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| MN Grown | |
|---|---|
| Name | MN Grown |
| Formation | 1990s |
| Type | Agricultural marketing program |
| Headquarters | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Region served | Minnesota |
| Leader title | Director |
| Parent organization | Minnesota Department of Agriculture |
MN Grown MN Grown is a state-affiliated agricultural marketing and promotion program based in Minnesota. It connects producers, consumers, retailers, processors, and institutions to promote locally produced agriculture products across regional markets such as the Twin Cities, Duluth, Rochester, Minnesota, and the Iron Range (Minnesota). The program operates alongside agencies and initiatives including the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota State Fair, University of Minnesota, Minnesota Farm Bureau, and regional economic development organizations like Greater MSP.
The program serves as a statewide brand and network linking farms, farmers markets, processors, distributors, restaurants, schools, food banks, and grocery chains like Target Corporation and regional co-ops such as Hmong American Farmers Association. It promotes commodity sectors represented in Minnesota history and policy circles, including producers engaged with Land O'Lakes, CHS Inc., Cargill, and cooperatives rooted in communities such as Rochester, Minnesota and Mankato, Minnesota. MN Grown collaborates with research and extension partners at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minnesota State University, Mankato, and land-grant extension networks to provide technical assistance, market access, and branding aligned with statewide initiatives like the Minnesota Food Charter.
The program emerged amid late 20th-century agricultural development efforts that involved stakeholders ranging from commodity groups such as the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and Minnesota Corn Growers Association to processors like General Mills and Hormel Foods. Early partnerships included outreach to community organizations like Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank and policy engagement with the Minnesota Legislature and agencies including the Minnesota Department of Agriculture itself. Over time MN Grown expanded its footprint through events tied to the Minnesota State Fair, regional farmers' markets in Minneapolis, and collaborations with institutions such as Mayo Clinic for local procurement. The program intersected with conservation and land stewardship initiatives involving groups such as the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer network and the The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota.
MN Grown administers programs that link producers to institutional buyers, retailers, and consumers, working with partners such as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative stakeholders, Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota, and nonprofit food access organizations like Food Access Research Atlas collaborators. Initiatives include growers registries similar to those used by LocalHarvest, farm-to-school procurement projects involving districts such as Minneapolis Public Schools and Saint Paul Public Schools, and promotional campaigns timed with events at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and seasonal markets in neighborhoods like Northeast Minneapolis. The program has coordinated grant and technical assistance opportunities echoing models from federal programs like the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program and state funding streams from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund for community food projects.
The program showcases commodities historically central to Minnesota agriculture, including varieties tied to companies such as Land O'Lakes for dairy, General Mills for grains, and Cargill for oilseeds. Featured products include dairy, swine, beef, corn, soybeans, wheat, sugar beets linked to processors like American Crystal Sugar Company, and specialty crops represented by growers who supply restaurants in the Twin Cities and institutions like the Mayo Clinic. MN Grown spotlights value-added products made by processors akin to Ben & Jerry's and local craft food producers distributed through channels like Whole Foods Market and regional food hubs modeled on the Minnesota Food Cooperative network.
Economic assessments associated with the program reference statewide agricultural data compiled by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Analysts compare metrics such as farm gate receipts, commodity prices, and regional supply chain employment with benchmarks from organizations like Economic Research Service (USDA), Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and studies produced by the University of Minnesota Extension. Impact studies often examine linkages to industries represented by firms like CHS Inc., Cargill, and Hormel Foods, and track performance across regions including Olmsted County, Hennepin County, and St. Louis County.
Branding and promotional strategies draw on best practices from statewide campaigns and corporate partners such as Land O'Lakes and retail partners including Target Corporation. MN Grown participates in trade shows and marketplaces similar to events hosted by Minnesota Food Association and utilizes channels like farmers markets in Minneapolis–Saint Paul as well as digital directories modeled on LocalHarvest. Partnerships with culinary institutions like the James Beard Foundation-affiliated chefs in the region, hospitality venues in Duluth, and food festivals at the Minnesota State Fair help raise visibility for participating producers.
Program governance includes oversight and collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, advisory input from commodity groups such as the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, and partnerships with academic institutions including the University of Minnesota. MN Grown works with municipal procurement offices in cities like Saint Paul, Minnesota and Minneapolis and coordinates with nonprofit partners such as the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota and food security organizations like Second Harvest Heartland. The program also engages with federal counterparts, including staff from the United States Department of Agriculture, to align state-level marketing efforts with national agricultural policy and programs.
Category:Agriculture in Minnesota