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By: Kelley Dillon
This recipe was inspired by our CSA which included leeks from Kleinschmidt Farms."1 in 9 U.S. households are food insecure." - U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2020 Food justice is a holistic and structural view of the food system that sees healthy food as a human right and addresses structural barriers to that right. Sprout addresses barriers to accessing local, nutritious food by aggregating products from local farmers. Buying local food is a form of food justice because it strengthens the local food system and improves access to nutritious food. When local farmers are supported, the community is supported Leeks are a member of the onion family. These root vegetables can be wild or cultivated. Wild leeks, or ramps, are smaller and have a more intense onion-like flavor. Cultivated leeks are larger and have a sweeter onion flavor. Leeks are a good source of vitamins K, A, C, and B6, as well as minerals iron and manganese. Vitamin K is essential for bone health and blood clotting.
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By: Kelley Dillon
This recipe was inspired by our CSA which included butternut squash from Eagle Valley."[Food sovereignty] puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies." - Nyéléni, food sovereignty activist “Three Sisters” refers to the trio of corn, beans, and squash. Many Native American tribes interplanted this trio. this method of interplanting introduced biodiversity, which does many things—from attracting pollinators to making the land richer instead of stripping it of nutrients. Together, the three sisters provide both sustainable soil fertility as well as a healthy diet. There are two types of squash: summer and winter. Butternut squash is a variety of winter squash. Many other varieties come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Butternut squash is packed with fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. Magnesium is one of seven essential macrominerals. Magnesium helps to maintain nerve and muscle function, bone strength, a steady heartbeat, and supports the immune system. Food sovereignty is the right to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods. Power in the food system can be reclaimed by rebuilding relationships between people and the land, and between food providers and those who eat.
By: Kelley Dillon
This recipe was inspired by our CSA which included bell peppers from Enos Bontrager."Eating is an agricultural act." - Wendell Berry, author, food activist, and farmer Bell peppers, or sweet peppers, have been cultivated for over 9000 years. They originated from Central and South America. Now, bell peppers are used in virtually every cuisine. Although typically thought of as vegetables, bell peppers are actually fruit. They come in a rainbow of colors: red, green, yellow, orange, purple, dark brown, and cream. Bell peppers change colors and sweeten as they ripen. Red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are actually green bell peppers that have been left on the vine to continue ripening. Bell peppers are an excellent source of fiber, potassium and vitamins A, C, and B6. A large red pepper has 3X more vitamin C than an orange. Vitamin C is necessary for the growth, development and repair of all cells and body tissues. The food system is a complex network of activities involving the production, processing, transport, consumption, and disposal of food. Buying local products simplifies the food system and ensures the highest quality of product. It also improves local food access and and supports families in the community.
By: Kelley Dillon and Jenny Breen
This recipe was inspired by our CSA which included apples from Oasis Orchards."I want to provide something good for my community and improve access to fresh produce." - Christine Albrecht, Oasis Orchards Apples have been beloved since the beginning of human history. There are thousands of apple varieties. Since the apple breeding program began at the University of Minnesota in 1888, nearly 30 apple varieties have been developed. These varieties include SweeTango, Honeycrisp, Zestar!, Kinderkrisp, and SnowSweet that are grown at Oasis Orchards. Christine Albrecht at Oasis Orchards began growing apples because she wanted to address food insecurity in the community by improving access to fresh produce. Food insecurity is the lack of reliable access to affordable, nutritious food. Apples are fruit that grow from flowering trees. Apple trees take 4-5 years to produce their first fruit. Apple varieties that fall into three broad categories: cider, cooking, and dessert varieties. They differ in size, shape, acidity, crispness, flavor, and shade of red, green, or yellow. There is truth to the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples are nutrient dense. Nutrient dense food is the foundation of a healthy eating pattern and is recommended to maintain good health and prevent disease. Apples are full of vitamins A and C, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. Vitamin C is important for immune function and skin health.
By: Kelley Dillon and Jenny Breen
This recipe was inspired by our CSA which included garlic from Glassworks Vines."There’s nothing better than growing your own food and buying local so you know where your food comes from." - Joy Hoppe, Glassworks Vines Garlic was one of the first herbs cultivated. Originally used for medicinal purposes, it’s now mostly used as a spice that enhances the flavors of a dish. Throughout time, garlic has been a staple in virtually every cuisine around the world. Joy Hoppe is a 5th generation farmer of Glassworks Vines. She believes food is at the center of health equity. Health equity is the equal opportunity for everyone to achieve good health by reducing barriers like limited access to nutritious food. Garlic cloves are found in the bulbs of bulbous plants. Two types of garlic, softneck and hardneck, differentiate based on stiffness of the plant stem, size, color, and flavor intensity. However, softnecks do not grow well in MN because of our colder climate. Pungent flavors of garlic and other herbs can replace excess salt in food. Most Americans consume too much sodium from processed foods. Cooking at home is a way to maintain healthy sodium intake. Garlic is also full of vitamin B6 and C, copper, manganese, selenium, and phytonutrients.
By: Kelley Dillon and Jenny Breen
This recipe was inspired by our CSA which included tomatillos from Carrillo Brothers farm."We use all organic methods." - Carrillo brothers, Carrillo Brothers Farm Tomatillos, which means "little tomatoes" in Spanish, were first domesticated by Aztecs within central Mexico in 800 BC. Today, tomatillos are still an important crop to Latinx and other communities around the world. Latinx is the gender-neutral form of the terms Latino or Latina that refers to a person of Latin American origin or descendants. Carrillo Brothers Farm is owned by brothers Jesus and Aldo Carrillo. They are emerging Latinx farmers. There are many Latinx farm workers in the United States, but few own farms. Carrillo Brothers Farm represents the intersection of sustainability, racial justice, and food justice. Tomatillos grow within an enclosed papery husk. Although they are often used in savory dishes, tomatillos are considered fruit. Tomatillos come in varieties of yellow and purple, but green tomatillos are the most commonly used. Tomatillos are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, potassium, and phosphorus. Potassium helps to regulate muscle contractions, fluid balance, and blood pressure.
Recipe by: Kelley Dillon and Jenny Breen
This recipe was inspired by our CSA which included crimini mushrooms from Forest Mushrooms."Everyone should have access to a variety of healthy foods and the opportunity to experience food as an interesting, joyful, and fun part of life." - Kevin Doyle, Forest Mushrooms Forest Mushrooms is a family-owned farm. Since 1985, they have distributed a variety of mushrooms cultivated fresh, harvested wild, and dried. It is now Minnesota’s largest fungi operation. Mushrooms are uniquely sustainable. They are products of a regenerative food system. Fungi help to break down waste and can produce edible mushrooms as a result. Each mushroom variety is grown from a different fungi system with different organic compost. Only some varieties are edible and others are toxic to humans. That's why it's important to leave foraging to the experts! Mushrooms are the edible bodies of various species of fungi. They grow under or above ground from a complex system of fungi much larger than the mushrooms. Edible mushrooms come in a variety of colors. They have a head which can look smooth, like a cap, or frilly, like a fan. Mushrooms are eaten in many cuisines around the world. In some cultures, mushrooms are believed to have medicinal properties. They are high in protein, phytonutrients, B vitamins, and minerals like selenium and potassium. Sun exposed mushrooms are one of the few natural sources of vitamin D. Vitamin D is needed to grow and maintain strong bones.
Recipe by: Kelley Dillon and Jenny Breen
This recipe was inspired by our CSA which included cherry tomatoes from Twin Eagle farm."We are charged with taking care of the land for future generations." - Arlene Jones, Sprout Sprout has worked with Amish farms for over 10 years. Amish farms are dedicated to sustainable and organic growing practices. Twin Eagle is a certified organic farm which means they do not use pesticides or other chemicals. Conventional growing practices use pesticides in the growing process which are toxic to soil and humans. Damage to soil impacts the soil quality which diminishes nutrient quality of the food it's grown in. When pesticides are consumed, it is stored in the body and can cause irreversible damage. It is important to wash tomatoes and other vegetables carefully and select organic, if possible. Although tomatoes are typically red when ripe, they actually come in an array of colorful varieties. They don’t have to be uniformly colored to be delicious either. Tomatoes are technically a fruit, but their savory taste ensures they are used more as a vegetable. Delicious, nutritious, and versatile, tomatoes are a part of every cuisine in the world. Tomatoes are a good source of potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, and the phytonutrient carotene lycopene. Phytonutrients are nonessential nutrients but provide significant health benefits. Phytonutrients are chemicals produced by plants to stay healthy and colorful. They improve immune health and reduce inflammation.
Recipe by: Kelley Dillon and Jenny Breen
This recipe was inspired by our CSA which included zucchini from Pleasant View Farm. "Sprout's goals are to provide access to markets for all growers." - Arlene Jones, Sprout Pleasant View is 1 of 18 Amish farms Sprout works with. The Amish population is socially marginalized due to religion. Aggregation of products reduces barriers small farmers have to transport and sell their products. Typically, farms function on a rural to urban market. Sprout strengthens the rural to rural market to support small farms and help prevent food deserts. Sprout believes we can do more collectively than we can individually. Zucchini is a summer squash. While it’s typically treated like a vegetable, technically zucchini is a fruit. It grows from the zucchini flower which is also edible and tasty. Zucchini is packed with valuable nutrients including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. As a bonus, zucchini contains antioxidants, too. Antioxidants are chemicals that help limit damage to cells in the body caused by free radicals. This helps prevent diseases like cancer.
Recipe by: Kelley Dillon and Jenny Breen
This recipe was inspired by our CSA which included green cabbage from Harmony Acres."We hope to be your number 1 in quality produce. " - Andy and Sadie Miller, Harmony Acres Green cabbage is a cool-season vegetable suited for both spring and fall. It is ready for harvest when the head of the plant is firm. This old staple vegetable has been cultivated for over 4,000 years. Andy and Sadie Miller of Harmony Acres are Amish farmers. Amish farmers typically use horse-drawn equipment to tend to their land.Harmony Acres has grown produce on their family operated farm since 2018. Their green cabbage is certified organic. Green cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, calcium, manganese, and protective phytochemicals. Vitamin C is important for immune function and skin health. Cabbage is inexpensive, hardy, versatile, and easy to store making it a mainstay of cuisines around the world. Green cabbage can be eaten raw, cooked, or fermented (as kimchi or sauerkraut). Buying a whole head of cabbage rather than a prepackaged bag is an easy way to get the best bang for your buck.
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