Land Stewardship Project

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Community-Based Food Systems

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The U.S. agricultural system is good at churning out record harvests of commodities that are sent all over the world or turned into industrial products like fuel, but this extractive system often does not benefit farmers or the communities they live in, and has produced environmental and human health costs that we all pay for. When we build robust community-based food systems, we are creating strong, resilient, and interconnected communities. Community-based food systems, or “community food webs,” as food systems analyst Ken Meter calls them, are collective hubs of food production, processing, distribution, and consumption that strengthen regional environmental, economic, and social health.

Building community-based food systems extends beyond food procurement and processing; this work strives to build connection and community among all food system stakeholders — from food chain workers and consumers to farmers and our public officials who make decisions that dictate the contours of our region’s economy and landscape. The Land Stewardship Project is committed to helping rural communities build food systems that are by people and for people.

Want to Get Involved?

Want to stay connected with the latest community-based food systems work? Sign up for specialized updates!

Report: Building the Farm to School Network in West Central Minnesota

This 2025 report, compiled by University of Minnesota-Morris student Elsa Eaves, summarizes research and findings from the Land Stewardship Project’s “Farm to Institution Network in West Central Minnesota” project. Beginning in July 2024 and wrapping up in August 2025, the project supports LSP’s mission to connect local food producers with schools and institutions. The goal of this project was to analyze existing data for local food procurement by schools in western Minnesota, to enhance this data by interviewing food service directors, and to assist institutions in adopting more locally sourced options by identifying the top 10-20 in-demand products that could be sourced from local producers. A pdf version of the report is available here.

Building Community Food Webs Learning Circles: March 2023

Building strong community food networks where we live can move us powerfully toward our vision for functioning local and regional systems that support regenerative farming and provide all people with the nourishing foods they want and need. To explore how communities around the country are making this happen, in March 2023 LSP is hosting three learning circles focused on the book Building Community Food Webs, by Ken Meter.

Join us for just one session, or all three! Each session we’ll gather on Zoom for two hours — beginning at 7 p.m. — to discuss major themes from the book and generate ideas for our own communities.

For details and to register, click here.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Directory

Want to participate in a community-based food model that connects you directly with farmers? For the past three
decades, LSP has published a directory of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms that serve eaters in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Check out the latest edition here.

Community-Based Food Systems Resources

• Grant Opportunity: The Minnesota Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program

• LSP Myth Buster #62: Commodity Ag is Rural America’s Cash Cow

• LSP Myth Buster #32: Using crops to produce biofuels does not raise food prices

• LSP Myth Buster #24: Country of Origin Labeling will make it impossible for farmers to market their products through local stores and restaurants.

• LSP Myth Buster #22: Buying locally produced food will automatically reduce your ecological footprint.

• LSP Myth Buster #18: Federal law makes it illegal to favor local farmers when purchasing food for public schools.

• LSP Myth Buster #10: It will be prohibitively expensive to tell consumers what country their food comes from.

• LSP Fact Sheet: How U.S. Cities are Using Zoning to Support Urban Ag

• LSP Fact Sheet: Buying Directly From a Farmer: Consumers can bypass the corporate bottleneck.

• LSP Fact Sheet: Rural Development & Local Foods: Rural communities are finding that production and consumption of local foods can feed main street economies.

Check Out LSP's Direct Marketing Videos

• Direct Marketing: How to Market to Your Ideal Customer & Manage Your Limited Time

• Grass Based Meat Marketing: Fostering Connection in a Digital World, with Leslie Svacina of Cylon Rolling Acres

• Grass Based Meat Marketing: Building Relationships and Running a Business, with Rachelle Meyer of Wholesome Family Farms

• Grass Based Meat Marketing: Raising and Selling an Exceptionally Good Product, with Mike Rupprecht of Earth-Be-Glad Farm

Community Food Asset Mapping

In 2022, the Land Stewardship Project held a series of meetings in western Minnesota where farmers, business owners, local government officials, and consumers shared their insights on what’s needed to create a community-based food system that’s good for the land, our communities, and local economies. During these meetings, “asset mapping” exercises were undertaken to determine where we are currently at in terms of accessibility to community-based foods. Check out the input that emerged from these listening sessions here.

LSP Community-Based Food Podcasts

• Ear to the Ground 362: Regenerative Return

• Ear to the Ground 361: Additive Vs. Extractive

• Ear to the Ground 360: Food Bank Booster

• Ear to the Ground 347: Bite-by-Bite

• Ear to the Ground 335: Bumping Elbows

• Ear to the Ground 332: Real Food, Real Impact

• Ear to Ground 331: Reality Check

• Ear to the Ground 282: Kitchen Table Economics

• Ear to the Ground 283: Ending the Extractive Economy

• Ear to the Ground 284: Hive of Healthy Activity

• Ear to the Ground 322: Lunchroom Stewardship

Related Posts

  • Tell Congress: Support Market Access for Farmers by Funding Local Food Purchasing

    October 22, 2025

    The Land Stewardship Project and our partners across the nation are calling on Congress to support investment in local foods for our communities. We need…

    Action Alerts
    child nutrition, community-based food, farm-to-school, food marketing, local food, rural economic development
    Tell Congress: Support Market Access for Farmers by Funding Local Food Purchasing
  • Ear to the Ground 386: A Farm to School Taste Test

    How a small, rural school district is taking a trial run at sourcing food from local farmers.
    More Information
    • MDA Farm to School & Early Care…

    Ear to the Ground 386: A Farm to School Taste Test
  • Ear to the Ground 385: A Longer Local Lunch Season

    Jeanine Bowman believes having locally produced food on her school’s menu shouldn’t be a special occasion — it should be a daily part of nourishing…

    Ear to the Ground 385: A Longer Local Lunch Season

Contact

• Amy Bacigalupo, e-mail, 320-269-2105
• Scott DeMuth, e-mail, 612-767-9487

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Upcoming Events

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October 2025

Thursday October 23

8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Farm to School & Early Care Grants Deadline
Thursday October 23
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Farm to School & Early Care Grants Deadline
Online

School is back in session and this week’s cool temps definitely remind us all that fall is just around the corner. This time of the year also means that the application period is open for Minnesota’s Farm to School and Early Care grants.

Earlier this year, the Land Stewardship Project and our partners were successful in expanding funding for the AGRI Farm to School and Early Care program. The application window for the next round of funding is now open and will close at 4 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Thursday, October 23.

APPLY FOR FUNDING HERE

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is serving up two funding opportunities to help schools and early childhood education (ECE) centers buy Minnesota-grown and -raised foods. 

1.    First Bite Grants: Up to $5,000 (no match required) to kickstart local food purchasing through intentional, high-impact activities. 
2.    Full Tray Grants: Up to $35,000 (1:1 match required) to help experienced schools and ECE centers increase or expand their local food purchases. 

Equipment funding: First Bite and Full Tray applicants can also request up to $25,000 (1:1 match required) to support the purchase of kitchen equipment that will enhance their capacity to buy, prepare, and serve local foods.  

 These grants are open to: 
•    Public or private K-12 schools or school districts in Minnesota that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
•    Early childhood education (ECE) centers that participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in Minnesota

MDA encourages schools, districts, and ECE centers serving sovereign tribal nations to apply. 

 Local Tots Cost-Share Program
There are also funds available to reimburse family child care providers for buying Minnesota-grown and -raised foods used for meals and snacks as part of the the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP):

Interested providers must submit a Local Tots Cost-Share program Letter of Intent to participate. Award amounts will be up to $1,000 and there is a 1:1 cash match required for providers who received a Local Tots Cost-Share award in 2025. There is no cash match required if you are new to the program. 

Applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Thursday, October 23, 2025. 

 Program details and online applications are available at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/farm-school-early-care-programs or by contacting the Grants Team at MDA.AGRIgrants@state.mn.us. 

 Want to learn more about eligibility, allowable expenses, and how to apply?

 Join the MDA for a virtual info session: 
First Bite and Full Tray Grant Info Session 
September 15, 2025, 2-3 p.m.
Register here

 Local Tots Cost-Share Info Session – for family child care providers
September 18, 2025, 1-2 p.m.
Register here

Farmers: Are you Interested in selling to a school near you? 
Send this opportunity along to the food service director at schools near you or connect with a Regional Local Food Coordinator to help you make connections with schools, childcare settings, and other opportunities to sell locally. These positions are supported by the Department of Education and Renewing the Countryside.

Saturday October 25

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Saturday October 25
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Madison Public Library - Central, 201 W Mifflin St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

The Johnson Center for Land Stewardship Policy is excited to share that one of our its primary pillars of work — a published collection of Paul Johnson’s writings —  is set for release on Oct. 2.  The book features a brief biography and a discussion of Paul’s ideas within the historical and future contexts of private lands conservation. 

During the Wisconsin Book Festival, Curt Meine will talk about the book in a discussion with author Sonja Trom Eayrs (Dodge County, Incorporated), in a session on “The Fight for Rural America.” 

For details on We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy click here.

Tuesday October 28

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
MDA Grants Webinar
Tuesday October 28
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
MDA Grants Webinar
Zoom online

Are you interested in applying for a grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)? On Tuesday, Oct. 28, from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Land Stewardship Project will be holding an online webinar on four grants that will be available this fall. MDA staffers will go over the details of these grants and how to apply for them.

 To sign-up, click here.  

 This webinar will feature information on four grants:

– AGRI Livestock Investment Grant

– AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant 

– Preparing for Extreme Weather (Prepare) Grant

– AGRI Protecting Livestock from Avian Influenza (Protect) Grant 

For more information, contact LSP’s Alex Kiminski at akiminski@landstewardshipproject.org.

Wednesday October 29

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Wednesday October 29
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement, 2800 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311, USA

The Johnson Center for Land Stewardship Policy is excited to share that one of our its primary pillars of work — a published collection of Paul Johnson’s writings —  is set for release on Oct. 2.  The book features a brief biography and a discussion of Paul’s ideas within the historical and future contexts of private lands conservation. 

For details on We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy click here.

Thursday October 30

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Thursday October 30
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA 50010, USA

The Johnson Center for Land Stewardship Policy is excited to share that one of our its primary pillars of work — a published collection of Paul Johnson’s writings —  is set for release on Oct. 2.  The book features a brief biography and a discussion of Paul’s ideas within the historical and future contexts of private lands conservation. 

For details on We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy click here.

View Full Calendar

Recent Posts

  • Tell Congress: Support Market Access for Farmers by Funding Local Food Purchasing October 22, 2025
  • Tell Congress a Farm Bailout is Not the Solution: We Must Invest in America’s Small & Mid-Sized Farmers October 22, 2025
  • Land Line: Argentine Beef, Farm Bankruptcies, Monopolies, Rural Hunger, School Lunch, Nitrate Fertilizer, Avian Flu October 21, 2025
  • MAHA Gives Regenerative Agriculture a Moment in the Sun October 20, 2025
  • LSP Winter Farm Transition Planning Course Launches Jan. 27 Online   October 16, 2025

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