Minnesota Grown Directory turning 30 years old

The 30th anniversary edition of the Minnesota Grown Directory comes out in April.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says it began publishing the statewide directory in the early 1980s, long before the "buy local" trend became fashionable. The idea was to highlight Minnesota products over those shipped in from thousands of miles away

Consumers looking for fresh, local foods will find more than 800 farms and markets listed in the 2011 edition.

The department encourages producers to join Minnesota Grown before March 1 to be listed in the new directory.

Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson says the success and longevity of the guide is a testament to the creativity of Minnesota growers and the quality of their products. Around 190,000 copies of the free guide were distributed last year.

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Online: Minnesota Grown

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