Eating local: Region Roots supports farmers, expands local food access
NWI Times | Molly DeVore | Jan 15, 2023
EMOTTE — The dry grass along the highway was a faded yellow color, and the surrounding corn fields laid bare, but inside Dan and Julie Perkin's high tunnel, there was an explosion of bright greens.
"This is my combine," Dan joked as he stuck a cordless drill into the hand-held greens harvester.
The drill spun the macrame brush, which quickly swept the fresh spinach leaves into the basket. Designed specifically for small-scale operations like Perkins' Good Earth Farm, he said the tool makes harvesting much more efficient. For small-scale growers, efficiency is everything as farmers have to wear an array of hats: marketer, sales associate, distributor, chef and, of course, producer.
Region Roots Local Food and Farm Hub is working to take some of those responsibilities off farmer's plates.
