UPPER MIDWEST GARLIC GROWERS

Welcome commercial growers and home gardeners who want to interact with the garlic growing community.

Upper Midwest Garlic Growers is an association of garlic growers in the region who have joined together to learn from each other through networking and events, and to promote garlic growing and sales in our region.



If you would like to join this group, or for more information, please contact: Jerry Ford, garlicgrowers@sfa-mn.org, 763-244-6659



Upcoming Events

Garlic Growers Field Day & Social

July 5, 2026   |   2:00-5:00 PM

Living Song Farm, Howard Lake


Please join us for this gathering of the garlic growers for a walk around the garlic patch and some social time at Living Song Farm,. We'll take a look at Jerry Ford's garlic when the crop is almost ready for harvest, and then we'll see his handling and curing shed. Jerry has been growing garlic for market since 2002, along with his wife, Marienne, and, in the past few years, with their farming partners, Borrowed Acres Farm, They tried many varieties over those years, settling on the porcelains, and have honed it down to around 6,000 - 7,000 bulbs. With mostly wholesale customers, they focus on Certified Organic seed stock.

 

We'll certainly talk about diseases in garlic, particularly Aster Yellows Phytoplasma (AYP). Dr. Carl Rosen will be there to informally share the ongoing research on AYP, and some of the seasoned growers who've dealt with it for many years will add their experience.


You're invited to bring along a dish to share with the group.


This is a 201 - 301 level event intended for those already growing garlic as a crop. More information: jerry@sfa-mn.org


Registration:
Free admission. Registration is required in advance so that we can plan ahead. Be prepared for hot weather, and to walk about 1/2 mile, including some pasture.


Jerry Ford has been the director of the Minnesota Garlic Festival since 2006 and will be handing off the reins to the festival's new director, Amelia Neaton, in 2027.

 

POTLUCK: All food brought to the event must be ready to eat with no onsite preparation. These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection.

Minnesota Garlic Festival

Saturday, August 15, 2026

McLeod County Fairgrounds, Hutchinson

Garlic Festival Official Website

Buy tickets HERE.

Vendor information HERE.

Questions? Please contact Jerry Ford, jerry@sfa-mn.org

Growing Garlic in Minnesota

The new Extension publication, "Growing Garlic in Minnesota," is now available. It is a thorough compilation of information from the University and the Minnesota Premium Garlic Project.

Garlic Field Day at Schmidt Farm, Preston MN

The Minnesota Premium Garlic Project

In the 20-teens, the Minnesota Premium Garlic Project worked to enhance profitability for existing and new farmers by improving premium garlic production in Minnesota through the advancement of best production and marketing practices, and by expanding markets and supply chains and conducting research on improved cultivation methods.

Garlic Bloat Nematode Testing

Garlic Bloat Nematode (GBN) is a devastating disease in garlic that is spread primarily in infected seed stock. We've been working for years now to control the spread, and are striving to keep the incidence to a minimum in the upper midwest. Seed garlic buyers regularly ask growers if they're doing this test. It's required in order to have a listing in the Garlic Directory, and for featured growers at MN Garlic Festival.


Growers who want to be a garlic vendor at MN Garlic Festival must test and receive a negative result.


To be listed in the Upper Midwest Premium Garlic Directory, growers must complete this testing and receive a negative result before the listing will be published.


Testing through the U of M Plant Disease Clinic can be done from June 10th through harvest. Cost is $50 per sample.


  • Learn about the procedure HERE.
  • Download a Test Submission Form HERE.


We are encouraging growers to:
1) Test their garlic so that they can advertise that it has tested negative for GBN;
2) Buy seed garlic that has been tested negative for GBN.

Learn More About Garlic

Virtual Farm Tours

Virtual Farm Tour of 5 Sisters Organics

Virtual Garlic Field Day at Coffman Garlic & Apples

Garlic Resources

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