The New Crops Assessment program is designed to increase the availability of local, hard-to-find foods such as: quinoa, spelt, currants, sea buckthorn, and herbs such as nettle and burdock, and many more.
What is the New Crops Assessment Program?
- Identify and quantify the demand for specific new and hard-to-find crops among natural and organic food consumers who are looking for local sources of those foods.
- Present findings to SFA farmer-members and assess the need for additional production education around these specific crops.
- Develop educational programs to assist farmers in learning how to grow, harvest and market specialty crops
- Assist the retail market in making these foods available in a way that is beneficial to consumers and producers.
With the results of this survey, we anticipate having the information to entice and encourage Minnesota farmers to explore and engage in the production of new, hard-to-find crops and foods that Minnesota consumers are looking for. This knowledge will prevent some farms from entering into new enterprises without a market, and will provide information to farmers who are looking for a new revenue stream for their farm. Both outcomes will result in keeping farms from making costly miscues, and also contribute more money to the bottom line of innovative farmers, while at the same time providing a service to consumers and natural food stores.
Phase One of the New Crops Assessment is funded in part by: Lakewinds Co-op
sfa-mn
org