Route 1 Minnesota

02/15/2025

Earlier this week, Founder Marcus Carpenter had an opportunity to discuss our mission, vision and values on Minnesota Now with Nina Moini. Grateful to Minnesota Public Radio for continuously helping us highlight this work. MPR News

Famers at a local organization that supports emerging farmers of color in Minnesota are growing lettuce and herbs through a creative way of indoor farming.

02/11/2025

Our Route 1 team was extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to host Corey Boyd from the Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan out at the Farm. 🙏🏾

02/05/2025

Extremely grateful to the Dreams Foundation at AAmerican Family Insurancefor helping to make the Freight Farm a reality for Route 1. As we work to support and bring fresh produce to families across , we are grateful to the team at for highlighting the work. More to come...

The upcoming month of February is Black History Month, and one local organization in Medina and Loretto is making history for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers.

03/17/2024

Route 1 Minnesota was founded on this crazy notion that ordinary people could have a significant positive impact on how food is being grown and distributed within the most vulnerable communities across our great nation. Part of the mission requires us to support the amazing who are afforded the privilege to grow life-giving food in the soil however, another large part of our mission requires us to ‘bring the farm to the people’ who are equally deserving of fresh, sustainable produce but may not be afforded the to healthy soil within the communities in which they live. Thanks to the transformative support from Nyra Jordan
and the amazing people at the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, we got dramatically closer to that vision this week!

Over the last couple days, we’ve been able to spend quality time here at Freight Farms, our freakishly brilliant, hydroponic platform partners out of . During , we discussed everything from the seeding, cultivation, and nutrient dosage of crops all the way through the maintenance, mechanics, and sheer innovative prowess that exists within our upcoming model Freight Farm. Although our new will arrive back home in Loretto in two weeks, the absolute highlight of the trip was planning, strategizing and dream-casting with my main man Jesse Grothe, Route 1’s multi-talented Director of Farm Innovation. Through Jesse’s visionary leadership, Route 1 will continue to work towards decreasing the by living and operating on the bleeding edge of indoor agricultural innovation….LETS GO!! ! 🫛🌽🫑🥕🥬🫒🥒🌶️

03/08/2024

As we continue to build momentum around our mission of increasing by supporting Black, Brown and Indigenous Farmers, we are so grateful for the number of community partners who are willing to roll up their sleeves and . Since the very first conversation, the good folks at and the have been willing to support our efforts in increasing within communities of Color across the region. This past Wednesday, because of their support, we were able to host over 40+ based, BIPOC Farmers for the first session of our 10-week, virtual Route 1 Minnesota Emerging Farmers Institute.

The Institute is focused on helping these wonderful Farmers not only grow good food, but also helping them grow their business. In this way, we are not only increasing food access, but also increasing for in communities of need across the country. It is through the support of these intersectional themes that we truly make in our world.

Route 1 will continue to seek out and leverage these types of inclusive relationships and pathways towards health equity. Whether it's a large corporation, a university, a foundation, a community NGO, a family or an individual, we believe that there is a place for ALL OF US at this table and within this mission. Won't you join us? !

03/06/2024

Attention BIPOC Gardeners, Farmers and anyone else interested in learning about growing and distributing sustainable food, regenerative farming practices and/or potentially growing your farming business! There’s still time to register for Route 1's Emerging Farmers Institute, kicking off tonight at 6pm CST via Zoom.

You will join over 60 other Black, Brown and Indigenous agricultural enthusiasts and curiosity seekers from around the globe as we embark on this 10-week, virtual journey together to learn how we can not only grow phenomenally nutritious foods for our families and communities but also how we can increase and in our communities by growing a farm business.

Powered by the UCARE Foundation and supported by wonderful partners like American Family Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, Tuskegee University, Big River Farms, University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota State University, Mankato, the Institute will dive into topics like cover cropping, soil health and pest control but it will also delve into small farm management, urban farming, strategic farm planning and managing mental health on the farm.

Here’s the link to register, hope you can join us! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1siCQhEIi5U3U27diTD-zWZsADvop7w4AaJ5GCh2Yu6Y/edit Route 1 Minnesota

10/15/2023

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09/27/2023

We look forward to seeing all of our friends and supporters today at our Farmers Market; featuring regeneratively grown food by local Black, Brown and Indigenous Farmers. The market runs from 4pm-7pm CST, Valley Park in , Minnesota. Marcus Carpenter

09/04/2023

We are extremely grateful to Angela Davis MPR and the team at Minnesota Public Radio for providing a wonderful platform to discuss how we can increase food access and the number of here in our home state of .

Don’t miss this special North Star Journey Live conversation recorded at the Minnesota State Fair about emerging farmers. What’s being done in our state to encourage more diversity in agriculture?

07/20/2023

On behalf of our entire leadership at Route 1 Minnesota, we are extremely grateful to our friends at Local Ties Media for highlighting our efforts to increase within communities that need it most.

Home Community Business ROUTE 1 CommunityBusinessNewsLifestyleFood & DrinkPeople ROUTE 1 By Chris Pederson - June 26, 2023 363 0 Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Planting Seeds to Reinspire the American Dream & Grow Opportunities for Generations To Come If you’ve driven along Meander between...

06/30/2023

So extremely grateful and thankful for this .

-Route 1 MinnesotaFarmers are growing nutrient dense, culturally relevant food.
-We’re developing, supporting, and resourcing Black, Brown, and Indigenous small business owners.
-We’re working to increase within our most devastated communities.
-We’re investing time, talent and treasure in our country’s next generation of .

Our community of has never been more passionate, motivated, and energized to create change and drive than we are right now.

Won’t you join us?



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