At Valley Outreach, we know that fresh food nourishes more than just bodies. It builds connections, preserves culture, and supports a healthier, more equitable community. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Big River Farms, a program of The Food Group, one of our long-time food bank partners.

Located outside of Stillwater in Marine on St. Croix, Big River Farms provides land, tools, and education to new farmers. It’s an incredible place where local food, equity, and opportunity come together.

Meeting Community Needs with Local Solutions

Statewide surveys of Minnesota food shelves confirm what we hear regularly from clients: people want fresh produce, meat, dairy, eggs, and staples. But with recent disruptions in the food supply chain, we began asking: “What if we purchased food closer to the source?”

This led us to Big River Farms, where we saw an opportunity to do more than just source fresh food. We saw a way to support small family farms, uplift diverse growers, and provide our clients with a wider variety of healthy, flavorful food—all while keeping dollars in our local economy.

Direct Investment in Our Local Food System

Through this new partnership, Valley Outreach is committed to purchasing fresh, locally grown produce each month during the growing season. Each week, we’ll work with 4–5 farmers from Big River Farms to identify what’s ready for harvest and available for purchase—items that go beyond what we can receive through food banks (which typically include longer shelf-life produce like onions, potatoes, and carrots).

We buy this food directly from farmers, ensuring our clients have access to fresh vegetables at their peak. So far, we’ve offered radishes, spinach, and bok choy, all enthusiastically received by clients.

Even more special? Each produce display at our food shelf includes signage about the farmer who grew it, so people can learn about the individuals and stories behind the food on their tables.

You Make This Possible

Every donation supports the families who rely on our food shelf and allows us to source food from small farmers in the community. Together, we’re creating a stronger, more resilient local food system.