Here's a preliminary run-down of what we've heard from our local farming partners who were hit hardest by the flood. Most of this is second-hand info from farm drivers who were able to bring loads of food and some information today, or from Dean Schladweiler, our Produce Manager, who has been in touch with the farmers himself.
FEATHERSTONE ORGANIC FARM
Rushford, MN
Featherstone is a key provider of organic produce to the Wedge, bringing us their heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and cantaloupes.
Today, Jack at Featherstone had to drop off his delivery in Winona because his truck driver couldn't make it to the farm. Even delivering in the town of Rushford was impossible since the town has been so hard hit by flooding. After 17 inches of rain on his farm, Jack couldn't drive to his fields and had to walk to inspect the flood damage (his roads were under mud).
There may be a few deliveries out of Featherstone, but they're probably done for the season.
AVALANCHE ORGANICS
Viola, Wisconsin
Yesterday, Monday, we heard Avalanche was done for the season -- and maybe for good. Today, Avalanche actually showed up at the Wedge with a delivery, bringing us some of what had survived in their pack shed.
Dave the Avalanche driver said he was surprised when the farm called him and said they had a delivery for him to truck into the Twin Cities. "I told them they had to come get me though," said Dave. "My truck was on the wrong side of my brand new river."
Avalanche is predicting 80% losses, but Dave said that the two lead farmers, Happy and Jay, were "strangely giddy" with a never-say-die burst of energy today.
"Their root crops may still be there for harvesting," said Schladweiler. "If they find it, they'll dig it up for us."
DRIFTLESS ORGANIC
Soldiers Grover, Wisconsin
The Kickapoo River rose 6 feet over this farm, but then retreated, leaving much of their land under a mighty swath of mud (the packing shed is a foot deep in mud today). Fortunately, the cucumber crop seems salvageable.
Harmony Valley
Viroqua, Wisconsin
We've heard second-hand that Harmony Valley, from whom we receive a wide variety of root crops and other veggies, has about 30 acres under water at the moment.
More:
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Rain Turns Abundance to Devastation
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This all might sound like a big fat downer while we're challenging folks to eat local and promote our local farms, but, I hope not. Because, really, if you want to talk about "local challenges," you have to talk to a farmer to get the whole story. Not only do farmers negotiate their little ships among the gigantic California and Florida markets, but then they deal with the fickle whim of weather on top of it. Last week, the Wedge website interviewed Atina Diffley of Gardens of Eagan about drought conditions in Minnesota. Now we're talking about floods. Next month it will be something else. Farmers live the local challenge 24/7/365.
If you start paying attention to where your food comes from, you're bound to hear the whole story, not just the farmer-to-chef tale, but the delightful tastes to the devastating plot twists, and everything in between -- and you become part of it, too. The farmer's story is your story, when you eat local.
