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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Pick of the Month Banner Mums





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Red, orange, pink, and yellow mums [ [link removed]? ]

Courtesy of Bergen's Greenhouse

Mum's the Word!

??️ As the temperature drops, planting doesn't stop! Mums are a bright, bold, and beautiful way to liven up your doorstep this fall. Want long lasting blooms? Select plants with buds that are just beginning to open for up to six weeks of color! 

?? Looking forward to spending time in the shade next summer? Planting trees in the fall maximizes root development in warm soil without the stress of hot, summer days. Be sure to plant before the frost to give those roots time to grow!

There are dozens of mum, bedding plant, and tree growers listed in the Minnesota Grown directory. *Find growers, gardeners, and greenhouses* near you in the links below!

*Find Mums* [ [link removed]? ]






*Find Bedding Plants* [ [link removed]? ]




*Find Landscaping Trees* [ [link removed]? ]






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A farmers market display of onions carrots and other fall produce. [ [link removed] ]

Courtesy of the Bloomington Farmers' Market

Storage Tips for Stocking Up

?? Let’s not jump from SPF to snow shovels just yet, there's still plenty of crisp golden fall to enjoy, but now is the perfect time to head to a local farm or farmers' market [ [link removed]? ] to *start stocking your pantry for the season to come*. ❄️ Then, when the frost demons do show up (and they will), you'll be ready to fight them off with a crunchy apple in one hand and a steaming bowl of soup in the other, all made with the foods you wisely tucked away.

Need a little help knowing what to store and how? Check out our blog for tips on making the most of Minnesota’s fall bounty. From sweet carrots to hearty winter squash, we cover how to store your favorite produce so it lasts well into the colder months. From proper fridge storage to which varieties keep the longest, you'll find practical advice to keep your fall haul fresh and flavorful.

*View Storage Tips* [ [link removed] ]


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Example of a chart organizing apple varieties by tart or sweet. [ [link removed]? ]

Sweet, Tart, or Pie-Ready

As autumn returns to Minnesota, so does the juiciest debate of the season: Sweet or tart? Pie or snack? Chunky sauce or smooth-as-silk???

Whether you're dreaming of a warm apple crisp, packing lunches with apple slices + peanut butter, or gearing up for your annual applesauce making marathon, there’s a perfect apple for you, and you can *find it at a Minnesota Grown apple orchard [ [link removed]? ]. *

To help you find "your" ideal match, check out our Pick Your Perfect Apple Chart [ [link removed] ], your go-to guide for choosing apples based on flavor, use, and what’s in season. It's like speed dating, but with fruit.

Happy picking (and snacking, and baking, and saucing)! ??????

*View the Chart* [ [link removed] ]


P.S. Depending where in Minnesota you live, mid-season apples are coming into their peak. Honeycrisps will reward your patience as they are best when we have cool nights later in September! 

Infographic of apple varieties available in the middle of the Minnesota apple season.





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family with two children surrounded by hogs [ [link removed]? ]

Courtesy of Feather Acres Learning Farm

From Pasture to Plate: Feathered Acres Learning Farm

Last month on Facebook [ [link removed] ] and Instagram [ [link removed] ] we caught up with one of the many members who volunteered at the Minnesota Grown booth at the Minnesota State Fair this year, Feathered Acres Learning Farm + Inn [ [link removed] ] in Belgrade:

"What if your food came with a story—one rooted in humane care, healthy soil, and a family’s passion for connecting people with farming? That’s exactly what you’ll find at Feathered Acres Learning Farm & Inn in Belgrade, MN."

"Here, Trisha and Nolan Zachman, with help from their little ones Esther (5) and Burke (2), raise hogs" ??", sheep" ??", and chickens" ?? "the way nature intended. Their pigs dig in the dirt, their sheep graze on lush pastures, and their hens forage while roaming the farmyard."

*Read More* [ [link removed] ]






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Rustic Designs Flower Farm flower fields being picked by vistors. aerial shot.

Courtesy of Rustic Designs Flower Farm

Upcoming Events: Farm Aid, Fall Fests & Fun!

Members across the state host events year-round. *Check out these fall festivities happening soon!*


* Farm Aid [ [link removed] ] on Saturday, September 20 in Minneapolis. "Stop by the Minnesota Grown booth see us if you are there!"
* Harvest Fest at the Flower Farm [ [link removed] ] on Sunday, September 21 in Belgrade
* Farmers' Market Farm-to-Fun Day [ [link removed] ] on Saturday, September 27 in New Ulm
* Iron Range Growers Pumpkin Palooza [ [link removed] ] on Saturday, September 27 in Cook
* Iron Range Pasty Fest [ [link removed] ] on Saturday, October 4 in Mount Iron
* Brown Family Farm Fall Sale [ [link removed] ] on October 11 & 12 in Oak Park
* Carpenter Nature Center's Apple Festival [ [link removed] ] on October 11 & 12 in Hastings

*Event Calendar* [ [link removed] ]












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