By Brainerd Dispatch on Mar 24, 2019 at 5:00 a.m.

LITTLE FALLS—A culinary cook-off in May pits three central Minnesota chefs against each other in an intense kitchen showdown.

This will be the second year Sprout has produced the live entertainment, which resembles the popular Food Network show "Chopped." Representing their home kitchens in Pillager, Brainerd, and New London/St. Joseph, each competing chef has expressed confidence in their skills to accept the culinary challenge of Minced: The Finer Version of Chopped, taking place 5-9 p.m. May 10, at Sprout, 609 13th Ave. NE, in Little Falls.

"The cooking competition is one way Sprout seeks to excite central Minnesotans around locally produced food, culinary art, and food culture," organizers said in a news release. The public is invited to attend and enjoy the show, and to learn more about Sprout's food access work, of which proceeds from the event will benefit.
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"This unscripted, unsifted challenge will grill three local chefs as they face off in the Sprout Kitchen Stadium" says Minced organizer, Natalie Keane, in a news release. "We're not afraid to whip up the food puns for this fun event. We'll need that good humor, and so will the chefs when they find out what we have in store."

Inspired from the popular competitive cooking show, Minced will create cooking challenges by the introduction of unique ingredients in a mystery basket that must be used in the chefs' dish. Community members get to watch as the mystery basket foils the plans of contestants as they serve up a dish to impress Minnesota celebrity judges, like Meadow Roberts, the 10-year-old baking pro who competed on The Food Network's "Kids Baking Championship."

Chefs will not know what mystery ingredients they will have to work with, but ingredients will represent and celebrate East African food culture. Ingredients will be sourced from Somali grocery stores in St. Cloud which carry a variety of ingredients such as tamarind, cassava, cardamom, and goat meat, all of which could end up in the mystery basket for an appetizer, entrée, or even a dessert.

The winner of the first Minced competition in 2018 was Chef Scotty Stocco, who impressed the judges in the final round with a dessert featuring pork cracklings, purple hominy and dragon fruit. Stocco will host this year's competition and follow the chefs in the kitchen with commentary for the audience. Stocco also won the People's Choice award in 2018, which was determined by audience vote during the event. Dinner and drinks will be available for purchase from pop-up restaurants and at a bar.

Tickets to attend Minced are $10 per person, $25 for a family (two adults and two children) and those age 12 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased by visiting sproutmn.com/minced or the Facebook event. The audience will help determine the Popular Choice prize by casting a donation vote.

Representing the Pillager High School ProStart Program in Pillager is Thomas Kavanaugh, with over 40 years of culinary experience. Kavanaugh's mentorship of the high school culinary art program recently earned Pillager's student chefs third place in the Minnesota ProStart Invitational in St. Paul. Representing Prairie Bay Grill in Baxter is Jenna Brower Von Siebolds. Although Brower Von Siebolds has been in the kitchen business for just six years, she showcases a wanderlust illustrative of a global cuisine connoisseur. Representing Model Citizen the Restaurant in New London is Matéo Mackbee. Mackbee is also developing a new restaurant, Krewe, as well as a bakery in the 24 North Lofts in St. Joseph. The restaurant will feature a New Orleans-style menu, while the bakery will be making French and Scandinavian pastries.

Minced is partially funded through a grant awarded to the Region Five Development Commission by ArtPlace America's National Creative Placemaking Fund. Sponsorship opportunities are available for companies and organizations that want to be involved with this exciting new event, promoting culinary art, local foods, cultural connections, and live entertainment. This event is presented by Sprout MN, Region Five Development Commission, Central Lakes College, and Three Cheers Hospitality.

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. – Sprout MN is seeking four artists, artist collaboratives or organizations to partner with to creatively share their art to the Central MN area. The selected artists may use any art form or medium to create their art cart project in a way that engages community. Interested artists are encouraged to visit the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace on March 23rd (10AM-3PM) to understand its mission and familiarize themselves with the work of Sprout MN.

​The À la cARTe initiative allows artists to develop their art cart as an outlet for their art production, as a resource for engaging the community and as a differentiating factor and economic driver for their art business. Once chosen, the art cart will be owned by the selected artists, allowing them to bring their art to events and communities independently. This new project will also work in tandem with Sprout’s Mobile Market stops, providing additional community engagement activities and bringing a blend of local food and art opportunities to area residents.

Five Wings Arts Council and Region Five Development Commission will help facilitate the application process for artists to assist them in generating their ideas to paper. A key goal of the project is to elevate the skills and insights of area artists, which are more uniquely equipped to infuse creativity into community engagement strategies. This program is open to all artists and art mediums and works to cultivate business skills to support artist’s work by providing connections to resources. Visit sproutmn.com/mobilemarket for more details and the application process. The deadline for submission is April 1, 2019.

This project is supported in part by the McKnight Foundation, Otto Bremer Trust, and Lakewood Health Systems and is led by partnerships with Sprout, Five Wings Arts Council, Region Five Development Commission and other community partners.

​The performances are organized by the Fred Yiran Legacy Project (St. Cloud, Minn.), which honors the late artist, Fred Yiran, a master painter, instrumentalist, carver, sculptor, jewelry-maker, poet, singer, performance artist, and an arts and culture educator. Fred Yiran came to Minnesota from Cameroon in the early 1980s to to pursue education Bemidji State University in Fine Arts, as well as a Master of Arts (MA) degree in African Arts from St. Cloud State University. His legacy continues to expand knowledge and understanding of African arts and cultures through the work of his wife, Janette, who facilitates experiences like that found at the Sprout market in addition to the annual Fred Yiran African Arts Day at Lake George in St. Cloud. Fred Yiran African Arts Day 2019 will take place on Sunday, June 30th (12 p.m. to 4 p.m.).
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The public also has the opportunity to cheer on their favorite local vendor at the March 23rd market through the Best of 2019 Vendor Awards. Shoppers can pick up a ballot at the information booth and roam the market to find the vendors which appeals to consumers visually, displays a cultural origin or story for their products, depicts uniqueness of the region, and is socially engaging. Local food and art producers interested in participating can become a vendor by visiting www.sproutmn.com/vendors. The community is also invited to watch the cooking demonstration at the market, which will feature a dish with African roots. The cooking demonstration is a regular feature at the monthly Sprout markets to create a fun atmosphere while customers shop the local vendors selling handmade, homegrown food, art, and other products.

MARKETPLACE BACKGROUND
The community is invited to shop the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace vendors selling local food and art on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 23, October 26, November 16, and December 14. During these markets, through visual and performing art, culinary demonstrations, educational events and more, Sprout showcases community's assets and talents found amongst the variety of cultures across the region. In the months of April through September, Sprout hosts cultural exchange cooking classes, MINCED: The Finer Version of Chopped cooking competition on May 10th, educational opportunities for growers and artists, and Summer Harvest Dinner on July 26, utilizing food to tell stories and connect to one another.

Due to a partnership with Hunger Solutions Minnesota, families and individuals eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can also double their dollar at the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace. Shoppers with SNAP can swipe their EBT card at the market information booth to receive tokens, plus an additional dollar for every dollar spent up to $10 in “Market Bucks.” Market Bucks can then be used at vendor booths during the market for any SNAP eligible items - breads, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, dairy products, and more. SNAP is a federal food assistance program. Benefits are placed on an electronic benefits transfer card (EBT) similar to a debit card. To find out if you qualify for SNAP, call the Minnesota Food HelpLine at 1-888-711-1151 or visit mnfoodhelpline.org for more information.

The activities are funded through a grant awarded to the Region Five Development Commission by ArtPlace America’s National Creative Placemaking Fund.

Interested shoppers, growers, artists, chefs, and educators who want to learn more, visit www.SproutMN.com and follow the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace on Facebook.

By Brainerd Dispatch on Feb 14, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.
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LITTLE FALLS—The monthly Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace is scheduled 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 23. Each of the markets highlight various cultural food, music and dance.
This free monthly community event will showcase Latin American cuisine and music with new restaurant Sanchez Burrito in the kitchen, and bands Los Plebes De La Sierra and jazz group the Jones Street Trio on the stage.

Advert Sanchez is owner of Sanchez Burrito, which opened in Little Falls in October 2018, along with his two brothers, Yunior and Olvin. The three brothers, originally from Honduras, gained cooking experience at a number of Mexican restaurants like the El Loro Restaurant Group, El Tequila Mexican Restaurant in Brainerd, and Little Fiesta in Little Falls. While Sanchez Burrito mainly serves Mexican-style food, Advert Sanchez stated in a news release they hope to add more Honduran flavor in the future.

"The food in Honduras is not as spicy as it is in Mexico," Sanchez stated. "The steak I make in the restaurant is similar to how my mom would make it in Honduras with achiote."
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Achiote is a seasoning giving an earthy, peppery flavor to food as well as the yellow color often found in rice dishes. At noon, Sanchez will demonstrate the steak recipe learned from his mother as well as his favorite salsa recipe with a Honduran twist. The community is invited to watch the demonstration in the kitchen, enjoy samples and purchase lunch from Sanchez Burrito at the Sprout market. The cooking demonstration is a regular feature at the monthly Sprout markets to create a fun atmosphere while customers shop the local vendors selling handmade, homegrown food, art and other products.​

Another feature of the market is the live musical entertainment. Los Plebes De La Sierra, led by Richmond resident Margarito Santos, is a five-member ensemble made up of drums, keyboard, electric tuba, bass and singing. The band plays a mix of Mexican music genres from Norteño, which has influences of polka and Tejano but blends more American rock and country music. Los Plebes De La Sierra will play 10 a.m. to noon. The Jones Street Trio jazz group will play a selection of Latin jazz tunes 1-3 p.m. The trio of piano, bass and drums will play Latin jazz styles like Afro-Cuban jazz, bossa nova, and jazz samba to showcase varied rhythms and improvisation techniques.
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Due to a partnership with Hunger Solutions Minnesota, families and individuals eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may double their dollar at the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace. Market Bucks can then be used at vendor booths during the market for any SNAP-eligible items, such as breads, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, dairy products and more. SNAP is a federal food assistance program. To learn about qualifications for SNAP, call the Minnesota Food HelpLine at 888-711-1151 or visit www.mnfoodhelpline.org.

The activities at the market are funded through a grant awarded to the Region Five Development Commission by ArtPlace America's National Creative Placemaking Fund.

By Brainerd Dispatch on Feb 7, 2019 at 7:30 a.m.

LITTLE FALLS—Sprout announced it received $50,000 from the Otto Bremer Foundation to implement a mobile market to engage rural communities through food and art."We're inspired by the breadth and diversity of programs in which the Otto Bremer Trust is making investments," stated Daniel C. Reardon, Otto Bremer Foundation co-chief executive officer and and trustee, in a news release. "From access to housing, food, health and wellness services, to helping with job skills development, vocational opportunities, and literacy programs, we're proud to be supporting dozens of organizations that are having a positive impact in communities across the Upper Midwest. We look forward to the impact this grant to Sprout will have on the community."

Sprout Mobile Market will put fresh local food on wheels and en route to communities in central Minnesota. By creating new retail food access points, the Mobile Market can fill the gap in areas with limited infrastructure and maintain fresh and staple food supplies for its residents. The local food focus will additionally support area growers who can add a new market channel for selling their produce, meat, eggs and other products. The Otto Bremer Trust awarded $25,000 initially to Sprout with another $25,000 in funding contingent on an equal match.

Sprout will additionally enhance the shopping experience community members seek through interactive engagement opportunities at mobile market stops, the release stated. A cohort of artists will be equipped to design mobile art studios to accompany the mobile market and other community happenings.

Examples of these mobile studios, called "art carts," may include supplies for a pop-up painting class like easels, paints and brushes or a folding stage and microphone set could allow for short play productions or musical performances. Whatever the medium, the art carts will aim to foster community fun, new skills and interests, the release said.

"Our goal is to increase access to fresh local foods and provide a venue for local artists to demonstrate and share their creations with the public," stated Natalie Keane, Sprout's facility utilization director, in the release. "Our work at Sprout uses food, art, and culture as the core of initiatives that increase healthy food access, encourage entrepreneurship, and cultivate creativity. The mobile market is our way to address food access gaps in our rural region while still incorporating the elements that make shopping, eating, and learning fun. "

A social crowdfunding campaign in June launched the funding support for the mobile market. The online platform through www.mnstarter.com allowed community members to donate to the cause and select rewards, like a cooking class or private dinner for friends at Sprout. More than 180 community members demonstrated their support of the mobile market initiative during the social crowdfunding campaign, which helped indicate to funders like Otto Bremer Trust the cause has community buy-in, the release stated.

For more information on Sprout's Mobile Market, visit www.sproutmn.com/mobilemarket.

By Brainerd Dispatch on Jan 17, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.

LITTLE FALLS—Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace announces its 2019 season, which includes six market days, one Saturday per month, with the next one 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 26 at Sprout, 609 13th Ave. NE, Little Falls.

Kate Ritger, owner of the Just Food Collective, a food business in central Minnesota, will demonstrate her rhubarb barbecue with shredded chicken and goat cheese pizza at noon. Ritger grows fruits and vegetables and makes wood-fired pizza with seasonal, organic ingredients. With a wood-fired pizza oven on wheels, Ritger moves her pizza-making around to places like the St. Joseph Farmers Market, Milk & Honey Ciders and more, calling the operation a "moving pizza farm." While the winter weather poses challenges for growing and utilizing some standard pizza toppings, it also creates an opportunity to develop creative pizza recipes, a news release stated. Whether it is thinly slicing potatoes or reducing rhubarb to create a tangy barbecue sauce, the pizzas will still feature local ingredients.

The cooking demonstration is a regular feature at the monthly Sprout markets to draw customers to local vendors selling handmade, homegrown food, art and other products.

Another feature of the market is the live musical entertainment 10 a.m. to noon. Uncle Wheat & Eddie, made up of Brad Wallace on cajón and Ed Koehler on guitar, play a mix of tunes from '60s rock to "Summertime" by Ella Fitzgerald.

The two have played together for 20 years, but only as a duo in recent years. Uncle Wheat & Eddie play often at breweries and other venues open primarily in the summer. Wallace, whose stage name is "Uncle Wheat," stated Uncle Wheat was a nickname given to him by his nieces and nephews. He stated, "My sister-in-law is from Chicago and she has a pretty strong accent. She says 'Brad' and my nieces and nephews tease her asking, 'What kind of bread is he?' And so, I became Uncle Wheat." The "Eddie" of the duo is Ed Koehler, a retired teacher from Brainerd, who plays on six- and 12-string guitars.
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Due to a partnership with Hunger Solutions Minnesota, families and individuals eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can also double their dollar at the Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace. Shoppers with SNAP can swipe their debit card at the market information booth to receive tokens, plus an additional dollar for every dollar spent up to $10 in "Market Bucks." Market Bucks can then be used at vendor booths during the market for any SNAP-eligible items—breads, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, dairy products and more. SNAP is a federal food assistance program. Benefits are placed on an electronic benefits transfer card similar to a debit card. To find out if a person qualifies for SNAP, call the Minnesota Food HelpLine at 1-888-711-1151 or visit www.mnfoodhelpline.org for more information.

By Morrison County Record on Nov 28, 2018

Asian street food meets Minnesota farmers market at the Sprout Growers and Makers Holiday Market. Culinary artist and promoter of a “plant-centric diet,” Chef Paul Ruszat of St. Cloud frequently uses mushrooms as a protein substitute in his dishes. Chef Paul Ruszat frequently uses mushrooms as a protein substitute in his dishes. He will be in the Sprout kitchen, Dec. 8, for a cooking demonstration.

As a nod of respect to Minnesota mushroom growers, Ruszat will not only feature locally grown shiitake mushrooms, he will also bring the producer himself into the kitchen at the upcoming cooking demonstration during the Sprout Holiday Market Saturday, Dec. 8, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
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Matt Ratliff of Ready-2-Fruit Mushrooms and Fruits Nuts and Vegetable Farms of Pine River, produces a wide array of mushrooms, including eight different types of shiitake, 14 different types of oyster mushrooms, lion’s mane mushrooms, maitake mushrooms and three different varieties of morels. Together, Ruszat and Ratliff will create a Shiitake Bao Bun with quick pickled vegetables, inspired by the Asian street food which uses a steamed bun and pork belly to make this popular sandwich.

The cooking demonstration begins at noon and is free to watch and taste the samples. The cooking demonstration is a regular feature at the monthly Sprout markets to draw customers to local vendors. Ratliff will also be selling his mushrooms varieties as one of over 35 vendors at the holiday market.

The market entertainment includes live music performance by Bruce Archer who plays Americana, roots and blues infused originals and covers from 10 a.m. - noon. The Pillager High School Chamber Singers, a 16-voice mixed ensemble, will perform from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Due to a partnership with Hunger Solutions Minnesota, families and individuals eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can also double their dollar at the Sprout Growers and Makers Marketplace.

Sprout Growers and Makers Marketplace is located at 609 13th Ave. NE, Door 8, Little Falls.