As The Wild Ramp continues to grow new farm businesses follow, this year The Wild Ramp provided a consumer market for 20 new farm businesses and increased sales for existing farms. The Wild Ramp has just announced returning $350,000 to local farmers. One new business was Ogre Nick Gardens, Nick rented a plot at Spring Hill Cemetery and grew a field of turnips for market. In Illinois, this group has intentionally designed a food hub to develop the next generation of farmers and are making sure food dollars stay in their state. Click the link below to read the full article.
Members of their food hubs include about 40 small family farmers, each of whom pays a small fee to join. In exchange, they get cheaper liability insurance, and access to a much larger pool of clients and training.
“The new generation of farmers is a little over half the group,” says Marty. “Many of them were under the age of 18 when they joined. We’re very interested in growing great produce, but we’re also very passionate about growing great farmers.”
