We’re shining a spotlight on this organization because they’re our valuable partner in delivering educational resources to northern gardeners of all ages and skill levels. This initiative is funded in part by a three-year Community Food Projects Grant.

North Country Food Alliance (NCFA) is a non-profit organization that promotes food sovereignty within Minnesota’s Twin Cities Metro Area. They build community gardens, support local farmers and reduce commercial and local food waste while growing healthy and culturally approved food. The organization acknowledges that they grow to produce on native land to the Dakota, Anishinaabe and Ho-Chunk peoples while taking extraordinary measures to strive for systematically structured and operative within racism, classism, gender oppression, ableism and white supremacy. NFCA delivers food five days a week to local charities serving people in need while also saving 6,000 – 8,000 pounds of food every week and running 40 organizations within the metro area. To find the closest donor, food recipient, collaborator or farmers market, use this interactive map. Signing up for weekly emails is the best way to stay connected with the NFCA community and to receive regular updates about projects and volunteering.

NCFA also provides countless garden sites throughout the metro area—all focus on the organizational goal of food sharing. Each garden has a purpose to fulfill the needs and wants of the local community while also connecting the volunteers and recipients to the food supply chain and educating them on how their meals were grown.

Food waste is an enormous problem in the U.S., with an estimated 30 to 40 percent of our food ending up in landfills. Minnesota is not untouched by these issues, unfortunately. NFCA welcomes volunteers who have the chance to work alongside other community members sharing a passion to help our neighbors in need.