1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,040 I mean it's for the benefit of not just the farmer, the community. 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:09,920 In rural communities it's very difficult to get really healthy food and we have a lack 3 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:10,920 of that. 4 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:18,520 So we need to find a way to help in low income families to get access to organic food, natural 5 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:19,520 food. 6 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:24,400 So if we have those win-wins with these programs we need to focus on those. 7 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:26,840 It gives me a lot of hope actually. 8 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:42,080 The idea that people can access good local produce at a fair price. 9 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:47,840 Welcome to the 360th installment of Ear to the Ground, the Land Stewardship Project's 10 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:53,200 podcast on family farming, regenerative agriculture, community food systems and local democracy. 11 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,520 I'm Brian DeVore, editor of the Land Stewardship Letter. 12 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:58,640 Here are some troubling statistics. 13 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:06,280 In 2023, 18 million US households were food insecure at some time during the year, according 14 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:07,960 to the USDA. 15 00:01:07,960 --> 00:01:12,200 That figure is up from 17 million in 2022. 16 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:16,800 Food insecurity is defined as a situation where people can't access the food they 17 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,320 need to live their fullest lives. 18 00:01:19,320 --> 00:01:24,320 In short, these are people who, in the land of plenty, simply aren't getting enough 19 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:25,320 to eat. 20 00:01:25,320 --> 00:01:29,480 There are problems throughout the country, but more common in rural areas. 21 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:35,320 The USDA says that the food insecurity rate is around 12% in rural communities versus 22 00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:38,240 10.5% for all households. 23 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:44,040 Rural areas comprise less than two-thirds of all US counties, but 9 out of 10 counties 24 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:49,400 with the biggest food insecurity rates are rural, according to Feeding America. 25 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,480 This is particularly ironic given how these rural communities are often the center of 26 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:55,080 agricultural production. 27 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:59,360 Meanwhile, there are plenty of farmers who are willing and able to produce food for local 28 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:05,240 eaters in their communities, but who are stymied by a marketing and distribution system that's 29 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,580 structured around commodities like corn and soybeans. 30 00:02:08,580 --> 00:02:13,360 This troubling gap between farmers and eaters was on my mind recently when I visited Rodrigo 31 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,840 Colles Farm in western Wisconsin's Barron County. 32 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:22,480 Rodrigo, who raises produce, chickens, hogs, and sheep, is participating in a program that's 33 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:27,440 trying to reduce some of that food insecurity in rural areas while supporting farmers who 34 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:32,040 produce fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables, meats, and value-added products. 35 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:36,480 The Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program pays farmers a fair price for the 36 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:41,040 production and then distributes that food to local food pantries and food banks. 37 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:45,960 Called LFPA for short, versions of the initiative exist in other parts of the country and are 38 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,420 often structured around a partnership between state departments of agriculture and local 39 00:02:50,420 --> 00:02:52,380 farm and food nonprofits. 40 00:02:52,380 --> 00:02:57,480 The USDA administers the program and funding is provided by the Federal American Rescue 41 00:02:57,480 --> 00:02:58,480 Plan. 42 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:03,060 In Wisconsin, the program has been up and running for two years and has produced some 43 00:03:03,060 --> 00:03:04,560 impressive results. 44 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:11,400 In 2024 alone, 125 farmers from throughout the state sold $1.8 million worth of food 45 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:12,720 through the program. 46 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,920 While visiting Rodrigo's farm to learn more about the initiative, I also chatted with 47 00:03:16,920 --> 00:03:22,360 Mike Lenz, who, along with his wife Jody, operates Threshing Table Farm in Star Prairie, 48 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:23,360 Wisconsin. 49 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:28,000 Like Rodrigo, the Lenz's have been selling produce through the LFPA program the past 50 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:29,080 two years. 51 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:33,120 I was struck by how the farmers were not only pleased with the economic boost the program 52 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:37,760 is providing them, but with how it gives them a chance to feed local folks in the community 53 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:41,040 who normally may not have access to fresh, nutritious food. 54 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:47,080 While at the farm, I not only talked to Rodrigo and Mike, but also Katie Crocht and Tay Fedke. 55 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:51,220 Katie works for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection 56 00:03:51,220 --> 00:03:54,160 and coordinates the LFPA program in the state. 57 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:58,920 Tay is the farm education manager for Marble Seed, which is one of the organizations partnering 58 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:00,380 on the initiative. 59 00:04:00,380 --> 00:04:05,600 Also partnering is the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative, which helps distribute the food 60 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,560 and the Wisconsin Farmers Union. 61 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:12,360 Rodrigo, Mike, Katie, and Tay talked to me about how a program like this can be a win-win 62 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:17,880 for farmers and their local communities and how it could help set up a future market infrastructure 63 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:21,160 that better connects local farmers and local eaters. 64 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:25,920 Katie started our conversation by describing the program and Tay explained how farmers 65 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:27,720 get signed up to participate. 66 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,000 LFPA is a local food purchase assistance program. 67 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:36,120 So as a program coming out of the USDA that DECCAP received, we work with our partners, 68 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:40,740 Marble Seed, Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative, and Wisconsin Farmers Union. 69 00:04:40,740 --> 00:04:43,760 So we have contracts with local producers around the state. 70 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,760 This year we have 125 producers. 71 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:51,920 We purchase food from these producers and that food goes to hunger relief organizations, 72 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:53,800 so food pantries and food banks. 73 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,560 Do you have an idea of, so how long has it been going? 74 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:58,760 For two years, 2023 and 2024. 75 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:04,280 Okay, so what's kind of volume are you handling through that, do you know? 76 00:05:04,280 --> 00:05:10,520 Yeah, so last year we purchased $1.8 million worth of food from local producers and this 77 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,320 year, 1.8, yes, and 1.8 again this year. 78 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:16,120 Okay, and how many producers? 79 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:22,960 This year we had, 2024 we have 125 producers, 2023 we had 138. 80 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:26,120 And so it's produce, is it any other, or is it just produce? 81 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,040 Produce, meat, and value-added products. 82 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,640 And pretty much across the state, these are farmers? 83 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:32,780 Across the whole state of Wisconsin. 84 00:05:32,780 --> 00:05:35,360 Do other states have this program in place? 85 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:39,760 Yep, other programs do LFPA, but they may have a different model. 86 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:44,400 So ours is direct to farmers, so we work with farmers directly to do the purchasing and 87 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:49,680 then they go to organizations where a lot of other LFPA programs give the money to organizations 88 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:52,000 like food banks to then work with the farmers. 89 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:53,200 How does this work? 90 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:57,740 If you're a farmer who's signed up through this thing, what are some of the steps for 91 00:05:57,740 --> 00:06:00,800 them to actually get paid through this and all of that? 92 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:06,720 Yeah, so we put out an application in the fall just for farmers to apply and explain 93 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:10,160 a little bit about their farm and what they're interested in offering, and then we make the 94 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:11,520 selection process. 95 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:16,440 We prioritize working with historically underserved farmers, getting an idea of what their farm 96 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,220 can offer the program. 97 00:06:18,220 --> 00:06:20,720 Then we move to accept applications. 98 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:24,160 This year it was in December, and then start the contracting process. 99 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:30,360 So we identified how much acreage they have, what they're growing to determine a contract 100 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:31,360 amount. 101 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:35,520 Contracts ranged from $5,000 to $25,000 in 2024. 102 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,560 And then there's an onboarding process. 103 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:43,400 So we have a meeting for the farmers for wholesale readiness and onboarding into the program 104 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:50,480 to explain the payment process, to explain how to move towards more of a wholesale model 105 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:51,480 on their farm. 106 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:56,440 We work with a lot of farmers that are either farming for farmers markets or CSA. 107 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,440 So it is a little bit a different model for them to sell. 108 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:06,060 So we do some training around packaging in cases, packing to spec, so they can build 109 00:07:06,060 --> 00:07:07,520 their wholesale capacity. 110 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:12,240 And then they're responsible for transportation, aggregation, that kind of thing? 111 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:18,480 So we work with the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative where they have money in this program to move 112 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,800 product around the state, which is super beneficial to the farmer. 113 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:27,040 Anytime a truck can pull up right to the farm and load up and take it, it takes that pressure 114 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:29,220 off the farmer and it's a huge win-win. 115 00:07:29,220 --> 00:07:34,200 We also work with some farms where there's some connections with food pantries and farms 116 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,560 will, the food pantry will pick up directly from the farm. 117 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:42,280 And that's great because it's just building connections, you know, for if in the future 118 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:44,080 they can work more closely together. 119 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:48,040 We've had really success with Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee. 120 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:52,120 They've been able to purchase outside of the LFPA programs and work with the farmers in 121 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,720 the LFPA program to just sell more of their products. 122 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,000 So it's been hugely beneficial that way. 123 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:03,360 So I'm sorry, how many farmers or producers did you say that you worked with? 124 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:08,240 Yeah, 125 this year and 138 last year. 125 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:13,960 So and 1.8 million was kind of the purchasing. 126 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,860 So that's a pretty, you know, that's local. 127 00:08:16,860 --> 00:08:21,680 And I guess one thing, Mike, I know you were just talking about that, that for you maybe 128 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,560 describe your kind of how you've been associated with this program. 129 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:32,180 And you have, you really, you said this is really something that you've seen some economic 130 00:08:32,180 --> 00:08:35,480 returns on it immediately and in the community a little bit. 131 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:36,480 Correct. 132 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:40,560 I mean, our spend now has been for two years with this program. 133 00:08:40,560 --> 00:08:47,000 And we provide into a local food bank, we were able to hire, we hire 14 high school 134 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:48,840 and college kids that are local to us. 135 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:52,160 And that money stays local to our area. 136 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:56,760 It allowed us to hire a few more of those kids of that 14 and probably allowed us to 137 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:03,480 hire four or five more for the sales that we're going to have for this program. 138 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:09,640 And then the food itself stays local food bank that we provide into, I believe it's 139 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:15,180 32 different food pantries that they provide produce to. 140 00:09:15,180 --> 00:09:22,820 So it's hitting Polk, St. Croix, Pierce, Pepin counties. 141 00:09:22,820 --> 00:09:24,560 So it stays local. 142 00:09:24,560 --> 00:09:30,100 The money spent from the state stays local to our area. 143 00:09:30,100 --> 00:09:36,800 And the produce stays local to our area to help the underserved and needy people that 144 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:40,240 really need good quality produce. 145 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:45,580 And you've always emphasized your CSA serves mostly a rural kind of it's not you're not 146 00:09:45,580 --> 00:09:51,640 going serving a big twins cities market or an urban market because you really feel like 147 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:56,200 that's where that food that people in rural areas need to eat good food as well. 148 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:57,200 Correct. 149 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:03,400 Jody and I started our farm with the idea that people in the rural community need good 150 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:04,780 food too. 151 00:10:04,780 --> 00:10:11,120 And we focused on providing our food locally to us, not going deep into the cities for 152 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:12,120 shares. 153 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:18,920 I think we cross the river and a few shares in Stillwater and then the bulk of our shares 154 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:20,440 are in St. Croix County. 155 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:26,760 Do you have a rough idea what economic differences made to your farm? 156 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:28,440 Have you been involved with both years? 157 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:34,520 Yeah, like I said, it's allowed for us it's allowed us I know for at least four people 158 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:40,520 that we've hired extra to our farm because of this program to help bring in the produce 159 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:42,000 and take care of it. 160 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:49,960 And it's helped us as farmers because we've made the contracts in the fall, unlike CSA, 161 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:55,080 the contract cracks there for this and we know we'll have that sale. 162 00:10:55,080 --> 00:11:01,840 Whereas CSA we don't know what our total sale is until May, sometimes June when we start 163 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:02,840 our deliveries. 164 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:06,800 That's a super good point you're able to because that's part of the reason I think I've talked 165 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:10,560 to you guys before about your CSA that was what drew to you is you can plan ahead. 166 00:11:10,560 --> 00:11:15,520 So that spring time and late winter is a way to plan ahead what you're going to have to 167 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:19,880 produce and and what kind of market but this is pushing it even further. 168 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:21,200 With the fall. 169 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:27,400 Correct, correct in allowing us to budget for employees for the for the kids that we 170 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:33,200 hire and the adults that we hire that are local to our area. 171 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:41,040 It's just a wonderful program, the good produce fresh produce going to people that want it 172 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:44,120 and wait for it to come in. 173 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:45,120 Right. 174 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:50,440 So Rodrigo, you've kind of had a transition you you were maybe talk a little bit about 175 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:55,520 the transition on this farm you were focused completely on produce, you've tried CSA, you've 176 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:57,400 tried different marketing models. 177 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,800 Can you describe a little bit give a little background on kind of where you're at and 178 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:02,600 where you're at today a little bit. 179 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:08,480 We started this farm in 2008 and we really at the beginning we really focused on produce. 180 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:18,480 We at the beginning we we grow 60 70 different things but few years later we try we try as 181 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:24,840 the CSA for three years don't work for us then we just focus on wholesale on produce 182 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:32,600 then we have issues with climate change we get black rot and alternative in the ground 183 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:37,200 so then we we losing money a few years. 184 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:45,480 Right now we have a diverse farm we grow produce and we raise chickens, sheep and hogs. 185 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:53,320 I mean we see an economical impact in our farm in a positive way because we we we make 186 00:12:53,320 --> 00:13:02,560 money that way and I think we try to simplify our operation just focus on chickens and I 187 00:13:02,560 --> 00:13:09,480 think we have some connection with other companies and I think it's working it's working okay. 188 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,940 It sounds like the livestock's helped improve the soil health a little bit too it was pretty 189 00:13:12,940 --> 00:13:14,640 worn out when you came here. 190 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:22,560 Yes a lot I mean we have few years we don't get I mean we don't buy any fertilizer so 191 00:13:22,560 --> 00:13:31,120 we get every everything we need on farm so for us try to figure it out between food safety 192 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:39,320 and soil health and marketing development and I think it's very good for our farm. 193 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,800 So you're involved with the LFPA as well correct? 194 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:46,560 Can you describe a little bit how that's working for you what are you marketing through that 195 00:13:46,560 --> 00:13:48,440 and how that's kind of working? 196 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:56,560 I mean markets marketing process for farms is very difficult I mean it's no matter what 197 00:13:56,560 --> 00:14:04,680 kind of culture are the farmers but markets are tough so if we have more programs like 198 00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:11,520 this I mean it's going to be even beneficial for the farmers I mean we need to encourage 199 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:18,320 the government to put more money on these kind of programs so that way more farmers 200 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:20,920 they can stay on the farms. 201 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:26,360 So how what are you marketing through LFPA right now and have you been doing it the last 202 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:27,360 two years as well? 203 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:28,360 Two years. 204 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:29,360 Okay. 205 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:37,360 Last year we sold produce tomatoes peppers winter squash onions and this year we're 206 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,760 going to we're going to sell pork too. 207 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:44,840 And is it are they coming to pick it up is that how that's working so that must be huge. 208 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:51,400 It helped me in many different ways try to figure it out about insurance about places 209 00:14:51,400 --> 00:15:00,480 where we can butcher or hogs and all the helping us coordinate the shipments the people who 210 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:07,440 are going to pick it up the produce the time it's calls back and forth and really for farmers 211 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:13,000 is very beneficial these kind of programs for the succeed of the farms. 212 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:17,640 And do you have a rough idea of what economic differences made for you in the last couple 213 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:18,640 years? 214 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:25,920 Yes, it's way easier to try to focus on the production side instead to try to grow the 215 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:33,760 things or raise the things and then delivery and focus on all different stages on the production. 216 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:38,720 No it's for us for farmers is really really beneficial just to stay in the farm focus 217 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:42,920 on the production and then we can increase our production that way. 218 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,880 Have you increased production certain things because of the program? 219 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:46,880 Yes. 220 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:47,880 Yes. 221 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:55,280 I mean last year they they buy 15,000 for us this year they're gonna buy 15,000 too. 222 00:15:55,280 --> 00:16:04,880 So they they yeah this this year they're gonna get pork from us so we have more options to 223 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,160 sell our produce and or livestock. 224 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:13,520 So what percentage of your overall farm income would do you know roughly would that represent? 225 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,000 I think it's 20 percent. 226 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:21,000 And you don't have to worry about shipping it you know aggregating and all that? 227 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:25,240 Yeah everything is contracted everything is signed it so the only thing what we need to 228 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,840 worry is to do to produce that. 229 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:31,600 I've seen you speak a couple times and I know one thing you really emphasize and I know 230 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:36,360 you work with the Latino Economic Development Center where you talk to farmers I think all 231 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:41,220 across the country and in different areas and you really know how to push the pencil 232 00:16:41,220 --> 00:16:42,720 on numbers. 233 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:45,960 You're like don't do farming unless you can make it pay. 234 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:51,520 So this must be part I know this isn't your this must be part of a kind of a array of 235 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:55,720 things you're trying to to really make this pay and because I know you you're willing 236 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,880 to drop an enterprise when it's not paying its way and that kind of thing. 237 00:16:58,880 --> 00:16:59,880 Yes. 238 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:06,640 I mean the only way to keep farmer in the ground is to to make money. 239 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:11,360 If we don't make enough money what we're gonna do this we can find another thing to do. 240 00:17:11,360 --> 00:17:16,440 So for me it's very important to to teaching the farmers or to let the farmers like if 241 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:20,320 you don't make enough money on this product don't do it. 242 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:25,680 I mean that's the only way to keep the happiest on the farms the farmers on the farms. 243 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:29,120 Do you guys want to talk about kind of the future of the program or? 244 00:17:29,120 --> 00:17:35,240 As of right now the program will be ending June 2025 but as organizations we are definitely 245 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:40,680 trying to find different outlets and continue on working trying to find different funding 246 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,520 for the program to keep it going because it's such a great program. 247 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:47,760 But right now it's just providing our producers and partners with resources that they can 248 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:52,840 use in the future to build these markets and continue what they do. 249 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:58,420 What would you if anybody has any suggestions for if someone is looking at a program getting 250 00:17:58,420 --> 00:18:02,480 a program like this started do you have any suggestions on how to get something like this 251 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:08,280 going or I mean I know that this is USDA funded but if there was different funding I don't 252 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:09,840 know you think about that? 253 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:15,400 I would say you know for food banks to look at what they have available and I know it's 254 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:19,440 very difficult they're operating on very small budgets and they're trying to get as much 255 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:24,600 food as possible out to people but fundraising around this effort of local food to local 256 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:31,180 families I think can be super beneficial and just get the now that this program's existed 257 00:18:31,180 --> 00:18:35,500 and it's been for two years we can show the accomplishments we can show that we've moved 258 00:18:35,500 --> 00:18:42,120 a ton of produce around the state and meat and tortillas and you know canned goods and 259 00:18:42,120 --> 00:18:48,560 pickled goods and we can show that it's been all across the state that it's benefited producers. 260 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:53,040 Producers have dropped farmers markets because they've moved into this model and you know 261 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:59,160 that's just more time on the farm and that's what we have to do as a state as a country 262 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,560 as the globe right now is make it easier for farmers to farm. 263 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:08,560 So you know continue I think we can show the success of this program we can show that you 264 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:14,080 know purchasing local is beneficial for food banks it's just getting them the money and 265 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,560 you know the easiest way to do that is to run it through a program like this but if 266 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:23,040 they can fundraise around that effort if they can I've seen innovative models from CSA farms 267 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:28,920 that have asked their customers to donate and then they've been able to donate extra 268 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:35,640 boxes to food pantries and just you know kind of build out their marketing that way but 269 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:42,020 just to get the customers their customers involved in supporting farm to food access 270 00:19:42,020 --> 00:19:43,640 I think can be very beneficial. 271 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:50,000 I would think just hearing you guys talk about this that there are these side economic benefits 272 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:57,560 in that drivers people who have to sort the food who have to process it if it's meat or 273 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:00,600 whatever that there's all these side economic is that something you guys have been able 274 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:05,360 to kind of toad up a little bit or is that still something you're trying to figure out 275 00:20:05,360 --> 00:20:10,000 is just kind of how much of an economic benefit the side kind of the things that are the people 276 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,080 don't think about but you got to have that if you're going to have any kind of a local 277 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:14,640 food system kind of thing. 278 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:18,800 Yeah I don't think we've done really part of this program is we're doing evaluation 279 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:23,780 and we're going to be presenting these results so I think we'll try to gather some of that 280 00:20:23,780 --> 00:20:29,080 but it's it's so true that agriculture has gone through so much consolidation and the 281 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:35,560 more we can have more enterprises doing this work the easier it is for farmers and the 282 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:40,880 more economic opportunity there is for the rural areas across the state so I think that's 283 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:46,080 huge that's a that's a another great thing that we've done in this program and looking 284 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,640 forward to looking at those results and sharing that. 285 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,720 It just seems like a real rural economic argument to me. 286 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:57,240 I had one last question about if you somebody could explain what the it's called the Wisconsin 287 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:02,880 Food Hub is what is is that a nonprofit or what is that entity or somebody can describe 288 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:03,880 that a little bit. 289 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:08,880 Yeah so it's a it's a cooperative so they have a board of directors started with some 290 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:13,000 farmers getting started up there they have routes across the state they work with other 291 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:18,240 aggregators as well and you know they don't bring food back necessarily and hold it for 292 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:23,400 a long time it's kind of coming in and then going out the door so it's been a huge huge 293 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:27,900 benefit to the program to have them picking up from the farmers and you know they're working 294 00:21:27,900 --> 00:21:32,720 within other programs too like local local food to school and then they have some other 295 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:38,000 larger accounts that they're they're moving product through as well but just a great opportunity 296 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:42,480 for for small to mid-sized farms to to use their organization. 297 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:46,800 One one last question I always say one last question and I always think for Rodrigo and 298 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:53,720 Mike I'm gonna ask the same question I guess farming is really tough I mean just it goes 299 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:59,360 without saying and the economics don't get any any easier is a program like this that 300 00:21:59,360 --> 00:22:08,780 kind of I guess is getting good food to local people and is is not just it is also returning 301 00:22:08,780 --> 00:22:14,000 economic benefit to the community does that give you hope I mean that kind of if there's 302 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,080 people who are thinking about this kind of thing in that big picture way of how farming 303 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:23,960 can be this rural economic engine that's not just a thousand acres of corn and beans kind 304 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:30,360 of thing and how it can then benefit people who are actually eating you know and in the 305 00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:33,760 rural community and maybe don't always have access to healthy food I mean does that give 306 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,880 you a little bit of a little bit of hope I guess? 307 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:43,060 Gives me a lot of hope actually the idea that people can access good local produce at a 308 00:22:43,060 --> 00:22:49,120 fair price that was part of the contracting thing is we work together to set our price 309 00:22:49,120 --> 00:22:57,160 so we got a very fair equitable price for our produce and the shipping all of the pieces 310 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:05,080 that we've talked about today help build and strengthen our food systems in this country 311 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:09,040 the fewer and fewer people making food the bigger and bigger the problem is going to 312 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:15,280 be we want more people producing food locally not less. 313 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:19,880 Rodrigo when you say words like black rot I think oh my gosh farming is really tough 314 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:26,840 but yeah you've had you you really are committed to farming I know you've really duked it 315 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:31,800 out here on the farm and you talked to a lot of farmers about some of the challenges out 316 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,080 there but you apparently believe in it but does this give you a hope a little bit of 317 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:36,520 a program like this? 318 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:43,760 Yes when we see I mean how much this government subsidy give subsidies for corn and soybean 319 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:51,240 growers I mean they need to put more money on people who grow food I mean it's for the 320 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:57,520 benefit of not just the farmer the community and in rural communities it's very difficult 321 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:05,520 to get really healthy food and we have a lack of that so we need to find a way to help in 322 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:15,000 I mean low-income families to get access to organic food natural food so if we have those 323 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:19,280 win-wins with these programs we need to focus on those on those kind of things. 324 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:23,440 That's a really good point I'm glad you brought up the corn and soybeans it's like why is 325 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,720 money going to this well look how much has gone into that. 326 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:32,920 I will tell my neighbors when we're sitting around you walk a mile in your fields and 327 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:36,560 I'll walk a mile in my field and we'll see who starves first. 328 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:41,640 People they need to understand I mean with COVID with COVID-19 we have a really a little 329 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:49,960 bit of what can happen yes if we don't figure it out what can be in the future COVID just 330 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:56,000 give us like a teaspoon of what it can be in the future if we are not prepared so that 331 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:02,880 thing give us space for thinking and for figuring it out and for fix that so when we talk about 332 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:07,880 talking about the relationship with farmers and the community I mean right now is the 333 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:13,920 time it's not tomorrow it's not next year it's now what we what we're going to do for 334 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:25,680 fix those problems. 335 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:30,480 For more on the local food purchase assistance program see the podcast page for ear to the 336 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:35,580 ground episode 360 at landstewardshipproject.org. 337 00:25:35,580 --> 00:25:40,280 If you have comments or suggestions about this podcast contact Brian DeVore at bdevor 338 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:47,280 at landstewardshipproject.org or you can call 612-816-9342. 339 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:51,600 It helps us greatly if you can give ear to the ground a rating on whatever podcast platform 340 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:56,320 you utilize and word of mouth is the best way to spread the news about our podcast. 341 00:25:56,320 --> 00:26:01,520 If you like what you hear tell at least one person about LSP's ear to the ground. 342 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:07,080 Thanks to Laura Borgendale, a western Minnesota musician for ear to the ground's theme music 343 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:11,920 and a special thank you to all of Land Stewardship Project's members who make initiatives such 344 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:13,800 as this podcast possible. 345 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:20,740 If you're not a member visit landstewardshipproject.org to learn how you can support LSP. 346 00:26:20,740 --> 00:26:31,320 Thanks for listening.