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Local Foods

Local Foods not only provides a sales outlet for farmers, but can help strengthen a community by stimulating the local economy and creating local entrepreneurial opportunities. Farmers markets can promote food quality by reducing the distance that food travels from farm to consumer. When shipping is less of a concern, produce can be picked when it is full of flavor and tender, then quickly put into the hands of consumers seeking fresh products.

Topics

A row of vendor tents at a farmers market.

Farmers Market Operation

Customers expect the food and products they purchase at farmers markets to be safe to consume. Vendors have a responsibility to grow and handle food using good food safety practices. View all food safety regulations for farmers markets in South Dakota.

A male vendor serving a strawberry sample to an older woman at a farmers market stand.

Farmers Market Regulations

Customers expect the food and products they purchase at farmers markets to be safe to consume. Vendors have a responsibility to grow and handle food using good food safety practices. View all food safety regulations for farmers markets in South Dakota.

Featured Programs

Group of students eating lunch at school

Farm to School

Farm to school provides an opportunity for youth in early childcare, educational settings, after-school programs and other settings to experience local foods.

Upcoming Events

Three bright red and green apples ready for harvest
Oct 04

Fall Festival Specialty Crop Tour @ Sturgis

SDSU Extension will host a Fall Festival Specialty Crop Tour on October 4 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at Prairie Creek Farm (21282 Tanya Ln, Sturgis, SD 57785).

Two youth biting into an ear of corn
Sep 18

South Dakota Crunch Off

The South Dakota Crunch Off is an annual statewide event to celebrate local produce and farm to school by crunching into any South Dakota grown fruit or vegetable.