About

Minnesota's local and regional food system includes the production of sweet corn, peas, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, squash, pumpkins, green beans, carrots, apples, grapes, strawberries and blueberries. We also provide information to growers about niche crops such as garlic, turnips, cabbage, peppers, radishes, broccoli, leafy greens, cauliflower, raspberries and asparagus.

Unlike many sectors of Minnesota’s agricultural economy, commercial vegetable and fruit production is growing steadily.

Our overall goals are to enhance profitability, add value, and maintain food security through local production and marketing of fruit and vegetable crops in Minnesota. We work with:

• commercial vegetable producers,
• commercial fruit producers,
• the commercial processing industry,
• and new immigrant farmers.

In partnership with other organizations and commodity groups, we conduct research and communicate research-based information to growers throughout Minnesota. We do this by developing and producing educational programs, field days, grower roundtables, print and web publications, newsletters, radio talks, and one-on-one consultations.

Economic Impacts in Minnesota

Small Fruit

• $9.9 million retail value
• 750 acres
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Blueberries
  • Grapes

Tree Fruit

• $2.6 million wholesale value
• $3.6 million retail value
• 3,125 acres
  • 99% Apples
  • Pears
  • Plums

Fresh Market Vegetables

• $6 million wholesale value
• $36 million retail value
• 15,000 acres
  • 35 different species
  • #1 crop sweet corn
• 1,000 growers

Processing Vegetables

• $100 million wholesale value
• $500 million retail value
• 227,000 acres
  • 50% sweet corn
  • 45% peas
• 2,600 growers
• 6,200 employee

Potatoes

• $100 million wholesale value
• $325 million retail value
• 50,000 acres
  • 70%, processing
  • 17%, fresh market
  • 13%, seed potatoes