ROOTED IN AITKIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
A Stronger local food system starts right here at home.
We bring farmers, food businesses, and neighbors together to grow our local food economy.
OUR MISSION
Growing food.
Cultivating community.
Aitkin Eats is a food, farming, and culinary arts initiative. Through education, business development, and market connections, we help local producers build viable businesses and make locally grown food easier to find, buy, prepare, and enjoy.
WHAT WE DO
Local connections.
Lasting possibilities.
Grow the farmer community
Equip current and aspiring farmers with the skills, knowledge, and business tools to grow successful farms and care for the land.
Farm School · Apprenticeships · Farm Business Planning
Build food businesses & skills
Help entrepreneurs, cooks, and producers develop products, test ideas, build culinary skills, and grow viable businesses.
Food Business Incubation · Community Kitchen · Culinary Arts
Four connected areas of work help more of our food needs get met closer to home.
Connect farms to markets
Connect what local farms can produce with what households, restaurants, retailers, and institutions need to buy.
Farm to Fridge · Wholesale · Farm & Retail Partnerships
Cultivate a food community
Bring people together to explore seasonal food, cooking, nutrition, and the connections between food, health, land, and community.
Food as Medicine · Workshops · Events & Demonstrations
WHY IT MATTERS
Keep more food dollars close to home.
Long supply chains and rising costs put pressure on farms, food businesses, and households. Aitkin County has growers, knowledge, and committed neighbors—but local production and local demand don’t always connect.
We bridge those gaps so farmers can find markets, buyers can find local food, and our community can build a shorter, stronger food chain.
OUR VISION
An Aitkin County where farming is a viable livelihood, local food is part of everyday life, and our farms and food businesses help our whole community thrive.
WHO’S AT THE TABLE
Community driven.
Grown together.
Led by Clear Lake Gardens, in partnership with local organizations, farms, and food businesses.
Livability Project
U of M Extension
Aitkin Public Health
Regional Sustainable Development Partnership
Aitkin Naturally Better
Local farms & food businesses
Our focus is growing local food production and consumption. We work alongside Public Health and other partners. Looking for groceries, food assistance, or emergency food resources? Visit Find Food Aitkin County.
There’s a place for you at the table.
Grow food, source local ingredients, build a food business, or share your skills. Let’s explore what we can grow together.