Area Farmers to Attend
World Food Meeting in Italy

Fundraiser Sept. 27 in Granite Falls

CONTACT:  Terry VanDerPol, LSP, 320-269-2105
PHOTOS AVAILABLE: For a digital photo of the VanDerPols & Arner/Handeen, e-mail lydias@landstewardshipproject.org

9/9/08
MONTEVIDEO, Minn. — Two area farms will represent western Minnesota’s community based food systems work at this year’s Slow Food International gathering, Oct. 23-27, in Torino, Italy. Attending the conference will be farmers and Land Stewardship Project (LSP) members Richard Handeen and Audrey Arner of Moonstone Farm (www.prairiefare.com/moonstone), west of Montevideo, and Jim and LeeAnn VanDerPol of Pastures A’ Plenty (www.prairiefare.com/pastureshp.htm), north of Clara City. LSP is celebrating this honor by hosting a benefit Saturday, Sept. 27, to raise funds to help the organization send the VanDerPols and Arner/Handeen to Italy. The event will be held at Memorial Park in Granite Falls from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be food, entertainment and a silent auction. To RSVP or to make a silent auction donation, contact LSP at 320-269-2105.

The Slow Food International meeting, Terra Madre (www.terramadre2008.org), is a biennial gathering of food communities from around the world that brings together farmers, chefs and academics who are working to increase small scale and sustainable food systems. Farmers who wish to attend the conference must apply, and only a limited number of applications are accepted.

“This is an incredible distinction for these farms and for our region,” said Tom Taylor, an organizer for LSP’s Community Based Food Systems and Economic Development Program.  “To have two farms right in this region receive this level of international recognition for the food they raise, the way they farm and how they contribute to the food communities of western Minnesota really speaks to how strong the slow food-good food movement and sustainable agriculture are in this area. To have them bring this international perspective back to our food systems work in western Minnesota is really going to benefit this region.”

Over 7,000 farmers and chefs from 132 countries have been invited to participate in Torino this year to give a voice and visibility to rural food producers from around the world. These individuals will come together to discuss what “high quality food” means to them, issues of environmental resources and aspects of taste, worker dignity and consumer safety.

Arner and Handeen raise grass-fed beef and market their beef and many other farm products through various regional venues and via their on-farm store. They have recently established a vineyard and offer on-farm overnight stays in “The Bed and Bagel.”  Pastures A’ Plenty is operated by two generations of VanDerPols and they produce naturally raised pork, chicken and eggs. The VanDerPols also market their products through various means, including an on-farm store.

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