December 2020 - 31

FARM MARKET & AGRITOURISM
Cool springs of Minnesota set produce choices
By Dean Peterson
FGN Correspondent
Lake Superior is the coldest of the
Great Lakes and farming close to it in
Minnesota brings challenges. " We have
very cool springs, " said Ken Jorgenson,
who owns Leaning Barn Farm at Esko,
Minnesota, with his wife, Ruth.
The farm has asparagus with peas
and lettuce being the first annual crops
grown. Lots of root crops - beets, carrots
and onions - are grown because of the
cool climate. A 45-foot high tunnel helps
establish the cucumbers, peppers and
tomatoes, and also extends the growing
season in the fall. Sweet corn is grown
in-season and shitake mushrooms are a
specialty. Squash, zucchini and kohlrabi
are also grown.
" We stick to the basic vegetable groups, "
Ken said. " I don't like growing anything
I'm not familiar with or don't like to eat. "
The Jorgensons have grown blueberries
for eight years and last summer was the
third year of U-pick.
U-pick was by appointment only -
consistent with Minnesota's COVID-19
guidelines. " It was easy to social distance
in the field, " Ken said. " When customers
came to the stand to check out, they had
to have a mask. "
It encourages people to stay home if they
have a cough or fever and to respect a
six-foot physical distance. Customers are
encouraged to shop solo, shop efficiently
and not touch products. Special drawings,
events and sampling are suspended and
vendors must use " buffer tables. " This
second table between customers and
vendors increases the social distance.
Wearing a mask is recommended and
handwashing stations are provided.
" The protocol is to protect people, "
Ken said.
Vendors were also spaced farther apart
Taking sales online isn't the full solution
for farmers' markets in the pandemic, said
Ken Jorgenson, who owns Leaning Barn
Farm at Esko, Minnesota, with his wife,
Ruth. Photo: Dean Peterson
Business was strong - even with the
safety requirements. " People wanted to
get outside, " Ken said.
The Jorgensons also sell blueberries
at farmers' markets during northern
Minnesota's four-week blueberry season.
The Carlton County Farmers' Market
in Carlton County, Minnesota, has two
locations and Leaning Barn Farm is at
both of them.
The markets have a COVID-19 protocol.
this year. " In a normal year, we'd be side
by side, " Ken said. " This year, we were in
every other booth. "
Taking sales online isn't the full solution
for farmers' markets in the pandemic. " A
farmers' market is an experience, " Ken
said. " It's an event. People go there to get
out and meet people and talk and this
year has been different. "
Minnesota has a Cottage Food Law and
Leaning Barn Farm sells products at the
farmers' markets under its authority.
The Cottage Food Law allows
individuals to make and sell certain
non-potentially hazardous food and
canned goods without a license. There's
a registration process and training
requirements. There are rules on labeling,
the types of food allowed and sales
locations. There are also limits on how
much a cottage food producer can sell.
" We do a lot of value-added products, "
Ken said. The list includes pickled
vegetables and varieties of jam and trail
mix. All of the produce is grown on
Leaning Barn Farm.
Organic practices are used on Leaning
Barn Farm. The fertilizer is organic and
either from chicken manure or from
cover crops.
Buckwheat, rye and oats are popular
choices for cover crops. The buckwheat
and oats winterkill. The rye grows
overwinter and is worked in in the spring.
" Sometimes we put some ground into a
cover crop in the spring without a
crop - like old fashion summer fallowing, "
Ken said. " There is always a green cover on
the ground; it's never left bare. "
Ken worked in construction before he
and Ruth bought the farm 10 years ago.
The barn had quite a lean to it hence the
name of the farm. " Pretty soon it may be
the Flat Barn Farm, " Ken said.
Ken and Ruth's daughter, Ann
Gustafson, and her husband, Chris, are
heavily involved in the blueberries.
" I grew up on a farm, " Ken said. " I
always enjoyed the process of producing
food. " FGN
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December 2020

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