Issuu

Community Action Plan for Pelican Rapids, Minnesota LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE October 2020

For more information about Local Foods, Local Places visit: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/local-foods-local-places

CONTACT INFORMATION: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Project Contact: Lauryn Coombs Office of Community Revitalization U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (MC 1807T) Washington, DC 20460 Tel 312-353-1129 Coombs.Lauryn@epa.gov

Pelican Rapids Contact: Emily Reno West Central Initiative 1000 Western Ave Fergus Falls, MN 56537 Tel (218) 739-2239 emily.reno@wcif.org

Cover photo credits: Lida Farm & West Central Initiative

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

COMMUNITY STORY Pelican Rapids is a city of just under 2,500 people located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Lying astride the Pelican River, the city is in western central Minnesota, roughly 40 miles southeast of Fargo, North Dakota, and 200 miles northwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The city was settled near a trail that connected Minneapolis with Fargo, as travelers were taken by the beauty of the area’s plentiful lakes and rolling hills. Incorporated in 1883, the natural resources around the city supported its steady growth into the diverse city that it is today. Pelican Rapids’ development has always centered on its agricultural economy. Crop and livestock farms sprung up around the city as its population grew. Initially based around food production, the city’s economy has expanded into food processing. Today, food processing is the dominant sector of the economy, with roughly 49% of manufacturing workers. The city's food processing activities are anchored by the West Central Turkeys processing plant, which employs a diverse group of employees from the city and the surrounding area. Pelican Rapids’ agricultural economy has fostered a diverse population and food system. Almost 25% of city residents were born outside the U.S., and 40% of the population speak languages other than English. The city celebrates its multicultural community each year with a two-day international festival that features various cuisines. Additionally, the city has two ethnic food markets and a grocery store with an ethnic section. The city also holds a weekly farmers’ market and has several food trucks. A community garden is intended to broaden existing food sources for the community. Expanding access to healthy food is a priority for the city, as not all residents have high access levels.

The City of Pelican Rapids is a welcoming community, with a diverse array of residents. Pelican Rapids is the adopted home of immigrants from countries across the globe. Image credit: West Central Initiative.

South Broadway, US Route 59, acts as the main street for Pelican Rapids. It is the cultural and economic heart of the community. The Minnesota Department of Transportation plans improvements for this primary road. The community would like to see that those improvements support the City’s vision for downtown revitalization. Image credit: West Central Initiative.

Pelican Rapids is the home of several ethnic restaurants that represent the diversity of this dynamic community. Image credit: West Central Initiative.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

Many residents of Pelican Rapids struggle with poverty and low-access to healthy food. Nearly 20% of the city’s residents meet the federal definition of living in poverty. The two census tracts to the north and south of the city are food deserts. Furthermore, just over 50% of school children in the school district are enrolled in free or reduced-price lunch programs. The city’s socioeconomic problems contributed to its census tract becoming an Opportunity Zone. The Opportunity Zone can help the city build on its resources to reduce poverty and increase access to healthy, local food. Many programs and organizations aimed at strengthening the economy and increasing food access currently exist in Pelican Rapids, but they are uncoordinated. This workshop was a crucial step toward consolidating efforts to increase healthy food access in the city. The workshop helped to create common goals among the different efforts currently underway. Convening the workshop participants allowed the city to bridge cross-cultural divides to increase food access while supporting the local economy. In 2019, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, requested assistance through the Local Foods, Local Places program to develop an action plan for promoting local food systems and healthy, walkable, economically vibrant communities. The goals of the Local Foods, Local Places program are to create: § § §

More economic opportunities for local farmers and businesses. Better access to healthy, local food, especially among disadvantaged groups. Revitalized downtowns, main streets, and neighborhoods.

The Local Foods, Local Places program is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pelican Rapids was one of 16 communities across the United States selected to participate in the program in 2020. 2

The Welcome Place focuses on the needs of those who are struggling. There is a nurse on staff, cooking classes, and opportunities for neighbors to reach out for help. Pelican Rapids Food Shelf is next door. This is where the community shares its food wealth. Image credit: West Central Initiative.

Dawo Halal Market is a unique local business for west central Minnesota. This is the only store in the area that sells authentic Halal meats and other products suitable to Muslim shoppers. Image credit: West Central Initiative.

The Pelican River is one of the most important natural assets and features of the City. The City is named for the river, which flows through the heart of the business district. Veterans Memorial River Park is perched along the shoreline and serves as an important creational destination. Image credit: West Central Initiative.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

A Local Foods, Local Places steering committee was formed in Pelican Rapids in preparation for this technical assistance award and comprises a variety of community partners (see Figure 1). They were supported by a technical assistance team comprised of consultants and multiple federal and state agency partners (Figure 2). The Steering Committee expressed a desire to grow from existing food-related assets to become a destination international marketplace that offers other products representative of Pelican Rapids’ ethnically diverse population. A side benefit is capturing tourist clientele traveling to the lakes and biking on the trail, heading for Maplewood State Park. Throughout the Local Foods, Local Places process, the steering committee expanded this vision to focus on supporting food-related entrepreneurs and empowering community members from all backgrounds. West Central Initiative (WCI) spearheaded the Local Foods, Local Places application process. This organization is a regional foundation that provides philanthropy resources and economic and community development for the nine-county region surrounding Pelican Rapids. With over thirty years of history as a convener and problemsolver, the West Central Initiative's leadership has been active in Pelican Rapids for years. The remainder of this report and appendices document the engagement process, the workshop activities, and, most importantly, the outcome: a community action plan to achieve Pelican Rapids’ goals.

Local Foods, Local Places Steering Committee § § §

§ § § § § § § § §

Jill Amundson, West Central Initiative Emily Reno, West Central Initiative Janet Lindberg, Community Food Shelf, Community Garden, One Veg One Community Initiative Maggie Driscoll, Pelican Rapids Organizing Acts of Kindness for Seniors (OAKS) Brent E. Frazier, Mayor, City of Pelican Rapids Annie Wrigg, Pelican Rapids Public Library Jackie Larson, University of MN Extension SNAP Education Jason Bergstrand, PartnerSHIP 4 Health Mark Dokken, Larry's Supermarket Ryan Pesch, University of MN Extension Economic Development Ariel Kagan, MN Department of Agriculture, Strategy & Innovation Anna Wasesha, West Central Initiative

Figure 1 - Steering committee members.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

ENGAGEMENT The technical assistance engagement process for Local Foods, Local Places has three phases, illustrated in Figure 3 below. The planning phase consists of three preparation conference calls with the steering committee and technical assistance team to clarify goals and arrange workshop logistics. The convene phase includes the effort’s capstone event—a two-day workshop in the community. The act phase includes three follow up conference calls to finalize a community action plan and strategize on maintaining momentum generated during the workshop. The community workshop was a two-day virtual event from Wednesday, October 7 to Thursday, October 8. The activities from those days are described below. Appendix A summarizes the workshop exercises and results. Appendix B documents workshop attendance. Appendix C is a workshop photo album. Appendix D includes community data profiles. Appendix E lists applicable funding resources. Appendix F lists other general resources for the community.

Figure 3 - Local Foods, Local Places technical assistance process diagram.

Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance Team § § § § § § § § §

Lauryn Coombs, EPA Jim VanderKloot, EPA Region 5 Ron Batcher, USDA AMS Sasha Pokravskaya, USDA AMS Samantha Schaffstall, USDA AMS Andrew Gag, USDA RD Twila Kennedy, SBA Will Cockrell, EPR (consultant) Holly Fowler, Northbound Ventures (consultant)

Figure 2 -- Technical assistance team.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

COMMUNITY TOUR Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Local Foods, Local Places technical committee could not visit or tour Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. The pandemic also resulted in a virtual format for the October 7 and October 8 workshop, as social distancing protocols were in place. Despite this, the West Central Initiative commissioned a video tour of Pelican Rapids. The steering committee played the video during the virtual workshop. The West Central Initiative video followed Broadway, US Route 59, through the city’s business district. It highlighted local businesses, community assets, and other essential aspects of Pelican Rapids. The video showed Pelican Rapids Elementary and High Schools. The virtual tour identified local businesses, like Brown-Eyed Susan’s, the Muddy Moose, Escobar’s, Dawo Halal Market, Taqueria Chavez Mexican Food, Heart O’ Lakes Quality Meats, Big John’s Pelican Pizza, Mercantile on Main, La Mariposa Market, and Larry’s Supermarket. At the northern end of the Broadway corridor is West Central Turkeys, the region's primary industry and employer. The tour also highlighted assets, such as the Pelican Rapids Community Food Shelf, the Welcome Place, and Pelican Rapids Library. Parks and natural features include the Pelican River, Veterans Memorial River Park, E.L. Peterson Park, Sherin Park, and the community gardens. At the southern end of the Broadway corridor is the Lake Region Electric Coop and its restoration Prairie. Farther from the business district, the tour showed Lida Farm, Maplewood State Park, and Thea’s Pumpkin Patch. West Central Initiative’s virtual tour was thorough, providing a nearly ten-minute presentation of the business district, the city, and surrounding region. Appendix C records snapshots from the video, and other images of Pelican Rapids. The tour is also viewable at https://vimeo.com/465547769.

Lida Farm is nine miles northeast of Pelican Rapids. Lida is a farm to fork producer, serving over 200 varieties of vegetables through farm stands around the region. They also sell CSA subscriptions. Image credit: Lida Farm.

Pelican Rapids has community gardens at the foot of the municipal water tower. During the Local Foods, Local Places workshop, participants discussed the community gardens and opportunities to provide for more food diversity that represents the community. Image credit: West Central Initiative.

Pelican Rapids hosts the International Friendship Festival at E.L. Peterson Park and Sherin Park. Image credit: West Central Initiative.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

VISION AND VALUES The virtual workshop's opening session focused on identifying a vision and articulating values for local foods and the economy in Pelican Rapids. Around thirty participants attended the opening session, representing various local food, public health, and community service organizations.

This I Believe I believe my community… § § § § § § § § §

Embraces itself. Is ready for food progress. Is the best example of neighborliness. Has even more to offer! Is filled with hidden gems. Gets frustrated at times but should celebrate what we have done. Can grow and become healthy. Is vibrant and caring. Can learn to help each other.

I believe local food…

From West Central Initiative and chair of the steering committee, Jill Amundson welcomed participants to the virtual workshop. After recognizing community partners and conducting introductions, the technical assistance team presented a brief overview of the Local Foods, Local Places program. Jill Amundson played the community tour video, which provided context for the Local Foods, Local Places goal areas. The opening workshop session's primary purpose was to hear from stakeholders about their vision for Pelican Rapids to be a food destination. The technical assistance team led attendees through a group exercise called "This I believe…", designed to surface core values of the community (Figure 4). The complete results from each of the activities are available in Appendix A.

§ § § § § § § § §

Is essential to a local economy. Makes the best meals! Connects people with one another in a meaningful way. Should be available to everyone. Should be used as a tool for social change. Can create community wealth. Brings people together. Should be available by biking and walking. Should "bring you home."

Figure 4 -- In a group exercise designed to capture the community’s vision and values, participants were asked to complete the statements “I believe my community…” and “I believe local food…”. The above figure represents select responses and all responses can be found in Appendix A.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

CASE STUDIES In the second session of the workshop, the technical assistance team shared case studies of goal related strategies employed by other communities. The case studies included the New Roots Cooperative Farm and Isuken Co-op in Maine, and New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (Massachusetts), Somerville Arts Council’s Nibble program, and Commonwealth Kitchen in Massachusetts. New Roots Cooperative Farm is Maine's first immigrantowned cooperative. Somali Bantu farmers who came to the US as refugees are now US citizens and business owners, creating jobs and food access in their new home. New Roots farmers have studied farming and marketing and have farmed collectively since 2006. All are graduates of Cultivating Community's New American Sustainable Agriculture Program (NASAP). In 2016, they started a 30-acre farm on College St in Lewiston where they grew vegetables for wholesale customers, a farmers' markets, and their community supported agriculture program. Isuken Co-op is an immigrant-owned worker co-op, which has started the first Somali Bantu farm to table food truck in the country. Isuken means unity and togetherness. The co-op is owned by Somali Bantu farmers who came to the US as refugees and shared land in Lewiston, Maine, with New Roots, a local Somali Bantu farm stand. The five members and their families share equally in the responsibilities and rewards of the business. This co-op structure is based on their traditional form of cooperation, “Iskashito” - farming and working together. Now with the co-op, they can support one another in their new home in Maine. The New Entry Sustainable Farming Project’s mission is to improve local and regional food systems. It does this by training the next generation of farmers to produce sustainable, nutritious, and culturally preferred food and

During the presentation of Maine’s New Roots Cooperative Farm, workshop attendees were aware of the effort to implement similar concepts in the Pelican Rapids region. Image credit: New Roots Cooperative Farm (Maine).

Funded with a Kickstarter campaign in part to put down a deposit on a truck, secure a base station for our truck, and have working capital to get the business started. Image credit: Isuken Coop.

New Entry was launched in 1988 by Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy to develop a cost-effective strategy to integrate recent immigrants and refugees with farming backgrounds into Massachusetts agriculture. It serves local, state, and national audiences through farmer training and technical assistance, land access, and direct market support programs. Image credit: New Entry Sustainable Farming Project.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

make this food accessible to individuals regardless of age, mobility, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.

ASSETS AND CHALLENGES In session 3, workshop attendees participated in a small group exercise to identify assets and challenges related to the goal areas. Attendees were prompted to list and discuss, what is working well in Pelican Rapids to build on the food economy and revitalize neighborhood centers and what barriers exist to achieving your goals around food, health, and downtown revitalization. The technical assistance team structured this exercise around the steering committee’s four goals, developed in the three pre-workshop calls. Generally, assets include existing organizations, available space for reuse, existing local businesses, strong regional branding, available land for food production, and the city’s diversity. Participants identified over 30 community assets that could support the goals in this action plan. The virtual workshop produced a list of challenges, barriers, and obstacles to the stated goals. These included limitations to the growing season, a lack of resources and capital, COVID, and land access. Participants identified about two dozen challenges. This exercise also helped determine what is needed to overcome those barriers. Appendix A documents all results from the virtual workshop’s goal assets and challenges exercise. The first day of the workshop concluded with action brainstorming. Attendees drafted multiple actions for whichever of the goals they were most excited about, working on a shared google slide document. After the brainstorming session, the technical assistance team reviewed the various actions, de-duplicated them, and put them in categories for ease of viewing. A Google form was created, and each action listed for purposes of voting. The form was emailed to all meeting registrants the evening of day one, allowing those who registered to weigh in on voting even if they missed the day's sessions. 8

Assets and Opportunities § § §

Partnership4Health’s focus on supporting local food production Public schools, master gardeners, Extension professionals Strong regional branding of ‘lake culture’ already exists; could build off of this to include food Vacancy in storefronts in the downtown/main street area. Commercial space is available. Lida Farm, Thea’s Pumpkin Patch

Figure 5 - A sampling of opportunities identified during the workshop exercises.

Challenges §

For vegetable growers, short growing season challenges viability of full-time work Lending practices don’t always match cultural needs/desires; difficult to navigate grants/loans Small order size of local shops means pricing goes up; makes healthy foods more expensive or lower quality Smaller pool of human capital

Figure 6 – A sampling of challenges or barriers identified during the workshop exercises.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

PRIORITIZATION, DETAILING, WRAP UP The second day of the workshop began with action prioritization, followed by action detailing, and a wrap-up session. For the action prioritization, each attendee could vote on up to twelve actions that they were most excited about or thought needed to happen first. The three to five actions that received the highest number of votes under each of the goals were then advanced to the action detailing session, with some consideration given to grouping and some re-wording. The action detailing work session involved participants working in small groups, who were given authorship over each action. Details for each action were drafted, such as why it's important, who will need to be involved, how long the action will take, and what resources are available and necessary for success. The results of the action detailing are included below in the section called Action Plan. The workshop concluded with a wrap-up session where participants presented their action detailing work and discussed any themes or takeaways they learned during the process. For a final exercise, attendees were asked to put into the chat an "an offer" something that they would like to provide to advance the action plan, or an "ask" what they expect from the process moving forward.

ACTION PLAN The final community goals and supporting actions are listed below. The tables that follow provide additional detail for each action. ▪

Goal 1 – Foster market channels and supply chain relationships for more locally grown, raised, or harvested food to flow within the community. o Action 1.1 – Define a space for a physical market in downtown Pelican Rapids. o Action 1.2 – Create a comprehensive list of food producers and businesses to foster connections to form future purchasing relationships. o Action 1.3 – Host a Healthy Food Fair in partnership/collaboration with an existing community event o Action 1.4 – Create a food systems coordinator position to help advance the Local Foods, Local Places action plan and other initiatives.

▪

Goal 2 – Support food entrepreneurs to start or grow existing businesses in Pelican Rapids and enhance Pelican Rapids’ reputation as a food destination. o Action 2.1 – Conduct a commercial kitchen feasibility study to identify the best model, producers, consumers, and purpose. o Action 2.2 – Establish a marketing and branding program for Pelican Rapids food and recreational assets o Action 2.3 – Connect aspiring or early food businesses to existing resources, such as through a food business coordinator or navigator position.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

▪

Goal 3 – Grow and culturally diversify the agricultural economy surrounding Pelican Rapids. o Action 3.1 – Convene goat-farming stakeholders to identify land, technical assistance, grants, and additional resources to remove barriers to raising, processing, and selling goat meat locally. o Action 3.2 – Develop a farmer incubator program with a contact between Northern Plains Sustainable Ag Society and Food Shelf. o Action 3.3 – Advance 2021 representation for Pelican Rapids by briefing staff on the LFLP Planning process and importance of the type of resource represented by Farmlink. o Action 3.4 – Host an informational session on controlled environment agriculture (CEA).

▪

Goal 4 – Empower community members with opportunities and resources to better access meaningful food and participate in food systems planning. o Action 4.1 – Conduct a feasibility study on a community orchard, possibly located on existing city property. o Action 4.2 – Conduct extensive public engagement to integrate food language into local planning processes and documents. o Action 4.3 – Expand the existing community garden and increase the number of community gardens in neighborhoods.

GOAL 1: Foster market channels and supply chain relationships for more locally grown, raised, or harvested food to flow within the community. Agriculture has long been an economic driver in the region surrounding Pelican Rapids, dominated by exportdriven commodity production. According to the USDA 2017 Census of Agriculture, there are 2,544 farms located in Otter Tail County, covering 794,496 acres. Grains, oil seeds, dry beans, and dry peas represent 57% (~$200M) of crops by market value. Eighty percent of farms have 50 acres or more in size. Pelican Rapids would like to encourage development of more small-scale specialty crop farming (e.g., fruits, vegetables, tree nuts) in order to produce more of what is locally consumed in homes, restaurants, and institutions. The actions prioritized by the community during the workshop reflect the importance of establishing a direct to consumer marketplace for local growers, increasing awareness of and enthusiasm for locally grown products, and facilitating supplier/buyer connections.

Action 1.1: Define a space for a physical market in downtown Pelican Rapids. What this is and why it is important

Previously, the farmers market lacked a permanent space. Strong support among community members and a dedicated space could help foster community convening and possibly/eventually serve several uses. A permanent structure would help to attract vendors who are critical to its success. Starting small will help solidify the desire/interest to graduate into a larger, possibly indoor space. This action addresses elements of lowering barriers to entry for vendors to participate in the market. Establishing a permanent space will require a concept, business plan, political support of the City Council and City Administrator, and physical infrastructure on designated property.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

Measures of success

A permanent market space is established in downtown Pelican Rapids and open for the 2021 outdoor season.

Timeframe

May 2021

Lead

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Supporting cast

Needed resources and possible sources

Ryan Pesch, Lida Farm, and University of MN Extension - Economic Development Jackie Larson, SNAP-Ed Coordinator, University of Minnesota Don Solga, City Administrator, City of Pelican Rapids Brent E. Frazier, Pelican Rapids Mayor, City of Pelican Rapids Janet Lindberg, Coordinator of Community Gardens, and Food Shelf Board (Chair) Julie Tunheim, Community Garden Jason Bergstrand, LSW, Manager, Partnership 4 Health Verna Kragnes, Philadelphia Community Farm Specialty food producers Property owners (Harold Nelson, Kathleen Hoover) Document outlining the vision, goals, purpose, and proposed design of market Lease/rent/land purchase $ USDA AMS Architectural Services (Ron Batcher) Request for technical services form: https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/TechnicalAssistanceRequestForm.pdf

● Ryan’s existing farm stand (low cost pop-up) ● Statewide Health Improvement Partnership grant and technical assistance (Jason Bergstrand and Mike Zastoupil)

Action 1.2: Create a comprehensive list of food producers and businesses to foster connections and form future purchasing relationships. What this is and why it is important

Measures of success

Timeframe Lead

There is a need to match local producers, sellers, and consumers. Currently, there is a disconnect between growers and local food-related businesses. A list of producers, retailers, restaurants, and sellers can serve to engage farmers as a first step to recruiting more vendors to the market. The initial scope entails Otter Tail County, but could expand to include Becker, Clay, and Wilkin counties, where there are additional producers that could service Pelican Rapids. A comprehensive list is created, including key information, such as contact information, location of farm, current channels, crops, or products. Funding for a regional coordinator A comprehensive list that is available to the public and user-friendly for buyers New collaborations among growers Contracts for local procurement from local businesses Publishing/embedding the list on a public website and/or launching a marketing campaign to advertise this list to local businesses Methodology established for updates as needed 12 months followed by ongoing maintenance Jason Bergstrand, PartnerSHIP 4 Health

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

Supporting cast

Needed resources and possible sources

● Julie Sachs, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (to contact immigrant and New American communities) ● Emily Reno, West Central Initiative ● John Solinger, local artist and resort owner ● Joanie Ellison, Multicultural Committee, Pelican Rapids Public Library, and Mercantile on Main ● Tammy Kinsella, Chamber of Commerce ● Michele Anderson, Springboard for the Arts ● Verna Kragnes, Northern Plains Membership list ● Kelsey Wulf, Sustainable Farming Association (Lake Agassiz Chapter) ● Helen Schnoes, Minnesota Department of Agriculture ● Time ● Grant writers ● PartnerSHIP 4 Health (list of vegetable growers and meat producers)

Action 1.3: Host a Healthy Food Fair in partnership/collaboration with an existing community event What this is and why it is important

A healthy food fair would feature the food and agricultural wealth of the area. The fair can feature growing clubs, cooking demos, and other activities. This effort could be a means to connect with and recruit market vendors and generate community enthusiasm/interest for local food. This could be done in concert with the existing Multicultural Friendship fair.

Measures of success

● ● ● ● ● ●

Timeframe Lead Supporting cast

A board that oversees the fair has been established Sponsorships and vendors have been recruited to make the fair possible Funding and resources have been secured to coordinate the fair # of different organizations that participate Positive level of satisfaction among participants and vendors from survey results New connections are made between vendors, fair attendees according to survey results 6 months; outside would likely be better for a public event ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Ryan Pesch, Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota (Lake Agassiz Chapter) Verna Kragnes, Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society Jessica Shulstad, Brown Eyed Susans Ryan Pesch, Lida Farm, and University of MN Extension - Economic Development Gloria Radtke, Senior Citizen Center Jackie Larson, University of MN Extension - SNAP Education Rita Cowie, Sanford Health, Pelican Rapids Melanie Jahnke, Essentia Health St. Mary’s Maggie Driscoll, Pelican Rapids Organizing Acts of Kindness for Seniors (OAKS) Mercantile on Main (Judy Tabbut, Dawn Johnson, Kathy, Bergren) Maureen Berg, Artist 12

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

Needed resources and possible sources

● ● ● ● ●

Melanie Michels, local resident, works at Pelican Dental Halal Market Youth Eco Solutions (YES) program at Pelican High School Location/venue $500 in marketing and promotions - simple event

Action 1.4: Create a food systems coordinator position to help advance the Local Foods, Local Places action plan and other initiatives. What this is and why it is important Measures of success

Timeframe Lead Supporting cast

Needed resources and possible sources

Current organizational capacity at the city is limited. A paid position could help advance all of the ideas within this action plan and pursue other food systems initiatives. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Broader stakeholder engagement for local foods initiatives Stronger buy-in and engagement from minority-run businesses and organizations Direction and leadership for community action plan items New food businesses and farmers Greater culture of growing and sharing food between neighbors Increased sourcing of locally grown food in restaurants, schools, and other wholesale markets Resource hub and stakeholder group to support goat farming August 2021 West Central Initiative Jason Bergstrand, PartnerSHIP 4 Health Don Solga, City of Administrator, City of Pelican Rapids MN Pollution Control hosts AmeriCorps Vista program with Green Corps volunteers going out to the municipality Mentorship and access to state and national resources from other food policy, sustainability coordinators at the city level Community listening tour or other process to ground them in the work that’s been done up to this point by the Steering Committee Stakeholder analysis/power map to identify key relationships and resources to help move the needle on specific projects

Goal 2: Support food entrepreneurs to start or grow existing businesses in Pelican Rapids and enhance Pelican Rapids’ reputation as a food destination. In 2016, the University of Minnesota completed a Business Retention and Expansion plan with the City of Pelican Rapids. An informal survey of empty buildings and storefronts is underway, with the objective to link aspiring food entrepreneurs with vacant commercial space in downtown Pelican Rapids. The community would like to see more food-related options available (e.g., retail, restaurants) that reflect the city’s ethnically diverse population. A collection of vibrant storefronts would also be a draw for the many tourists that come to 13

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

the region for its lakes, bike trails, and Maplewood State Park activities. Helping more entrepreneurs to build businesses in Pelican Rapids may involve creating shared assets, marketing, and dedicated technical assistance.

Action 2.1: Conduct a commercial kitchen feasibility study to identify the best model, producers, consumers, and purpose. What this is and why it is important

This is a big concept with lots of ideas to explore and understand. An important first step is to identify and convene interested persons to have a number of conversations to generate a ‘prospectus’ of what this could be. Then a follow up would be to study the feasibility of those ideas and concepts. These conversations could also explore possible partnerships, programs, etc

Measures of success

Host community meetings (virtual with COVID) utilize social media. Conduct a community survey addressing the current options. (similar to the streets project, meetings where citizens placed colored dots on preferred choices. This survey would be virtual with COVID)

Timeframe

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Lead Supporting cast Needed resources and possible sources

Short-term (6 month): begin effort to identify potential locations and needs Mid-term (1 year): secure a site Long-term (+1 year): establish commercial kitchen Pelican Rapids Economic Development Corporation (EDC) City Council Don Solga, City Administrator, City of Pelican Rapids Judy Tabbot, Mercantile on Main Designs for potential locations, to show the community. List programs/ research

Action 2.2: Establish a marketing and branding program for Pelican Rapids’ food and recreational assets What this is and why it is important

Measures of success

While a statewide local food marketing program exists, developing a brand for Pelican Rapids specifically is needed to help existing businesses communicate their products and services with residents and visitors. In light of recent planning document updates and restructuring of Highway 59, placemaking and diversity are key elements to ensuring a long-range view of recreation and local market sustainability. Considering the seasonal nature of business, this marketing program could help businesses market to locals in the winter, including Pelican Rapids’ recreational assets. ● Short-term: Convene local stakeholders to conduct community outreach to develop community vision of brand ● Long-term: Pelican Rapids Branding Plan & Toolkit, including brand guidelines, logos, and other promotional materials 14

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

Timeframe

Lead Supporting cast

Needed resources and possible sources

● Short-term (6 month): focus on local, internal branding of the town ● Long-term (1+ year): develop a marketing program to advertise Pelican Rapids to statewide and immediate surrounding areas. ● Emily Reno, West Central Initiative ● Tammy Kinsella, Chamber Board ● Otter Tail Rural Rebound, Erik Osburg (part of the county resident recruitment office) ● Multicultural Committee (Julie Sachs) ● Chamber of Commerce ● Otter Tail County, Deena Johnson (current local resource with local office in Pelican Rapids) ● Local Food is Essential (Ariel Kagan); social media assets available to communities ● West Central Initiative ● Pelican Rapids Economic Development Corporation (private) ● Pelican Rapids Economic Development Authority (city) ● Coordination on marketing efforts ● Coordinate with statewide efforts for guidance ● Resources to establishing a program and plan ● City economic development ● Develop our own program to attract marketers/storytellers modeled off of existing residencies and fellowships - Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship; Department of Public Transformation’s City Artist in Residence Program

Action 2.3: Connect aspiring or early food businesses to existing resources, such as through a food business coordinator or navigator position. What this is and why it is important

While resources for entrepreneurs exist, many of them may face challenges in accessing them due to language, cultural, technological, and/or technical barriers. Given the cultural diversity of Pelican Rapids, a liaison between these resources and the community could help streamline the process of business ideation, development, scaling, marketing, etc. Some of the responsibilities of this person could include: ● Assess and research entrepreneurs, help them market their products and expand their existing business. ● Connect business owners to vacant lots/properties. ● Work to engage community to develop shared vision and create a buzz around the community through branding. ● Connect and maintain communication with all food-related businesses. ● Guide entrepreneurs to resources as needed. ● Identify business challenges, provide group experience advice to the business, and guide the business to resources to overcome challenges. ● Help small business incubation/food startups through pop up options for food entrepreneurs for a quick and visible win.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

Measures of success Timeframe Lead Supporting cast

Needed resources and possible sources

● Establish/assemble a list of entrepreneurs, business mentors, and existing resources ● Establish technical resources/technical assistance for entrepreneurs ● Clearly define what is already done/offered 12 months ● Emily Reno, West Central Initiative ● Mark Dokken, Larry’s Supermarket ● Small business development center ● Pelican Rapids Economic Development Corporation (EDC) ● Annie Deckert, CEO of Greater Fergus Falls Possible food entrepreneurs: ● Stacy Cruz (legal advocate) ● Kemal ● Annie, Pelican Library (research support) ● Coordination on tracking entrepreneurs ● Existing programs and resources (e.g., SBA for strategic/business planning, marketing) ● Research support

Goal 3: Grow and culturally diversify the agricultural economy surrounding Pelican Rapids. Almost 25% of the population of Pelican Rapids is foreign-born. These New Americans bring with them food cultures and preferences that may involve ingredients and preparations that are not well known or available at all in the region. Some also bring with them skills and knowledge for how to grow special foods or raise animals common to their culture’s cuisine. In order to ensure availability of desired products in Pelican Rapids and create economic opportunities in agriculture, the community would like to help existing and aspiring farmers to diversify the crops they grow, raise animals to satisfy unmet demand in the region, and utilize approaches that can extend the region’s short growing season.

Action 3.1: Convene specialty meat stakeholders to identify land, technical assistance, grants, and additional resources to remove barriers to raising, processing, and selling specialty meat locally. What this is and why it is important

Measures of success Timeframe Lead

There is currently a large population that drives down to Minneapolis to buy specialty meats, such as goat, bison, and lamb. There is a large market potential given the demand from the Fargo-Moorhead for these products. There is at least one potential goat farmer (Haisi) located in Pelican Rapids. The Somali market, Dawo Halal, would benefit from supply chain connections, especially for goat. ● Goats available or for sale in Pelican Rapids before next summer. (May be able to find a closer source in Saint Cloud given it has 13 Halal markets) ● Details such as the slaughter opportunity has been determined. 6-12 months ● Near-term: Emily Reno, West Central Initiative (liaison, Mark Dokken, Larry’s Supermarket) 16

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

Supporting cast

Needed resources and possible sources

● Long-term: Informal committee of specialty meat stakeholders ● Haisi (aspiring goat farmer) ● Dave Ellison to engage with Dawa Halal Market (quick question/assessment of current demand) ● USDA slaughter facility that is Halal ● Heart “O Lakes (may or may not be a partner given available capacity and any conflicts of product – e.g., pork) ● 4-H (currently raise a lot of goats as part of 4-H projects) ● Chicken Head Farm in Silver Lake ● Vermont Chevron learnings (retired dairy goat operation) ● Ariel Kagan, Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems ● Jim Knoll, retired goat farmer ● Serdar Mamedov, Extension (St. Cloud) ● Rolling R Bison Ranch ● Interpretation/translation ● Need an exemption (paperwork, animal welfare plan, food safety plan) for Halal slaughter or a more flexible model e.g., CSA). ● University of Minnesota report: Halal and Kosher Minnesota Meat Market Assessment

Action 3.2: Develop a farmer incubator program with a contact between Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society and Food Shelf. What this is and why it is important

Measures of success

Timeframe Lead Supporting cast

This is rooted in the idea of creating more farmers and providing them with the space, connections, market understanding, skills, etc. to learn farming. An initial plan has been developed and discussed among key partners, but the conversation has stalled for unknown reasons. There are those interested and with some skills, but need a springboard. Many new Americans have the skills and interest in growing food and would be able to do so if they were supported with technical assistance. An incubator program will help connect aspiring farmers to requirements, funding, etc. ● Determining available property for program ● Identification of organizational lead ● Formalization of what is currently indivisual plots ● # of participants/growers taking part ● Rate of graduation from program ● Volume of product grown/raised ● Lbs of produce donated to The Food Shelf ● Participation in local markets ● Acres put into agricultural production for emerging farmers 3 months Verna Kragnes, Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society ● Mayor Brent E. Frazier ● Janet Lindberg, The Food Shelf (administrator of the community garden) ● People who have an interest in starting farming 17

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

Needed resources and possible sources

There is a program in southern Minnesota called the “Grow a Farmer” fund that supports beginning farmers at this stage.

Action 3.3: Brief legislative representatives and staff on the LFLP planning process and emphasize the importance of the types of resource represented by Farmlink What this is and why it is important

MDA Farmlink is a list of Minnesota farm properties that are for sale, rent and/or farmers who are interested in providing opportunities to a beginning farmer by transitioning an existing farm with no current heir. It has lacked funding since 2015. Meetings with representatives are needed before the session starts to request funding to update and expand this existing resource. Measures of ● A request to MN House Agriculture or Senate Agriculture Committee to have a success hearing (time ~20 to present) ● Session runs January - May 2021 ● Gain budget for Farmlink Timeframe Within 3 months Lead ● Anna Wasescha, West Central Initiative ● Bill Adams, engaged citizen Supporting cast ● MN House of Reps: Jordan Rasmussen (no committee assigned) ● MN Senate: Bill Ingebrigtsen (not on ag committee) ● US House: Michelle Fischbach (seeking ag committee seat) ● Jason Bergstrand, PartnerSHIP 4 Health ● Ariel Kagan, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (can provide background on state infrastructure needs) ● Stu Lourney, Minnesota Farmers Union ● Sylvia and Joe Luetmer, Alexandria Needed ● Final LFLP report - Federal program through EPA and USDA, good note to incoming resources and Rep. Fischbach possible sources ● Request meetings with all representatives before session starts ● Request hearing for House ag committee (state) to give an overview on the LFLP process and why programs like FarmLink came up as important ● http://www2.mda.state.mn.us/webapp/props4sale/ ● Farm advocates ● Farmlink - State Program (Minnesota Department of Agriculture, unfunded

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

Action 3.4: Host an informational session on controlled environment agriculture (CEA). What this is and why it is important

Given the short growing season in Minnesota, farmers in the area would benefit from learning about and taking advantage of the emerging incentives and funding to support controlled environment agriculture (trade adjustment funds - anticipated, not existing for retraining). By having more farmers in the area who engage in this type of growing, different and larger market channels for fresh foods could be accessed. Measures of ● Webinar recording on CEA from session is available online success ● List of any session attendees who would like more information or get involved in the LFLP Steering Committee ● New startups in hydroponics, additional high tunnels purchased and built locally, institutional installations of deep winter greenhouses Timeframe 1 year Lead ● Harold Stanislawski, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) ● Rick Schara, West Central Initiative, Live Wide Open Summit Supporting cast ● Tim Thompson, Lake Region Electric Coop (LREC) ● Mark Dokken, Larry’s Supermarket ● Linda Kingery, Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships ● MN Extension Needed Review previous/existing workshops and presentations on this topic by other resources and organizations - Sustainable Farming Association, MOSES, Extension, and Northern Plains possible sources Sustainable Agriculture Society conference session recordings and schedules

Goal 4: Empower community members with opportunities and resources to better access meaningful food and participate in food systems planning. On the flip side of Goal 3 (diversifying production) is helping consumers to access food, which is relevant and meaningful to them. Part of realizing this may mean involving more voices in the planning and decisionmaking around local and regional food systems. The approaches identified by the community during the workshop include increasing opportunities to grow and gather food (e.g., community orchard, community gardens), integrating food more explicitly into current city-wide planning, and engaging with local food businesses regarding their needs and challenges as part of the food system value chain. A group of individuals (including the food shelf, Mercantile on Main cooperative members, Community Ed, SNAP-Ed, Multicultural Committee) had previously expressed interest in mobilizing on these issues, and Pelican Rapids could benefit from having them come together with the LFLP Steering Committee to ensure action plan implementation.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

Action 4.1: Conduct a feasibility study on a community orchard, possibly located on existing city property. What this is and why it is important

A community orchard could serve multiple functions and stakeholders, such as a source of educational lessons for school FFA, 4-H clubs, and community education, providing fresh food for the food shelf, supporting the school lunch and backpack program, and providing a public amenity/aesthetic near the future bike trail head. There is city- and school-owned property that would serve as an ideal location and opportunity to integrate into existing initiatives at the school and in the community, but this site needs to be identified and secured first. Measures of ● Identify a site for the orchard. success ● Identity a person/group to maintain the orchard ● Number of acres planted in fruit trees ● Number of pounds harvested, donated, incorporated into school meals, included in backpack program ● New lesson plans created for the elementary and high school ● Community education classes hosted in collaboration with the orchard volunteers/leaders ● Student projects through 4-H that incorporate the orchard ● Recruiting and/or hiring an orchard manager to oversee orchard production and community initiatives Timeframe ● Short-term (6 month): Work with the city and/or schools to identify a site and convene stakeholders. ● Mid-term (1 year): Identity a person/group and proceed to securing a property. Lead ● Emily Reno, West Central Initiative ● Jackie Larson University of MN Extension (fruit education, etc.) Supporting cast ● Lee Larsen, Pelican Rapids High School ● Judy Tabbut, Mercantile on Main ● Dave Gottenborg (nursery + arborist) ● Edward Anderson, local apple orchard owner ● Local Future Farmers of America ● Pelican Rapids Comm Ed/Summer school program held in school ● Duluth Case Study (public land on "the hills" that they tuned into an orchard. Also grew shrubs like Honey berries and Highbush Cranberry ● GreenCorps (interns/volunteers) ● Andrew Johnson, Riverview Place ● West Central Area School in Barrett, MN - Existing school orchard. Serve as advisor. Needed ● Land resources and ● Startup capital and tools to plant and maintain the orchard possible sources ● Staffing - Farm 2 School Grants

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

● Karen Nitzkorski, PartnerSHIP 4 Health (lessons learned - champion beyond just school) ● AmeriCorps Program would be helpful ● MN Green Corps is another potential resource ● City Coordination (CIP?) ● Pursue foundation resources

Action 4.2: Conduct extensive public engagement to integrate food language into local planning processes and documents. What this is and why it is important

Measures of success

Timeframe Lead Supporting cast Needed resources and possible sources

There are a variety of local planning documents undergoing revision and update, including Pelican Rapids’ comprehensive plan, a new city park plan, and the redesign of Highways 59 & 108 within city limits. It is important that the full diversity of voices and interests in local foods are represented in these documents as a way to empower community members to get involved and increase public funding for local foods initiatives outlined in this plan. Including language in the comprehensive plan, park plan, and 59 & 108 redesign with meaningful guidance on local food policies and actions. Language in area trails plans that connect recreation with local foods Goals in local transportation plans that address food access Goals in regional economic development plans that focus on food systems Timing in line with adoption of plans (e.g., Comprehensive Plan, Park Plan, and Highways 59 & 108 Complete Streets Project) ● Patrick Hollister, PartnerSHIP 4 Health ● Emily Reno, West Central Initiative ● Wayne Hurley, West Central Initiative ● Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee ● Volunteer engagement in the process ● City staff and resources to integrate topics into the plan

Action 4.3: Expand the existing community garden and increase the number of community gardens in neighborhoods. What this is and why it is important

Expanding the community garden and neighborhood gardens would provide access to healthy, local food, create opportunities for programming on food preparation and preservation, promote physical activity and mental health, and demonstrate season extension strategies. This could also be integrated with parks and recreation initiatives and provide educational benefits for children. The existing community garden could be expanded, as Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society is interested in developing a satellite site through their farmer incubator program, which could be located in Pelican Rapids. By providing more space for people to grow, the barrier of land access would be reduced and help launch food businesses. These businesses could take advantage of a 21

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

permanent farmers market space and commercial kitchen, which are discussed in other parts of this plan. Measures of success

● Expand the existing community garden with programming. ● Acquisition and development of new garden sites in neighborhoods.

Timeframe

● Short-term (1 year): expand the existing community garden ● Identify locations for new neighborhood gardens. ● Mid-term (1+ year): establish community gardens in neighborhoods. Janet Lindberg and Julie Tunheim, The Food Shelf

Lead Supporting cast

Needed resources and possible sources

● ● ● ● ● ● ●

The Welcome Place Mercantile on Main Cooperative Members Local Youth Groups (4-H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Future Farmers of America) Coleen Guhl with School David Dewey at Calvary Evangelical Free Church Neighborhood groups Need: Determine ownership around the existing community garden; land; volunteers and organizational capital to manage gardens ● Resource: The new mosque site could be a location for a garden.

LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL PLACES COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

IMPLEMENTATION AND NEXT STEPS Following the workshop, the steering committee, community collaborators, and technical assistance team held three more calls to finalize the action plan and report. During each call, updates related to the action plan or an outcome of the workshop were shared. In some instances, new information gathered resulted in modifications to actions within the plan. Early progress and connections as a result of this process include: • •

•

• • • •

•

The community tour video is being shared broadly. Ryan had a conversation with two private landowners of an available lot (49, 51, and 53 North Broadway), who are supportive of hosting a permanent location (Harold Nelson, Kathleen Hoover). The space is large, prominently located, and ready for development in the core of downtown. Since then, The Welcome Place received the West Central Initiative grant of $9,000 to support a permanent farmers’ market. Ryan scheduled a call with Ron Batcher at USDA and submitted a request for architectural support. Ryan/Lida Farm will spend time to help organize the market and be an anchor vendor. The market will occupy a lot Broadway that has been vacant for two decades. There is also funding to work with new Americans to prepare them to be vendors at the market. Emily identified a grant application from the MN Department of Agriculture Dec. 2020-21 pilot project ($10k to support farm-to-school). WCI would be eligible to lead this coordination; see PARSNIP: Pilot to Accelerate Regional Support for Nutrition at Institutions from Producers informational webinar https://www.mda.state.mn.us/farm-school-parsnip-rfp-webinar The bonding bill was passed and there are two examples of what these dollars can be used included ($2M to the Hmong American Farming Association and $250,000 for poultry processing to the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance), specifically from the governor’s equity fund. Jason/PartnerSHIP 4 Health started the farmer database but needs input from others and a central location to host it. They are exploring a Green Corps application in April with the hope that the city could supervise the position. A survey showed that there is a greater need for an AmeriCorps or Green Corps position for other actions like the feasibility study. WCI intends to apply for an upcoming grant from Regional Sustainable Partnership for additional capacity. Mark met with the Somali grocery on where they might need help. They mentioned better pricing on products, goat distribution (having trouble getting product from Fargo, so driving 3 hours or more to get meat that may/may not be coming from Australia). They have experience raising and slaughtering goats but need to learn inspection and regulation. Emily will share the completed action plan at the next city council meeting on January 26, 2021.

APPENDICES § § § § § §

Appendix A – Workshop Exercise Results Appendix B – Workshop Contacts Appendix C – Photo Album Appendix D – Community Data Profile Appendix E – Funding Resources Appendix F – References 23