Content by Gemma Bastian

People sit at a long white table painting pumpkins

SDSU Extension co-hosting 2025 South Dakota Local Foods Conference

September 09, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to partner with Dakota Rural Action, the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, McCrory Gardens at SDSU and members of the South Dakota Local Foods Coalition to present the 2025 Local Foods Conference.

Vegetable garden
Nov 07

South Dakota Local Foods Conference

The South Dakota Local Foods Conference will be held from Friday, November 7 to Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel 1400 8th Ave NW, Aberdeen, SD 57401).

Left: Blade of sweetgrass. Right: Patch of white sagebrush.

Sweetgrass and White Sagebrush: Native Plants with Medicinal Uses

Many native prairie plants have been used medicinally for generations by the Indigenous peoples of the Northern Great Plains. Sweetgrass and white sagebrush are hardy perennials that have a variety of uses and deep historical significance.

Uncooked chickpeas, red beans, and lentils arranged on a countertop.

Healthy Bean Recipes for Eating on a Budget

Cookbook highlighting beans in both traditional and creative low-cost recipes.

Crate of fresh picked vegetables with a garden in the background

Dakota Food Rx and high tunnel research support local producers

September 25, 2024

SDSU Extension has supported the growing local foods movement for more than 20 years. This year, those efforts have included a pilot produce prescription program and expanded high tunnel research.

Group of fresh vegetables on wooden table

Dakota Food Rx Recipes

Recipes for Dakota Food Rx patients

Box of vegetables

SDSU Extension launches produce prescription program Dakota Food Rx

June 25, 2024

Dakota Food Rx, supported by the South Dakota Community Foundation, allows qualifying patients to receive “prescriptions” from participating health care providers. Not technical prescriptions, they can be redeemed for boxes of fresh, locally grown produce from farms participating in community-supported agriculture shares.

apples and bananas sitting on a plate next to a set of blue hand weights and a body measuring tape

Rev It Up! curriculum

A nutrition and physical activity curriculum for high schoolers.

Box of vegetables

Dakota Food Rx

Produce prescription programs have been implemented all over the country to help increase people’s access to fruits and vegetables so they can manage their chronic conditions.

Caregiver serving a home-cooked meal to an older adult male.

Nutrition and Dementia

There are many lifestyle changes that can be made to manage symptoms or reduce the risk of developing dementia. But what role does nutrition play?