The Northeast Market Garden played host to some traditional farmers on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Judging by their comments, they were impressed with the neighborhood’s first-year food-growing efforts.
Members of Minnesota Farm Bureau, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s agricultural advisory staff, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minneapolis Health Department gathered for a tour of the gardens, led by urban farmers Max Hyberger and Elliott Bussey of B&H Farm, Deborah Brister of Lemon Sage Farm, Marisa Lee of Salt & Pep Edible Flowers, and new, emerging urban farmers Scott Merth of Kaleidoscope Garden and Desmond Pfeffer of The Pretty Potato.
Farm Bureau represents nearly 30,000 farmers in Minnesota, from large-scale corn and soybean growers to orchards to market farmers. Kaytlin Bemis, public policy specialist for Farm Bureau, said the organization is interested in learning more about urban agriculture and expanding relationships with farmers in Minneapolis.
Feeding communities is the focus of the Minneapolis Health Department’s Homegrown Minneapolis program, said Patty Bowler, director of policy and community programs. “We want to be feeding, growing and processing more healthy food, as well as reducing food waste,” she said. She said the department has a ten-year strategic plan and is working with the Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) department to identify city-owned land that can be preserved for urban gardens. The Northeast Market Garden leases its land on the corner of 28th Ave. and Johnson St. NE from CPED.
The Northeast Market Garden is made up of raised beds that raise food strictly for donation. Five “micro farms” are also on site. Food from these gardens can be sold, but some must be donated.
Hyberger and Bussey were the first urban farmers to begin planting at the Northeast site. They raise tomatoes, basil and 22 varieties of peppers. “Our primary market is hot sauce makers,” said Bussey. B&H has found they need to produce “funkier stuff” such as different colored peppers to encourage sales. “People love color. You have to have a fun product.”
The visiting farmers remarked on the attractiveness of the garden, noting the flowers along the fence and the café set in the corner. “It’s very inviting,” one said.
Damōn Chaplin, Minneapolis Health Dept. Commissioner, was very enthusiastic. “This is awesome,” he said. “I’ve never had a green thumb, but I am a foodie.”
Damōn Chaplin, Minneapolis Health Dept. commissioner, sampled some of the produce with farmer Max Hyberger.
An Ethiopian eggplant fits into one of Northeast Market Garden’s goals which is to grow culturally-specific foods.