This Week's Program- Janaki Fisher-Merritt, owner of Food Farm
Russ Smith introduced Janaki Fisher-Merritt, owner of the Food Farm in Wrenshall, who spoke about his family's organically grown vegetable farm, which has been in business for 22 years. He recruited Jim Hagen to operate his power point, randomly showing slides of his parents who moved from Oregon in the 1970s to start the farm, his wife and infant son, the crew of 7 employees and numerous volunteers who help grow potatoes, cabbage, and raise chickens, turkeys and harvest eggs, all certified organic.
Among the volunteers are Russ and Karen Smith, whose garage has become the Cloquet pick up spot for local customers. Janaki, who studied sociology and anthropology, developed an electric tractor to keep the 11 acres of vegetables pollution free. Last year they raised 250,000 pounds of vegetables, which they store in a modern root cellar they just built. If you would like to learn more about the business and how to purchase their organically grown local food, go to the website www.foodfarm.us.
