February 26, 2015
St. Paul, MN – Thursday [today], the Minnesota House of Representatives Agriculture Finance Committee honored a local farm family for their commitment to community agriculture, sustainable food production, and the Wrenshall community.
Rep. Mike Sundin (DFL- Esko) read the proclamation honoring The Food Farm, a certified organic farm located in Wrenshall. The proclamation noted the farm’s pioneering role in certified organic and community supported agriculture in Minnesota. The farm is owned by Janaki Fisher-Merritt and Annie Dugan, and operated by Janaki, John and Jane Fisher-Merritt and Dave Hanlon.
“I am pleased to honor the Food Farm for their passion to provide high quality food,” said Rep. Sundin. “I share their goals to provide a sustainable livelihood for farmers, and improving the productive capacity of our land. I’m proud to have such a wonderful farm and business in our district. My family knows the high quality of their produce from personal experience.”
The Food Farm offers summer, winter, preserving, poultry and egg shares, enabling share-holders to receive fresh local food most of the year. They deliver to 13 locations in Duluth, Superior, Cloquet, Esko, and Wrenshall and supply produce to Whole Foods Co-op, Duluth Grill and Chester Creek Cafe.
“Farmers like the Fisher-Merritt family are part of what makes our rural communities such a great place to live,” said Rep. Sundin, “They’ve been improving the quality of our local food system since 1973, and I’m proud to see that family tradition continue today, with the addition of their son Truman.”
Rep. Sundin encourages constituents to contact him with any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas on any legislative topic. Rep. Sundin can be reached by phone at
651-296-4308 or by email at
rep.mike.sundin@house.mn .
***ATTACHED: Photo L to R: Rep. Sundin with House Ag Finance Chair Rep. Rod Hamilton, Janaki Fisher-Merritt, Annie Dugan, and their son Truman.
***ATTACHED: Text of the House Resolution honoring the Food Farm.
A House resolution recognizing the Fisher-Merritt family for its outstanding work with the Food Farm
WHEREAS, Jane and John Fisher-Merritt started growing organic vegetables in
1973, became Certifi e d Organic in 1990, and started the first Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) operation in the Duluth area in 1994; and
WHEREAS, the Food Farm, a 360-acre Certifi e d Organic farm, offers summer,
winter, preserving, poultry, and egg shares, enabling CSA members to receive fresh local
food most of the year, and weekly summer shares are delivered to 15 locations in the Duluth
area, while some of the farm's produce is available at the Whole Foods Co-op, Duluth
Grill, and Chester Creek Cafe; and
WHEREAS, John and Jane sold the farm in 2010 to their son Janaki and his wife
Annie Dugan, who also host the Free Range Film Festival in their barn each summer;
under their direction, the farm has continued to grow and prosper, currently employing
seven people; and
WHEREAS, the Fisher-Merritts have contributed to the Wrenshall area becoming a
hub for organic farming in northeast Minnesota by training new farmers and hosting farm
tours and other events to educate the public;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration of
the House of Representatives of the State of Minnesota that it thanks and commends the
Fisher-Merritt family for its remarkable work and leadership in organic farming, and
extends best wishes to the entire family for the future.
Dated: February 11, 2015
Kurt Daudt, Speaker
Minnesota House of Representatives
Joyce Peppin, Chair
Rules and Legislative Administration
Mike Sundin
State Representative
Rod Hamilton
State Representative