Healthy Eating
Too many people in the Arrowhead region of Minnesota cannot find fresh fruits and vegetables near their homes, or what they can find is limited and expensive. Therefore, SHIP works with communities to increase access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables through farmers markets, healthy corner store initiatives and community gardens.
Agriculture and Local Food Systems
Farmers Markets
- Minnesota Grown Directory
- Minnesota Farmers Markets Map
- University of Minnesota Extension Supporting Farmers MArkets in Accepting SNAP Benefits
- Safe Food Sampling for Farmers Markets Vendors
- Power of Produce (PoP) Club - University of Minnesota Extension
- Power of Produce Kit - Farmers Market Coalition
- Market Bucks
Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association
- MN Farmers’ Market Food Hub - Interview: SHIP & Aitkin Farmers’ Market Hub’s Food Rx Program
- Food Sampling Law - Handwashing Station
Community Based Agriculture
- University of Minnesota Extension - Master Gardener
- Healthy Food Is Essential For All - The Public Health Law Center
- American Community Gardening Associate Website
Where People Access Food
Workplace
School
- Farm To Institution Resources - Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
- Minnesota Farm to School
- Smart Snacks in Schools Product Calculator
- Smarter Lunchrooms and Mealtimes
- Healthy Eating Toolkit - Action for Healthy Kids
- Team Nutrition
- Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child
Food Shelves
- Building Better Food Shelves - University of Minnesota Extension
- The Food Group
- SuperShelf
- Produce Imperfections (basecamp)
- Food Safety for Food Donation (basecamp)
- A Guide to Food Date Labels for Food Shelf Staff - Public Health Law Center (basecamp)
Food Retail
Support
NE SHIP supports communities by connecting partners, sharing evidence-informed tools, and facilitating collaboration to improve food access across the region.
Local Food Systems In Action
improving together
The Northeast SHIP chapter has many partners working on nutrition and food security, including the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA), U of M Extension, Renewing the Countryside, and NorthSpan, supported by funding through the Regional Food Business Center.
Decades ago, people in your neighborhood could walk to corner grocery stores and buy fresh produce. Over time, those small stores closed as supermarkets opened much farther away from where you live.
Sometimes you ride with your neighbor to the other side of town to shop for groceries. One day they tell you that a community organization is looking for residents to share their experiences and ideas about food access.
Six months later you’re part of a group planning to open a new neighborhood grocery store. Residents, community organizations, NE SHIP, and contractors are gathering together to review possible store designs.
Reach out to learn more about how SHIP can support your efforts to make healthy food options available to everyone in your community.
Key Tips to remember
Find your nearest farmers market
Buying fresh produce at your nearest farmers market supports farmers and brings healthy, fresh produce right to your table. Learn more about where your nearest farmers market is at this link.
Locate your nearest Food HUB
Click here to find your location on the map: Hub Routes - Google My Maps
Get involved
Do you feel passionate about local food systems, nutrition security, or consuming fresh fruits and vegetables? The best way to get involved, is to get connected. Reach out to your local SHIP coordinator for ways to transform and inspire change in your community.
Connect
Find out how you can work with the Northeast SHIP team to have better access to healthy food options in your community. SHIP staff are available to meet and connect with you based on your questions, or other needs.
