Bowdon, ND

Patti Patrie was just elected president of the ND Farmers Market and Grower Association at its 4th annual conference in Carrington, ND on February 15 and 16. Patti grew up in Michigan on a fruit farm and now raises red raspberries on the Patrie grain and cattle farm southeast of Bowdon. Raspberries are sold fresh and in processed products made in the Patries’ on-farm commerical kitchen. A fruit stand was built by Clayton Patrie (Patti’s oldest son) when a Junior at the Bowdon High School. It is located on the northwest corner of Highways 52 and 200 where they intersect just 1 mile north of the Patries’ berry patch.

For several years Patti has been encouraging others in Bowdon to grow produce and sell it along with the raspberries at the fruit stand. Now people are realizing that growing a few more vegetables in their gardens may be a good way to increase the amount of local foods available for purchase in ND. Local food production and a local foods diet are two ways to build upon the new trend of eating by health conscience consumers. Customers inquire about more choices. ND people are agricultural. So its a perfect fit to match the local skills with demand.

Patti and daughter, Anne, attended the conference session on high tunnel production by Terry Nennich of Bemidgi, MN. The tunnels serve as greenhouses but have no artifical heat. Temperature is controled by rolling up and down the plastic walls of the tunnel. Tunnels serve to extend the growing season of both fruit and vegetables which make them very popular in northern climates.

The farmers market group will work to bring Terry back again to speak in more detail on the tunnels and plan a tour of tunnels in the Fergus Falls area of MN this summer. For more information on the farmers market organization and events go to www.ndfarmersmarkets.com or call Patti at 701-962-3355.

Meanwhile the local foods interest is growing in Bowdon and the Horizons team has asked Dwight Duke of Hensler to do a presentation on raising organic fruit and vegetables and marketing at Farmers’ Markets. He will be in Bowdon at the school building library on Sunday, March 30 from 1 to 4 p.m. Everyone is invited.