We know that many of the systems we have developed have had unintended consequences on the health of people, landscapes, and regional economies, particularly our food system. Fortunately, there’s a lot we can do at local and regional levels to positively impact these issues.

This tour will bring action to life, with advocacy stories, a scavenger hunt (with prizes!), a delicious, locally-sourced lunch, and recipe and ingredients to cook with!

Tentative Sites include the Open Door Food Pantry (Eagan), the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Bottineau Light Rail Stations, the Upper Harbor Terminal Development, and Our Community Food Project in Lake Elmo, with stories from communities we pass through along the way.

Thoughtful local planning of our built environment can reduce structural barriers that prevent our food system from being as healthy, equitable, affordable, and resilient as we would like it to be. By including food, equity, and health-related policy and systems changes in local plans and zoning codes, communities across Minnesota can establish:

• Affordable, safe, and reliable transportation to food sources

• Economic support for small- and medium-sized food and farm enterprises

• Zoning that supports healthy food infrastructure

• Access to and preservation of land for food production

• Development of community food assets (such as community gardens, pollinator-friendly habitats, food hubs, and farmers’ markets)

The bus tour will feature narrated stories as we travel through communities to five stops that illustrate how innovations in transportation, economic development, housing, land use, and zoning are improving food access. Planners, elected officials, and others interested in learning more are also invited. A delicious, locally-sourced lunch will be provided!

*Tour will begin at 9AM at the Open Door Pantry in Eagan. The bus will leave from AND return to this site, and cars can remain parked here all day.*

Please join us for an optional MFAN happy hour will take place at nearby Bald Man brewing company directly following the tour. Bald Man Brewing is located in Eagan, just a few minutes away from the drop off site!

Please note that we will have accommodations for nursing mothers. If you have other accessibility requests, please make them in your ticket note!

Seats are limited! Mark your calendar and RSVP now!