NWI Food Council

06/11/2026

We had a blast at the Healthy Families Mom’s Picnic with Family & Youth Services Bureau! ☀️💚
There were amazing community resources, raffle prizes, entertainment, music, and lots of cuddles with Caleb, the comfort dog. 🐶 It was a beautiful sunny day for families to come together and enjoy!

We also had the opportunity to highlight our Market Mamas program and share information about our upcoming summer pop-ups! Not only are we helping families enjoy more fresh fruits and vegetables this summer, but we are also supporting our small local farmers and helping them continue to grow in a BIG way! 🌽🍓🥕

If you’re still interested in attending a pop-up, we have one more event in our current series with Hilltop Neighborhood House and we’ll also be launching a new series with Valparaiso Family YMCA

Market Mamas x Hilltop Mission Kitchen (608 Union Street, Valparaiso, IN)
Wed, June 17th from 4-6pm
Market Mamas x Valparaiso Family YMCA (1201 Cumberland Crossing Dr, Valparaiso, IN)
Wed, June 10th from 10:30-12:30pm
Wed, July 15th from 10:30-12:30pm
Wed, August 26th from 10:30-12:30pm
https://linktr.ee/nwifoodcouncil

06/11/2026

FarmHop is an immersive, one-day event that invites participants to experience the power of local food systems in action across Northwest Indiana.

Local Food is Medicine: Friday, June 26, 2026, 9 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.

This tour highlights a growing “food is medicine” movement through the lens of maternal and child health.

💐Tour two women-led farms that are part of a 14-member FarmHer cooperative, providing fresh produce, meat, and eggs to WIC-eligible new mothers (Hulitt Homestead and Hickory Hills Flower Farm)
💐The tour includes a visit with Nurse-Family Partnership, whose nurses support new moms with tailored support
💐Enjoy a thoughtfully prepared, locally sourced lunch at the Food Bank of NWI in Merrillville, IN. (limited lunch-only tickets available)
💐Check out Region Roots Local Farm & Food Hub to see how aggregation and distribution make this model sustainable and scalable

Tickets are on sale NOW!

Space is limited so save your seat today!
https://tinyurl.com/52rens6v

06/09/2026

We're proud to work with a network of farmers always contributing to improving our food systems.

Perkins' Good Earth Farm

Tackling Aphids from the Inside Out: Nutrition, Sap Analysis, and Tomato HealthWritten by Mary Hathaway, OFRF's Research & Education Program Manager, and Dan Perkins, FLT Program participantThis project at Perkins' Good Earth Farm will evaluate whether foliar nutrition can improve tomato health and....

06/08/2026

Over the past year, we have had the opportunity to work alongside wonderful organizations across Pulaski County thanks to the collaborative vision of the Community Foundation of Pulaski County. With a shared goal of strengthening our community, we created a space where community members can:
✨ Learn about local nonprofit services
✨ Meet the people behind organizations serving the county
✨ Discover opportunities to get involved as volunteers, partners, or supporters
✨ Connect with resources that support individuals, families, and the broader community

Come join us at Pulaski County Community Connections at the Pulaski County Farmers Market!
📍 112 E Main Street, Winamac, IN
📅 Saturday, June 13th
⏰ 9:00am - 12:00pm
We hope to see you there! 💚

06/07/2026

Our Farm to School Program is planting seeds for lifelong health! 🥕✨

We are still buzzing with excitement reflecting on our Farm to School partnership with Geminus Head Start. Through our recent series of Nutrition Fairs (spanning December, February, and March) and our time connecting with families at the recent Enrollment Fair, we are proving that it is never too early to introduce kids to the joy of local agriculture.

Together, we’re keeping it local and making healthy choices approachable and fun.

The Impact at a Glance:

330+ Families Impacted across our seasonal wellness events.

$2,963 Invested Directly back into our local food economy, supporting regional growers - Artesian Farm, Five Hands Farm, Garwood Orchards, Kankakee Valley Homestead, Purdy Farms, Ridge Lane Farm, Windy City Mushrooms

Hands-On Learning: From pedaling the famous Smoothie Bike to watching live mushroom sautéing demonstrations, families left with fresh food and fresh knowledge.

A massive thank you to the dedicated Geminus staff, our community partners, and the incredible families who showed up with great questions. We are proud to keep planting the seeds for lifelong healthy habits! 🌱🍏

🚜🍎🥬

06/06/2026

Our Farm to School team recently met with Ms. Peterson in East Chicago. She holds a wealth of gardening knowledge and is in process of working with Top 20, Junior Achievement and local schools to organize a youth learning program to pass down her knowledge utilizing her garden.

Ms. Peterson originally came from Alabama, and grew up gardening with her dad. She saves seeds, grows with no commercial fertilizers, and grows among an orchard of peach trees. She loves to share her bounty with her community.

We look forward to working with her in the fall!

06/06/2026

FarmHop tickets are on sale NOW!

Local Food is Medicine: Friday, June 26, 2026 : 9a-3:30p

This tour highlights the growing “food is medicine” movement through the lens of maternal and child health. Guests will tour two women-led farms (Hulitt Homestead, Portage and Hickory Hills Flower Farm, Valparaiso) that are part of a 14-member FarmHer cooperative providing fresh produce, meat, and eggs to WIC-eligible new mothers. Then the tour will proceed to the Food Bank of NWI where their team will present on the Produce for Better Health program (a program of CoAction’s in partnership with the Food Bank of NWI, Meals on Wheels and Region Roots Local Food Hub) and you will enjoy a locally sourced lunch. The tour will then proceed to Nurse-Family Partnership where nurses will speak about NWI Food Council and NFP’s collaboration on the FarmHer to Mama program and how the program is incorporated into NFP's work with expectant and new first-time moms. The tour will wrap up at Region Roots Local Farm & Food Hub to explore how aggregation and distribution make this model sustainable and scalable.

What’s Included
🌱A thoughtfully prepared, locally sourced lunch
🌱Guided tours and behind-the-scenes access
🌱Opportunities to connect with farmers, healthcare professionals, educators, and community leaders
🌱A compelling look at how local food is advancing community health, education, and regional resilience

Space is limited, save your seat today!
https://tinyurl.com/52rens6v

06/04/2026

Educational Opportunity 📚

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is thrilled to partner with Purdue’s Safe Produce Indiana to launch a Harmonized GAP Cost‑Share Certification Program. This initiative helps Indiana growers reduce the financial burden of obtaining Harmonized GAP certification, supporting on‑farm food safety, and expanding market opportunities.

To learn more or to express interest in participating, complete the interest form. For additional details or questions, please contact Dr. Amanda Deering [email protected] or Caroline Patrick [email protected]

Direct link: https://forms.office.com/g/0T8BEzZQkj

06/04/2026

Join our partner Shirley Heinze Land Trust at Green Trail Farms - Specialty Cut Flowers... here is what they have to say about the event...

Join Cultivating Conservation: A Farm Walk at Green Trail Farms with Shirley Heinze Land Trust & US Fish and Wildlife Service

Join us for an evening on the land! The Shirley Heinze Land Trust Agriculture Land Program, partnering with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, is heading to Green Trail Farms for an outdoor walk-and-talk built for farmers, landowners, community members, and conservation partners. Come connect, ask questions, and swap ideas on working lands and restoration.

Explore a 185-acre cut-flower and vegetable farm that takes a holistic approach to land management featuring restoration work across prairie, wetlands, and a 100-acre oak savanna. You’ll see what’s working, what’s been learned, and what’s next.

Green Trail Farms, nestled in La Porte, IN, is a family-run regenerative farm growing specialty cut flowers and produce with seasonal you-pick. If you’re curious about conservation that supports productivity, this event is for you! Locally sourced refreshments will be provided!

Register to attend and bring your questions about habitat, soil, pollinators, prairie establishment, or how to start restoration on your own property. What are you hoping to learn or see on the land?

Register here:
https://heinzetrust.org/event/cultivating-conservation-a-farm-walk-with-shlt-usfws/

06/03/2026

🌾 What a way to wrap up May! We took the local grain supply chain out of the box and into the field.

Our Farm to School and Workforce Development Team was thrilled to host an educational tour at Janie’s Mill, bringing together a cohort of School Food Service Directors from across Northwest Indiana. Connecting the dots between local producers and school trays is how we build a more resilient food system!

These dedicated school food leaders previously explored local grains with our Grain Sample Boxes, and this trip allowed them to see exactly how that local grain is grown, milled, and prepared for their school menus.

Thank you to the Artisan Grain Collaborative for sponsoring this experience, and to the team at Janie’s Mill for the incredible hospitality and education!