Local Food

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced its first Food to Farm Security Grant recipients on Sept. 28, 2026. The new grant provides funds to distribute local produce to communities for free.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is surveying people's fish-eating habits to help limit contaminants in water bodies and make fish safer to eat.

Starting August 2026, food shelves across the state can accept donated eggs past their quality assurance date, with 30 days as the cutoff point.

The Strictly Mushrooms vendor market is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. every Sunday in Pine River. The market has various goods, different classes and games for kids.

New guidelines specific to St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties account for the fact that fish in the region generally have higher mercury concentrations.

The Summer EBT program, now called Sun Bucks, is automatically administered to families on certain public assistance programs or those who successfully apply for free and reduced lunch.

Plus: Summer EBT is now SUN Bucks and eligible families enrolled in certain programs will automatically be mailed new cards per school-age child; and nine Northland golf teams will compete at the state golf tournament next week.

The public phase of the "Nourish the Northland" campaign kicked off on Feb. 27, 2025, with $11 million already raised.

People registered with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to make and sell cottage foods face fewer restrictions and food safety requirements than other larger businesses.

Farmers markets abound in Northern Minnesota. We've collected a list of locations, dates and times in towns like Pine River, Walker, Grand Rapids, Cook, Virginia, Bemidji, Brainerd and more!