The Switch to Local Doesn't Have to be Difficult

As Anthropology students we have spent lots of time learning how to change the world and how to make it a better place. Now we have the chance to do something with the knowledge we have attained. We have compiled a manual to help those who want to make the switch to local. The manual has information on the benefits of using local ingredients, a directory of local farmers, and information on the rules and regulations one must follow when buying local foods for their business. The manual is focused more specifically towards restaurants and businesses in the Twin Ports region but still has valuable information for those wanting to make the transition from global to local. A link to a PDF version of the manual can be found on this page.

What we hope to achieve by making this information available is a change in the way people view local food. We want people to realize that switching to local isn't as difficult as they think and that they don't have to settle for what is convenient. We are only a small part of a bigger movement that is taking place not only in Minnesota but across the United States. The Minnesota Project's Heartland Food Network has done what we did but on a larger scale, dealing with Minnesota as a whole, the Heartland Food Network is a network of chefs who commit to using local ingredients. Also the Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association and Minnesota Grown have put together extensive directories of restaurants and farmers that are willing to work with others interested in buying or selling locally. For more information on these and related topics check out our manual and the links provided on this page.