Meet Your Farmer at Sioux Falls Food Co-op Event- Fresher is Fun!
Celebrate South Dakota grown vegetables at the upcoming ‘Meet Your Farmer’ event at the Sioux Falls Food Co-op on Wed., July 10, 2024 from 4 – 7 p.m. Central Time. The event will feature local farmers, a $5 dinner, and kids activities.
The free festival will take place at 410 W. 18th St., Sioux Falls, S.D. Attendees can look forward to an evening of family activities including veggie painting and a build your own kabob bar as well as insightful discussions with farmers and Co-op board members.
“We are so grateful for our relationship with the Sioux Falls Food Co-op and its members! They believed in us and supported us by purchasing our produce when we were just dipping our toes into the wholesale produce game,” Ian Caselli, Caselli’s Market Garden owner, said.
Event attendees can visit with Caselli, Dakota Mushrooms and Microgreens, Prairie Greens Produce, Iron Fox Farms and other area farmers during the event to learn about their products and growing practices.
The Co-op will also host their $5 community dinner from 4-7 p.m. during the event. The menu features a chicken caprese salad with a mushroom vegetarian option. This dinner will feature local tomatoes grown by IronFox Farm, Blue Sky Vegetable Co., and Prairie Roots, mushrooms from Dakota Mushroom and Microgreens, and leafy greens from Caselli’s Market Garden and Prairie Greens Produce.
The Co-op prepares and serves a community dinner every Wednesday for $5. Some offerings include pulled pork with kale slaw, bratwurst with spring mix salad, and greens and sausage pasta. There is always a vegetarian option, and sometimes vegan or gluten-free options. They use local and organic ingredients when possible.
This ‘Fresher is Fun’ event is the sixth of eight retail store events in the state promoting the purchasing of South Dakota grown specialty crops. Two additional events will occur in August in Rapid City and Nisland, S.D. The event is sponsored by the S.D. Specialty Producers Association through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program overseen by the S.D. Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The Sioux Falls Food Co-op is a community owned grocery store that has been in operation since 1973. The newly expanded store offers a large variety of local foods, organic options, and a full kitchen serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Co-op works with over 70 local producers to bring fresh food to more people while supporting local farmers, suppliers, and economies. They offer a wide variety of specialty crops over the season, including apples, aronia, dried beans, berries, flowers, honey, mushrooms, tomatoes and other vegetables. In addition, they offer other products including local bread, butter, cheese, eggs, flax, meats, personal care items and more. These locally-grown products are fresh, flavorful and fun. When you buy them, you are supporting producers, grocers, and co-ops who support our local economy.
The Co-op is excited to host some of the local producers who fill the produce department shelves at this event. Meeting the people who grow the produce you love brings a deeper appreciation and meaning to the foods we love to eat.