Enter to Win Reetsyburger's Cheese Giveaway!

When a box of cheese arrives at your doorstep, an average day gets upgraded to first-class - especially when it’s Culture Magazine sending you new cheese from Coach Farm. And today could be YOUR most excellent day too. Right here, right now, you have an opportunity to win free Coach Farm goat cheese from yours truly.

Earlier this month, I was selected by Culture Magazine during their "Hello My Name Is...Blogger Contest" to write about a new style of cheese. For this particular contest, they sent me a shipment of Coach Farm goat cheese including a brand new variety of raw goat’s milk cheese.

Many remember Miles and Lilian Cahn as the owners of the famous Coach Leatherware Company – you know, the makers of belts, wallets, and those oh-so coveted handbags. Well, in 1985, the Cahns sold Coach Leatherware, and since then they’ve been “held hostage” by their herd of more than 1000 Alpine French goats at Coach Farm. 

Located outside of New York City in the Hudson Valley, Coach Farm's cheesemaker Mark Newbold crafts artisanal goat cheese for a wide variety of customers, including foodie major leaguers like Mario Baltali and Pierre Chambrin. Coach Farm bagged a 1st place prize at the 2008 World Championship Cheese Contest for their Triple Cream Wheel, and that’s just one of many awards they’ve locked down.

Coach Farm's new, raw goat's milk cheese. Photo by Marie Flanagan.

The as yet unnamed, Coach Farm raw milk goat cheese that arrived on my doorstep was all dolled up in an insulated box, tucked in alongside a few cheesy companions. As I unpacked the box, I smiled when I got my mitts on the big hunk of raw goat’s milk cheese. Reminiscent of bûcheron, a French cheese which is usually aged for 25-50 days, Coach Farm's raw milk cheese is made with unpasteurized milk and aged for at least 60 days. 

It has a bloomy, edible rind, and inside the rind, the cheese proffers two layers of flavor and texture. A thin creamline of smooth pâte gives way to a substantial layer of semi-firm, slightly tangy chèvre. Pair it with a glass of sparkling Vouvray and some grapes, and enjoy it at brunch or for an evening dessert. The flavor is clean and bold enough to pair with your beet salad, but it expresses itself more nobly alongside some simple fresh fruit. And for that reason, I suggest Noble Raw as the name for this new cheese. 

My first-ever cheese giveaway. A collection of Coach Farm cheeses. Photo by Marie Flanagan.

With so much cheesy splendor in the house, I'm obligated to pay it forward, so I’m sharing some of this shipment with one, lucky reader. Included in the shipment will be a round of their award-winning Triple Cream, 4 ounces of their classic fresh goat cheese, and a piece of their brand new, unnamed raw goat’s milk cheese. 

The time is NOW. Do what the readers of this blog do best – gush about food. To enter for a chance to have this cheese shipped to you, either share this blog post on facebook -OR- write a description of your favorite goat cheese dish in the Twin Cities in the comments section below (if you live elsewhere, share a favorite restaurant's goat cheese preparation in your locale). This is your chance to WIN FREE CHEESE! Enter by the 18th.

Please note: My contest has been posted on multiple blogs. You need only enter on one of them.

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]

Minnesota Ranked 16th in Nationwide Locavore Index

Strolling of the Heifers, a local food advocacy group in Vermont, has released its second annual Strolling of the Heifers Locavore Index, ranking the 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of their commitment to local foods.

Minnesota came in 16th place (up from 17th in 2012), while our surrounding states ranked higher - North Dakota came in 3rd, Iowa came in 5th, and Wisconsin came in 9th place.

The Index used data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Census bureau, and  LocalHarvest's CSA database.

Click on the image to see a larger version.

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]

Minneapolis Urban Farmers Circulate Local Food Questionnaire for Political Candidates

MINNEAPOLIS, MN. A group of Minneapolis urban farmers have banded together to ask candidates in this year’s municipal elections to support policies that will help grow our increasingly diverse and productive local food economy. 

The Minneapolis Urban Farmer's Collaborative has invited candidates for Minneapolis City Council, Parks & Recreation Board, and Mayor to complete a candidate questionnaire to determine where the candidates stand on current policy issues relevant to urban agriculture, including food production on public park lands, on-site vegetable sales for urban producers, and ownership of chickens for small-scale commercial purposes. 

Among the members represented in this collaborative are composters, mushroom growers, beekeepers, backyard farmers, and CSA, wholesale, and market farmers. Their operations are scattered across the Twin Cities and represent both for- and non-profit business models.

“The goal of this questionnaire,” says collaborative member Michael Pursell , “is to give voters a better sense of how supportive their candidates are of our city's local food entrepreneurs.  We've shown in recent years that our small businesses are making valuable contributions to Minneapolis health, commerce and communities and we think Minneapolis has the potential to be a real leader in urban agriculture. But we need local government to support our work and remove unnecessary barriers to our success."

The questionnaire is already being circulated among this year’s municipal candidates, and completed candidate questionnaires are being posted on the Minneapolis Issues Forum at www.e-democracy.org for public viewing as they become available.

Minneapolis citizens can help grow the local food movement by encouraging candidates from their wards and districts to respond to the questionnaire and by supporting local-food-friendly candidates this November.

CONTACT: Michael Pursell, 651-485-1034

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]

Michael Pollan is Coming to Minneapolis!

Michael Pollan, a superstar of the local, sustainable food movement, is coming to St. Louis Park.

Described in a 2006 New York Times book review as a "liberal foodie intellectual," Michael Pollan started transforming our notions about food and health with his 1991 book Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education. By the time his book In Defense of Foodcame out in 2009, Pollan had gained a reputation as being an authority on how to eat healthfully and sustainably. These days, In Defense of Food is a popular book club selection, and Pollan has become a household name. He’s appeared on Oprah, The Colbert Report, and NPR’s Morning Edition. He was named by Newsweek as one of the top 10 “New Thought Leaders” in 2009, and named to the 2010 TIME 100, the magazine’s annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people.

On Thursday, May 2, from 7-9 p.m., Minnesotans will have the opportunity to hear Pollan speak at Beth El Synagogue, in conjunction with their Inspiring Minds Series.

“The Inspiring Minds Series has brought people like Jane Goodall, Gloria Steinem, and Deepak Chopra to Minnesota,” explained Kelly Velander, marketing and communications director for Beth El Synagogue. “Along the lines of spiritual inspiration that we promote through this series, Pollan will show us how the classical elements of earth, water, fire, and air are a part of the food we eat.”

Appetizers will be provided by Stewart and Heidi Woodman of Heidi’s and Birdhouse. Tickets start at $60 for general admission. A $500 premium ticket will get you special, upfront assigned seating and admission to a private VIP reception with Pollan prior to the public presentation (reception attendees will also receive a copy of Michael's brand new book Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation for signing, and the opportunity to have a photo taken with Pollan). A portion of the proceeds will go to Appetite for Change, a nonprofit organization in North Minneapolis.

Beth El Synagogue
5224 West 26th St., St. Louis Park
952-873-7300, bethelsynagogue.org

Cross-posted from: Michael Pollan to Speak at Beth El Synagogue - Twin Cities Taste - April 2013 - Minnesota

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]

Honeybee Mobile Market—a Twin Cities Farmers' Market on Wheels

HONEYBEE MOBILE MARKET

Farmers' markets, co-ops, CSAs—they’re all good avenues for Minnesotans to get their hands on local food. But a Minnesota couple wants to add another option to the mix—a mobile farmers' market.

Tony Pavelko and Gina DiMaggio are looking to buy and retrofit a trailer, fill it with local food, and drive it directly to consumers via scheduled stops at locations like churches, businesses, neighborhoods, and events. They’ll call it Honeybee Mobile Market.

“Our idea with the mobile concept is that whoever wants the food and whoever wants the convenience is where we’ll bring it,” explained Pavelko. “If they’re already going to be there, then we’ll be there—what could be better than bringing the food directly to the people?

Pavelko and DiMaggio aren’t newcomers to the local food scene. Inspired by the local food communities in Italy and Costa Rica, they came to Minnesota and started a business in 2009 called Food for Thought—where they partnered with local farms and delivered local food CSA shares to homes and businesses. Their new model, Honeybee Mobile Market, draws on that concept, but instead of delivering pre-orders, they’ll be filling their trailer with local food, driving to scheduled stops, and opening their market doors to consumers passing by.

“As we did the Food for Thought deliveries, we started to realize the CSA model didn’t work for a lot of people who didn’t have the time, or perhaps the creativity, to prepare a full box of produce,” said Pavelko. “So, using that experience, and talking to customers, we thought about how we could provide this good, local food to consumers, but offer them more convenience and flexibility. We thought, ‘Why not bring the market to the people?’”

Honeybee plans to work directly with farmers and producers within 200 miles of the Twin Cities, such as Harmony Valley, Featherstone, Natura, Ridge Roll, Cedar Summit, and other producers of bread, coffee, jam, syrup, honey, granola, flowers, meat, cheese, and eggs. Customers will enter through the back of the trailer, select their market items, and pay before exiting. But, in order to get started, they need to buy a trailer, and they’re using a Kickstarter fundraiser to help them do that.

“We’re doing a Kickstarter to raise money to purchase and retrofit the trailer,” said Pavelko. “We need to create a charming and inviting space for people to shop. We’re trying to raise $20,000, and we’re trying to offer practical incentives for supporting our fundraiser. For example, for a $50 contribution, we’ll deliver a box of produce to your house.”

Pavelko says that he just met with the City of Minneapolis last week, and he’s optimistic that they’ll be able to start selling as early as May 2013.

“The City of Minneapolis has been very supportive of local foods and our idea,” said Pavelko. “We’re fortunate that we live in such a great food community. We’re excited to get this thing going.” 

Want to learn more? Check out their video, where Pavelko and DiMaggio talk about the concept and the Kickstarter project:

Cross posted from:
Honeybee Mobile Market—a Farmers' Market on Wheels - Twin Cities Taste - March 2013 - Minnesota

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]

LaClare Farms Purchases Sunshine Farms Distribution Goat Milk Bottling Operation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 28, 2013

Contact: Larry Hedrich, 920-849-2926, laclare@bugnet.net

PIPE, Wis. – LaClare Farms today announces it has purchased the Sunshine Farms Distribution fluid goat milk operation to add to the growing line-up of LaClare Farms products.

After March 5, customers may expect a new LaClare Farms label on all former Sunshine Farms bottled goat milk products. The high quality goat milk will come from the same farms, as the milk is already supplied and hauled by LaClare Farms and the Quality Dairy Goat Producers Cooperative of Wisconsin. Milk will continue to be available in quarts of Lowfat and Whole Milk as well as half gallons of Whole Milk.

“We are excited to expand our growing Wisconsin farmstead dairy operation by offering this well-regarded and established line of quality bottled goat milk,” said Greg Hedrich, LaClare Farms Business Manager. 

LaClare Farms already offers a wide array of goat’s milk and mixed milk cheeses, including Evalon, Fresh Chevre, Cheddar, Raw Cheddar, Fondy Jack and American Originals crafted by Katie Hedrich, the reigning U.S. Championship Cheesemaker. The new LaClare Farms bottled goat milk is distributed by Vern’s Cheese, Chilton; Trust Local Foods, Little Chute; and Natural Direct in Oswego, Illinois and is available at retail locations throughout Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.  

Owned by the Larry and Clara Hedrich family of Chilton, Wis., LaClare Farms is currently building a new dairy processing facility on State Hwy 151, north of the village of Pipe. The facility will include a state-of-the-art dairy plant, retail store and café, as well as a milking parlor and housing for 600 milking goats. The under-construction facility will also be capable of aging cheese in curing rooms, as well as producing cultured products and bottled milk. It is scheduled to begin limited operation in May 2013 and be fully completed in June 2013. 

For more information, visit www.laclarefarms.com or call Larry Hedrich at 920-849-2926.

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]

Seed Saving: Family Heirlooms for Your Garden

MARIE FLANAGAN (3)

I’m a daughter of a seed saver. Each year, my mom carefully harvests and saves seeds from her prolific garden. A practical woman, she also taught me how to save seeds, so the beans, tomatoes, and dill that I plant today are the same seeds of the same garden goodies that I ate as a kid. The tradition is nostalgic and interesting to me. Each time I pinch a “rattlesnake pole bean” or a “scarlet runner bean” seed between my fingers, I think of my mom, her hard work, and her beloved garden. These seeds are my family’s heirlooms.

Seed savers are especially interested in the concept of heirloom varieties. The Seed Savers Exchange defines an heirloom as "any garden plant that has a history of being passed down within a family, just like pieces of heirloom jewelry or furniture. Some companies have tried to create definitions based on date, such as anything older than 50 years."

Now you can become part of the  ever-growing seed saver/heirloom seed movement. The Annual Seed Saver’s Exchange will be taking place at the Oliver H. Kelley Farm in Elk River, Minn. this March 10 at 2 p.m.. The historic farm has been leading seed-saving activities in Minnesota since 1981. Seed saving enthusiasts will gather and celebrate the seed saving tradition with seed art and a gardening presentation. Following the presentation, a seed swap will take place. Seed savers carefully package their seeds and bring them to swap with other seed savers, and the folks at the Kelley Farm make some of their saved seeds available. And you know what’s really cool? You don’t have to bring seeds in order to take some home. The event is free and open to the public and is for novice and expert gardeners alike.

Can’t make the event? No problem. You can still get your green thumbs on some saved seeds by visiting a local store with a Seed Savers Exchange rack. Here’s a list of locations selling Seed Savers seeds:

Abrahamson Nurseries 20021 St. Croix Trail N Scandia, MN 55073 651-433-2431	Greenwood Plants 6904 NW 18th Ave. Rochester, MN 55901 507-282-1988
Abrahamson Nurseries 2100 Tower Dr. W Stillwater, MN 55082	Hillside Greenhouse 1934 4th Ave. Windom, MN 56101 507-832-8300
Albert Lea Seed House 1414 West Main St. Albert Lea, MN 56007 800-352-5247	Just Food Coop 516 S Water St. Northfield, MN 55057 507-645-7415
Amelia's Flower & Garden Shoppe 910 W 36th St. Minneapolis, MN 55408 612-208-1205	Kingsley Mercantile 2 Main Ave. N Harmony, MN 55939 507-886-2323
Andrew Skoog 3500 Vicksburg Ln. #334 Minneapolis, MN 55447 612-804-1143	Linden Hills Co-op 3815 Sunnyside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55410 612-922-1159
Becker Pet & Garden 1008 Washington Ave. Detroit Lakes, MN 56501	Linders Garden Center 270 W Larpenteur Ave. Saint Paul, MN 55113 651-488-1927
Becker Pet & Garden 1008 Washington Ave. Detroit Lakes, MN 56501	Mazopiya 2571 Credit Union Dr. Prior Lake, MN 55372 952-233-9142
Bluff County Co-op 121 W 2nd St. Winona, MN 55987 507-452-1815	Mississippi Market 1500 W 7th St. Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-690-0507
By The Woods/Diggin' In 78 W 78th St. Chanhassen, MN 55317	Mississippi Market 1810 Randolph Ave. Saint Paul, MN 55105
City Center Market 122 Buchanan St. N Cambridge, MN 55008 763-689-4640	Moms Food Co-op 122 N Buchanan St. Cambridge, MN 55008
Cook Country Coop 20 East First St. PO Box 1433 Grand Marais, MN 55604 218-387-2503	Mother Earth Gardens 3738 42nd Ave. S Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-724-2296
Delano True Value 1005 Crossings Dr. Delano, MN 55328 763-972-7272	Rainbow Food Coop 103 S Main St. Blue Earth, MN 56013 507-526-3603
Drummers Garden Center 281 Saint Andrews Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507-388-4877	Sailers Greenhouse 17011 Sunset Ave. Shakopee, MN 55379 952-403-0630
East Side Food Co-op 2551 Central Ave NE Minneapolis, MN 55418 612-788-0950	Seward Coop 2823 E Franklin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-338-2465
Eggplant Urban Farm Supply 1771 Selby Ave. Saint Paul, MN 55104 651-645-0818	Super Fresh Produce 2101 4th St. NW Austin, MN 55912 507-438-2358
Good Earth Food Co-op 2010 Veterans Dr. Saint Cloud, MN 56303 320-253-9290	University of MN Lanscape Arboritum 3685 Arboretum Dr. Chaska, MN 55318 952-443-1403
The Granary Food Coop 47 2nd St. NW Ortonville, MN 56278 320-305-9685	Viola Nursery and Greenhouse 3120 100th Ave. NE Eyota, MN 55934 507-259-3272
Grassroots Cooperative 1917 2nd Ave. Anoka, MN 55303 763-427-4340	Vintage Farmer 41 Oak Ave. S Annandale, MN 55302 763-691-3925

Cross posted from: Seed Saving: Family Heirlooms for Your Garden - Twin Cities Taste - February 2013 - Minnesota

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]