs purchase via distributors or farmer-direct, they have more locally produced options. Producers do not participate as members, but have the opportunity to connect with new buyers through the HFN producer list. HFN staff work closely with the local farm community to identify experienced farmers and producers selling foods that meet HFN standards.

With Heartland Food Network, more purchasers of local foods mean more opportunities for local farmers and producers. For chefs and YOU this means more great opportunities to get a real taste of Minnesota. Don't forget to get in on the fun and flavor at the next Third Thursday! For more information on HFN members, product standards, the Steering Committee or HFN in general please see www.heartlandfoodnetwork.org.