Sustainable Agriculture field day announced for August 14 in Duluth

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) encourages farmers and food processors to attend a Field Day at Clover Valley Farms to learn about apple production on the North Shore and tour the orchard. Topics will include developing apple production along the North Shore and constructing a facility for storage, production, and processing equipment for fruit products. These projects were funded by the MDA’s Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation (AGRI) Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant Program and the AGRI Value Added Grant Program.

As part of the AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant Project, Clover Valley Farms will showcase a range of apple production methods used in the project. The methods were assessed for commercial apple production in the region. A historically native, locally-adapted apple variety identified during the project, called “Gitchee Gummi Golden,” will also be featured.

Cindy Hale and Jeff Hall, owners of Clover Valley Farms, will also lead a tour of their new timber frame building, which was funded in part by an AGRI Value Added Grant. This building will serve as clean dry storage for apple and fruit production and processing. A root cellar has also been constructed for short-term storage of apples and overwintering grafted fruit trees and other farm crops.

The Field Day will be held on Sunday, August 14th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Clover Valley Farms. Collaborators for this event include the University of Minnesota Extension, University of Minnesota Duluth, Organic Fruit Growers Association, the Land Stewardship Project, and Minnesota Grown.

Directions to Field Day: From Duluth, drive north on Hwy. 61 (North Shore Expressway) to St. Louis County Road 42 (Homestead Rd.). Turn left, away from Lake Superior, and drive 4.2 miles. Watch for “Field Day” signs. Clover Valley Farms will be on the right. Please park on the street.

For more information contact Clover Valley Farms at 218-525-0094 or info@clovervalleyfarms.com.