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A John Wiederhoeft of Stone Hearth Farm & Garden Farmers who grow food in smaller communities in rural Minnesota frequently truck their products 50-100 miles to larger urban areas to access customers. These long drives are expensive in fuel costs and time but are often the only option for farmers to reach larger markets and sell products at viable prices. Farmers consistently report that they are looking for markets closer to home, but in small rural communities –where many f

Renewing the Countryside (RT John Knisley of Alternative Roots Farm in Madelia MN C) is a non-profit organization with a mission to strengthen rural areas by championing and supporting rural communities, farmers, and others who are renewing the countryside through sustainable and innovative initiatives, businesses, and projects. In 2015 RTC decided to live out its mission by bolstering support for farmers interested in potentially diversifying into agritourism through on-farm