We are excited to announce our 2021 Fund Our Foodshed Grant winners! This program furthers our co-op’s mission of creating a thriving and healthy community by supporting the growth of regional farming, food processing, and product development in the Chippewa Valley. The funded projects strengthen operational infrastructure and increase food production, and they help to rebuild our rural community.

This year’s grant committee deliberated over the twenty-five applications we received the last week of April. Funding decisions were exceptionally tough this year because we received so many great project proposals, but thanks to the generosity of our shoppers, we were able to increase the award amount from $10,000 to $12,500 total. Meet this year’s winners below! Each farm was awarded varying amounts, and we will be sharing each farm’s project story on our website, on social media, and in-store in the coming months to celebrate their farm improvements. Stay tuned to see your Round Up For Good dollars in action, and as always, thank you for making this program possible with your generosity!

A small family farm located in Spring Valley, Wisconsin owned by Lindsey and Tony Maas

Miles from the Co-op: 16

Project Funded: Greenhouse Construction

Amount Awarded: $5,000

Benefit to Local Foodshed: This project will triple their production by allowing them to grow radishes, salad turnips, lettuces, spinach, kale, chard, and cilantro, microgreens, and more during the cold months, which will significantly extend their growing season, help with cash flow during the winter, and even out the workload over the course of the year.

 A small farm and orchard located in Otter Creek Township, WI owned by Callie and Micah Laz Davis

Miles from the Co-op: 21

Project Funded: High Tunnel Installation

Amount Awarded: $4,000

Benefit to Local Foodshed: This project will expand their strawberry growing operation in a way that minimizes risk due to their ability to control the moisture level and protect their crop from extreme weather events and pests and will allow them to grow their berries in a no-till permanent bed system for maximum soil health and high quality produce.

A microgreens grower in Strum, WI owned by Dr. Dan Czelatdko

Miles from the Co-op: 36

Project Funded: Growing Room Relocation

Amount Awarded: $3,500

Benefit to Local Foodshed: This project will triple their production from 100 trays of microgreens grown per week to over 300 trays per week, and will allow them to combine the growing room and seeding area for efficiency, install energy-efficient lighting, and reuse any excess water not absorbed by the trays for use in future watering.

This article was originally published in the May/June 2021 issue of our bi-monthly newsletter, The Morsel. If you’d like to read more stories like this one and stay up to date on the latest co-op news and events, pick up a print copy in-store on your next grocery run or find more news on our website here.