The local food movement is growing its roots in South Dakota. Those backing the concept say that locally grown foods are both healthy for individuals and good for rural economic growth.
The South Dakota Local Foods Conference in Mitchell focuses on supporting ag producers and expanding the availability of locally grown food for consumers.
Cory Tomovick is with the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association, the organization in charge of the conference. She says over 40 presentations are slated for the event, like the bounty of beekeeping and even how to produce hops.
But Tomovick says she’s really excited to hear a talk by Dan Halsey. She says Halsey is an expert in permaculture from Prior Lake, Minnesota. He's set to speak in London on a new approach to finances.
“And the commonwealth over there invited him to come over to talk about a new way, a new paradigm of thinking about wealth and it’s not about monetary system so much but to think about wealth differently as healthy soil, healthy water, healthy foods, health and sustainability, and he’s going to bring that conversation into the keynote address,” says Tomovick.
Tomovick says including Halsey’s address, a second keynote speaker is will talk about indigenous foods and community involvement. She says Sean Sherman is Oglala Lakota whose focus is Native American cuisine.
“So it’s just rich and I didn’t even get to onto the pre-conference session which we are going to have Pops 101, and we are going to be doing an indigenous food workshop with Chef Sean Sherman on Thursday the 3rd and along with social media and a permaculture and technical assistance for some of the grants that are out there for producers,” says Tomovick.
This year marks the 6th annual local foods conference in the state. The conference is set for November 3 through 5 in Mitchell. Click here to register.