Fisher-Merritts are Organic Farmers of the Year
By Heather Thorstensen
hthorstensen@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 03/11/2010 9:08 AM
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WRENSHALL, Minn. -- Thirty years ago, Jane Fisher-Merritt was told by Extension agents and Farm Service Agency representatives that her family wouldn't be successful at growing vegetables in Wrenshall, about 30 miles south of Duluth.
"We know many wonderful Extension agents now, but in the early days we had folks that were in the business of helping farmers meet with us and tell us you couldn't grow vegetables up here," she said.
Her family didn't listen.
Today John and Jane Fisher-Merritt, with their son, Janaki, grow and sell certified organic vegetables through their Community Supported Agriculture operation, Food Farm. Three-hundred households pay for a share and delivery of their produce throughout the year. They are also a main supplier to Whole Foods Co-op in Duluth and, in winter, they deliver to restaurants and a hospital.
The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service has given the Fisher-Merritts their 2010 Organic Farmer of the Year award for their land stewardship, innovation and outreach. They were honored Feb. 26 at MOSES' Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse, Wis., billed as the largest organic farming conference in the country.
Jane said they are thrilled to receive the honor.
"We really have so much respect for the staff and board at MOSES and the membership there and it's been really gratifying to have such a vibrant organic community to learn with and share information," she said.
The Fisher-Merritts have 200 acres. Fifteen acres are divided into two parts, with a half in cover crops and poultry pasture and the other half in vegetables. The rest of their land is woods, ponds and pasture.
They were the first in their area to become a CSA farm, after trying direct marketing and helping to start Carlton County's first farmer's market. They switched to CSA in 1994 because they were producing more food than they could sell.
"The CSA model has been absolutely amazing for us. The first two years, we did not grow any more acreage of food but we got paid for all of it and we delivered all of it," Jane said.
Members may come to the farm as often as they like to pick produce or to hike or ski. Many have been with the Fisher-Merritts since the family switched to CSA farming. A waiting list has approximately 85 names.
"We really try and grow slowly so we make sure we're able to adequately take care of the land and build new infrastructure and deal with new issues," Jane said. The Fisher-Merritts are supported with staff and interns.
They've mentored beginning farmers, including three couples that previously worked for them. The couples used two acres of Food Farm's certified organic land and had access to equipment and their membership waiting list in exchange for labor.
"So there are now two CSAs within a mile of us, and we're mentoring a third person that's just a few miles from us," Jane said.
Also, as third-year mentors in MOSES' Farmer to Farmer program, they currently have three other beginning farmers under their wings in Wrenshall, Grand Marais and Embarrass.