Lakewinds Food Co-op in Minnesota recently announced that it reached the significant milestone of awarding more than $1 million in grants through its donation program, the Lakewinds Organic Field Fund (LOFF). 

Lakewinds launched the LOFF in 2011, when the co-op was looking at ways to more directly support local organic farmers. The first funds were given out in 2012, with five farms or farming organizations receiving grants. Since then, the fund has helped more than 100 local, sustainable farmers with projects, including:

• Building or upgrading hoop houses, pack sheds and walk-in coolers
• Installing deer fencing
• Purchasing farm tools and equipment
• Obtaining organic certification
• Digging wells, installing irrigation systems and more.

“So often, after a growing season wraps up, there’s not much (if any) funding left for farmers’ ‘wants,’ with all of the funds going only to the ‘needs,’”  Renee Whisnant, Lakewinds’ marketing manager, says. “So, the co-op decided to start a no-strings-attached grant program to help farmers with their wish lists, whether that be for farming equipment, obtaining organic certification, helping get materials for a pack shed, and other projects.”

In the grant’s first year, the co-op awarded $27,000. Since then, that amount has steadily grown, with $60,000 given out in 2018, $109,000 in 2020, and $123,000 this past year. The funds reflect the co-op’s commitment to returning a portion of its profits each year back to the community. 

How Grants Are Awarded

The grant selection is a collaborative process. Each year, applications for the LOFF open in January. A committee of Lakewinds employees, board members and former LOFF recipients meet to discuss the proposed projects and select the recipients. 

“The LOFF wouldn’t be possible without the hard work done by everyone at the stores, day in and day out, and the support of our shoppers and owners,” says Whisnant. “It really takes everyone to make a grant program feasible — every single person who walks in the door makes it happen.”

Whisnant says the co-op wants to see the grant program continue to grow, support local farmers and help strengthen our local food system. That means looking for ways to make potential new recipients aware of the grant, which includes translating application materials into multiple languages, attending farming conferences to promote the program, and working with farming organizations so they can help spread the word.

LOFF’s Impact on Recipients

For recipients, the grant can have a significant impact on many levels.

Meg Stuedemann, whose Derrydale Farm was a 2023 LOFF recipient, says: “Apart from the money, which is very helpful, it is just so affirming to get the email or the call that says, ‘We think you are worthy of funding, and we want to support you and what you are doing — you are important to us.’ Don’t underestimate the power of that affirmation.”

Whisnant recognizes the power of that affirmation. “We want to continue to encourage local, sustainable farmers, cheer them on, give them that affirmation — and also some financial assistance with projects that help their day and work on the farm be a bit better,” she says.

Visit Lakewinds’ website to watch video of past recipients and learn more about the LOFF and its impact.