The rains and flooding in August 2007 will impact Wisconsin and Minnesota organic produce farmers for quite some time. The farmers had just begun their last plantings of greens, and late summer crops in the fields were ready for harvest. Avalanche Organics, Featherstone Farm, Driftless Organics, and Harmony Valley Farm experienced significant damage and loss of crops. We, the consumers, depend on these dedicated producers to provide fresh organic crops, grown in our regional soil, for our food co-ops, restaurants, and open-air markets. They possess the working, active knowledge of sustainable Local practices we all will need to adopt in the future. 2008 UPDATE: $390,000 was distributed to the affected farmers by the generous donations that were made to Sow The Seeds Fund. About Sow the Seeds Fund Begun in 2006, the Sow the Seeds initiative fosters sustainable food systems in the Upper Midwest. Sow the Seeds was initiated by The Wedge Community Co-op and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy in Minneapolis, MN to educate and engage members of the public while supporting local, sustainable food production. In August 2007, Southeast Minnesota, Southwest Wisconsin and Northeast Iowa were hit by "once in a century" floods. In response, a special Sow the Seeds Flood Relief project was launched to help farmers affected by this natural disaster. Hundreds of individuals, retailers, non-profits, foundations and businesses stepped forward, contributing over $390,000. In consultation with a team of local agricultural and community leaders, these funds were distributed to more than 30 farms that applied to the Flood Relief fund. Thanks to all of you who contributed so generously to that effort. In 2008, Sow the Seeds will continue its commitment to local sustainable agriculture by focusing on innovative ways to promote local production of healthy foods. In particular, Sow the Seeds will support "season extension" strategies that enable fruits and vegetables to be grown in our Northern climate for a longer portion of the year. Season extension can help expand our area's supply of fresh, locally grown produce while offering new opportunities to interested farmers. Numerous regional natural foods co-ops, as well as Whole Foods Markets, accepted flood relief donations through Sow the Seeds. These included: • Wedge Co-op, Minneapolis • Just Food Co-op, Northfield, Minnesota • Eastside Co-op, Minneapolis • Outpost Natural Foods, Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, Wisconsin • Seward Co-op, Minneapolis • Linden Hills, Minneapolis • Mississippi Market, St. Paul • Lakewinds, Minnetonka, Minnesota • Willy Street Co-op, Madison, Wisconsin • Viroqua Food Cooperative, Viroqua, Wisconsin • North Country Co-op, Minneapolis • St. Peter Food Co-op & Deli, St. Peter, Minnesota • Menomonie Market, Menomonie, Wisconsin • Stevens Point Area Co-op, Stevens Point, Wisconsin http://www.avalancheorganics.com/http://www.featherstonefarm.com/http://www.driftlessorganics.com/http://www.driftlessorganics.com/http://www.harmonyvalleyfarm.com/http://www.harmonyvalleyfarm.com/http://www.sowtheseedsfund.orghttp://www.sowtheseedsfund.orghttp://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/pressroom/pr_09-12-07.htmlhttp://www.wedge.coophttp://www.justfood.coop/http://www.eastsidefood.coop/http://www.outpostnaturalfoods.coop/http://www.seward.coop/http://www.lindenhills.coop/http://www.msmarket.coop/http://www.lakewinds.coop/http://www.willystreet.coop/http://viroquafood.coop/http://www.northcountrycoop.com/http://www.stpeterfood.coop/http://www.menomoniemarket.org/http://www.spacoop.com/http://www.sowtheseedsfund.orgshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3shapeimage_1_link_4shapeimage_1_link_5shapeimage_1_link_6shapeimage_1_link_7shapeimage_1_link_8shapeimage_1_link_9shapeimage_1_link_10shapeimage_1_link_11shapeimage_1_link_12shapeimage_1_link_13shapeimage_1_link_14shapeimage_1_link_15shapeimage_1_link_16shapeimage_1_link_17shapeimage_1_link_18shapeimage_1_link_19shapeimage_1_link_20shapeimage_1_link_21shapeimage_1_link_22

Avalanche Organics Viola, WI

Washed out Mixed Salad Greens bed

What Happened to our

Local Produce?

“I don’t know if you’ve ever been around things that have been through a flood? There’s a real stench to it...”

~Bonnie Wideman, M.O.S.A.

Write to us: Downtown Dailies/blue studio mailto:milhug@mac.com,aarick@tds.net?subject=Flooded%20Farms%20film