Local Food Development Alliance Aims for Stronger Local Food Systems

Local agencies, farmers, and nonprofits unite to build North Dakota’s local food systems.

North Dakota food and organizations, agencies, and farmers have joined forces to create the North Dakota Local Food Development Alliance (NDLFDA). The nonprofit coalition aims to build and sustain a vibrant, prosperous local food sector in North Dakota. Participants come from a broad range of sectors from hunger organizations, sustainable agriculture nonprofits, farmers markets, economic development organizations, farmers, and consumers.

The NDLFDA brings people together monthly through virtual meetings to share information, create opportunities for collaboration, and identify ways to work together and support one another. Meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 2:00 pm CST; all interested people are welcome to attend. More information is at www.farrms.org/ndlfda.

“Local food has been a growing sector in our state for about a decade,” said Stephanie Blumhagen, Board Chair, NDLFDA, and Executive Director, FARRMS. “More consumers want to know where their food is coming from and they want to know the farmer who grew it.” In some areas of the state, demand for local foods outstrips supply, with many farmers markets selling out shortly after opening. (Northern Plains Resource Conservation and Development Council, 2019). And in 2020 more North Dakotans turned to local farmers for produce, meat, eggs, and other local food products as the global pandemic resulted in grocery store shortages and supply chain disruptions.

The NDLFDA works to support all parts of the system so more locallygrown food is available for all North Dakotans. “Local food presents a great opportunity for beginning farmers or producers wanting to diversify,” said Paul Overby, President, Northern Plains Resource Conservation and Development Council and NDLFDA member. “We also need processors and transportation from farms to markets, cooperatives and food hubs, educators, financial institutions, and economic developers to support local foods. Through coordinated efforts, we could bring more local foods to school cafeterias, hospitals, and nursing homes, restaurants, and grocery stores. No one organization can achieve this all on their own, but by collaborating we can build a strong vibrant local food system in North Dakota.”

Anyone interested in local food and agriculture is encouraged to attend a meeting or learn more about the group at www.farrms.org/ndlfda, on Facebook @NDLocalFoodAlliance, and Instagram @ndlocalfood.