winter farmers market

This episode of Voices from the Field was produced in partnership with ATTRA and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. To learn more about SARE’s library of practical information and available grants to fund projects that advance sustainable agriculture, visit SARE.ORG.

 In this episode, Maura Henn, an NCAT Local Food Systems Specialist, talks with Michal DeChellis of the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) in Montana. Michal is AERO’s Program Manager for the Montana Food Economy Initiative (MFEI), a project that has been funded through a Western SARE Grant.

Maura and Michal talk about the process of conducting Community Food Assessments around Montana and the importance of bringing together multiple stakeholders from different parts of community food systems when building a coalition for food systems work. Maura and Michal also talk about some of the first projects, which were launched in 2020, and adaptations and improvements made to the 2023-2024 round of community assessments.  

Related ATTRA Resources:

·       Farmers Markets

·       Local Food Systems

Other Resources:

·       Montana Food Economy Initiative

·       AERO

·       Montana Food System Resource Library

·       Butte Community Food Assessment Video Story 

·       Butte Winter Farmers Market

·       MSU Food Product Development Lab 

·       Montana Harvest of the Month 

·       Iowa State Food Assessment Training Certificate Program 

·       Double SNAP Dollars - Montana 

·        Northern Plains Resource Council

Contact Maura Henn at maurah@ncat.org.  

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.  

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.  

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Dietetics Intern Melissa Wyatt sits down with beginning farmer Rick Williams and his wife Kyra, to talk about strategies for selling their farm products through the winter. 

The couple’s farm, Sugar Beet Row, is located in Butte, Montana -- often known as the icebox of the state. They also own Dancing Rainbow Natural Grocery, a small natural foods store in uptown Butte. 

Rick and Kyra discuss how they integrated Sugar Beet Row’s production into Dancing Rainbow Natural Grocery and took part in Butte’s first winter farmers market a few months ago. They also explore strategies for improving production and sales next winter. 

Related ATTRA Resources: 

• Montana’s Winter Farmers Markets Help Provide Local Food Access and Bridge Revenues for Farmers 
• NCAT Marketing Tip Sheet Series 
• Farmers Markets  

 
Other Resources: 

• Sugar Beet Row 
• Dancing Rainbow Natural Grocery 

Contact Maura Henn via email at maurah@ncat.org. 

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast. 

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. Learn about NCAT’s other cutting-edge sustainable agriculture programs.