Minnesota Grown's Pick of the Month newsletter offers you tips on what to look for in seasonal food and products.





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October Pick of the Month banner with graphic of a pumpkin.





Baskets of red and yellow onions on display at a farmers market. [ [link removed] ]
Pack Your Pantry with Local Produce

Imagine biting into a crisp, Minnesota Grown apple on New Year’s Day or savoring homecooked soup brimming with sweet local squash in the middle of a February freeze – these are the joys of long-term produce storage!

But how many apples should you buy? How long will those potatoes keep? And how do you keep them all fresh? We’ve got you covered! *With the right techniques, your fall haul can last well into winter,* allowing you to enjoy Minnesota Grown fruits and vegetables, "Fresh From Your Neighbors", for many months to come.

Discover how long some of Minnesota’s fall staples will keep, learn some quick tips for keeping them fresh, and then find a farmers’ market or farm stand near you [ [link removed] ] to stock up!

*View the Storage Tips* [ [link removed] ]






Four pictures. A shadow in a corn maze, playing corn hole at a pumpkin patch, picking apples, and a display of pumpkins and gourds.

Photos courtesy of Squash Blossom Farm, Big Springs Farm, Brand Farms, and Waldoch Farm

Embrace Autumn: Get Outdoors

With the crisp days of autumn upon us, we're ready to embrace layered clothing and head outside! Whether it's taking a hayride [ [link removed]? ], navigating a corn maze [ [link removed]? ], picking pumpkins [ [link removed] ] and apples [ [link removed]? ], or raising a glass at a farm winery [ [link removed]? ] — *look to Minnesota Grown farmers as you make weekend plans.*

Short on time but want that festive fall feeling? Swing by your local farmers' market [ [link removed]? ] for a final harvest haul of seasonal favorites!

*Find Farm Experiences* [ [link removed] ]






Justin and Pamela of Big Springs Farm standing in front of their sunflower field.

Photo courtesy of Big Springs Farm

Harvesting Fun: Big Springs Farm

Meet Pamela and Justin, the husband-and-wife duo behind Big Springs Farm Pumpkins & Corn Maze LLC, [ [link removed] ] a fall adventure farm in Lanesboro, MN. Inspired by their time studying in Switzerland, where agritourism is central to farming life, Pamela and Justin brought those ideas home.

Their farm is packed with fun activities like *a pick-your-own pumpkin patch with over 100 varieties, a themed 10-acre corn maze,* and plenty more!

You can find farm experiences [ [link removed]? ] in your region in the Minnesota Grown directory.

*Read About Big Springs Farm* [ [link removed] ]






Time to order your turkey. Text with image of a roast turkey. [ [link removed]? ]

Looking for the perfect holiday meal? One you can feel proud to serve your family and guests? *Locate a local farm where you can order a fresh, locally raised turkey* that’s sure to make your celebrations special!

*Find Local Turkey* [ [link removed]? ]




Pick your favorites in the Retailer of the Year People's Choice Award [ [link removed] ]

*Which store should win the Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year - People's Choice Award?* Visit our Facebook page [ [link removed] ] and like your favorite photos to recognize retailers that excel in sourcing locally!

*Pick Your Favorites* [ [link removed] ]






A boy of about 10 years old bites into an apple with eyes closed while another child looks on.

Photo courtesy of Glacial Hills Elementary

*October is Farm to School and Early Care Month*

Farm to School and Early Care programs typically incorporate one or more of these approaches into education settings:


* *Local Purchasing:* Local foods are served to students as part of meals, snacks, or taste tests at schools and in early care settings.
* *Education:* Students learn about food, agriculture, health, and nutrition.
* *School gardens:* Students engage in hands-on learning by growing foods in gardens and other agricultural production settings, such as greenhouses.

*It's a win-win-win! Farm to School [ [link removed] ] and Early Care [ [link removed] ] is good for kids, good for farmers and good for communities! *This month, we take time to celebrate local food in our schools and communities, and share gratitude with those who make these opportunities possible - including farmers, educators, nutrition professionals, and community members!

There are a variety of resources including grants and cost-share programs [ [link removed] ] to support schools and early care providers and the kids they care for, so if you know someone who'd be interested, get them involved!

*Learn More About Minnesota Farm to School and Early Care* [ [link removed] ]

Ad for Feast Local Foods Marketplace in Rochester on November 2, 2024. [ [link removed] ]










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