You’re invited to a Local Foods, Local Places community meeting & planning session on ​June 24-25, 2019 at the Initiative Foundation, 405 1st St SE, Little Falls, MN 56345.

This community workshop is on the topic of local food and its potential for strengthening our local economy, supporting healthier people and neighborhoods, and revitalizing our downtown. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) have selected Little Falls for the Local Foods, Local Places technical assistance program, which will result in an action plan for strengthening our local food economy and enlivening our downtown.

A team of these agency partners and their consultants will join local stakeholders to conduct a workshop in Little Falls on Monday, June 24th and Tuesday, June 25th. Your participation and knowledge of the local area is needed to help make this event a success. The workshop will bring together many key stakeholders from throughout our region to develop an action plan primarily around, but not limited to, these goal areas:

1. Grow the number of residents and business owners who participate in the local food economy and recognize its contribution to economic development and downtown revitalization.
2. Improve operations, infrastructure, and coordination of the local farmers markets to attract more growers, makers, and buyers.
3. Reduce barriers some residents face to accessing and eating fresh, local food, e.g., cost, transportation, knowledge about food preparation.
4. Raise awareness of Little Falls as a regional destination for tourism and local food. The workshop will include presentations on community livability and the roles that local food plays in supporting it, plus small group working sessions and discussions on the community’s vision and goals, and specific actions for reaching them. The workshop will lay out an action plan for moving forward.

• Who: Local residents, community leaders, and elected officials, along with representatives of EPA, USDA, and other federal agencies.
• What: Discussions on local foods and community livability, group work sessions, and networking that will result in a Community Action Plan.
  • Day 1 Community meeting: June 24th, 5:30-8:30 pm. Light supper provided.
  • Day 2 Action Planning Work Sessions: June 25th, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Zoomski’s box lunch available for $9 cash with RSVP.
• Where: The Initiative Foundation|405 1st St SE, Little Falls, MN 56345
• RSVP: bit.ly/LittleFallsLFLP
• Questions: Contact Little Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau, 320-616-4959, lfcvb1@lfcvb.com

Your expertise, experience, and enthusiasm for the community and region will help make the workshop a success. We
look forward to seeing you there.

Sincerely,
Local Foods, Local Places Steering Committee:
Natalie Keane, Purple Carrot Market
Birdie Pederson, Little Falls Farmers Market
Elise Carey, Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls
Jon Radermacher, City of Little Falls
Arlene Jones, Sprout MN
Kris Vonberge, Little Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau

Purple Carrot Market owners are invited to the 2019 Annual Meeting & Social on Monday, June 17th on the lawn of the Rosenmeier House (Convention & Visitors Bureau at 606 1st Street SE, Little Falls). Starting at 5 p.m., a hot dog picnic will be served courtesy of Allison White Insurance (Owner #179). The Annual Meeting will begin at 5:45 pm and the agenda will include election for Board of Directors, consideration of changes to the co-op's bylaws, and an update on what's happening with the Purple Carrot.

To learn more about the proposed changes to the Purple Carrot's bylaws, please click here.  To meet the 2019 candidates for the Board of Directors, please click here.

Owners unable to attend may receive an absentee ballot by emailing the Purple Carrot at purplecarrotmarket@gmail.com.

The Purple Carrot Market's Board of Directors proposes a change to the co-op's bylaws that changes the number of seats on the board.  All owners are encouraged to review the proposed changes and plan to attend the Annual Meeting on Monday, June 17 to discuss the change and to cast their vote.  Click on this link to review the proposed changes.  Provisions for absentee voting will be sent to owners prior to the meeting.

If you need a paper copy of the proposed bylaw change, please email the Purple Carrot at purplecarrotmarket@gmail.com. 

Your current board: Cathy Hartle (President), Susy Prosapio (Vice President), Jim Weiss (Treasurer), Natalie Keane (Secretary), Darlene Brand, LoreLee Beto, Jim Gehant, Elise Carey, Lynn McCarthy.

We have 3 positions up for election: 3 members who expect to run for reelection. Election will take place at the June 17th 2019 Annual Meeting. We also strive to keep a short list of potential board members, should a vacancy occur mid-term.
​
Our particular needs at this point in our co-op development are any of the following:
 Communication/marketing skills
 Leadership/strategic thinking skills
 Finance skills
 Technology/business systems knowledge
 Building/construction management
Expectations: 3-year term, attend 1-2 meetings a month, committee work as needed, be an active ambassador for the organization.

Benefits of Board Service: Actively bring the co-op to opening and beyond, work with a team of great leaders, use your skills to help strengthen our broader community.

If you are interested in serving: Please fill out the Board of Directors Nomination Form so we can get to know you better. Send to our email address: purplecarrotmarket@gmail.com or our mailing address PO Box 724, Little Falls MN 56345 by 5PM Monday, May 20th . If you have someone to suggest, please email us.

Absentee ballots: Will be available to owners starting May 31st and closing on June 14th.