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Majinola Meat | Panama, IA
| majinolameats.com
The story of Majinola
Meats is a lifetime in the making. Born and raised around Harlan, Iowa,
founders Mark and Jill Schmitz have lived their entire lives around
cattle and agriculture. Mark began showing cattle in 4-H at a very
young age, learning very early the difference between a good and better
product. Mark expanded on his knowledge in college, receiving an
Agriculture Education degree from Iowa State University, all while
breeding and raising Angus beef and continually growing
his MTS Cattle cow/calf operation. Throughout his 15
years of cattle breeding experience, Mark gained interest in starting
his own Wagyu herd. So with MTS Cattle, Mark began breeding and raising
Wagyu. Then together with his wife, Jill, he started a beef packaging
business, later naming it Majinola after the first two letters in each
family member's name – Mark, Jill, Noah, and Lauren. In early
2010, a new family member was added: William Jack. Today,
Mark and Jill own and operate Majinola Meats from their home in Panama,
Iowa. |
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Bloomsorganic
| Crescent, IA
Bloomsorganic is a
family business located just outside Crescent, Iowa, farmed by Rebecca
Bloom, with help from her husband, Brent, and sons, Alex and
Eli. They are USDA Certified Organic with Iowa
Department of Agriculture. The farm produces berry
fruits, culinary herbs, and a large variety of vegetables, including
tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, greens, and root
crops. They like to grow heritage and heirloom
varieties whenever possible. Bloomsorganic also grows flowers and food
garden plants. They market their products through
various local markets, restaurants, and community supported
agriculture. |
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TD
Niche Pork| Elk Creek, NE
TD Niche Pork is
located 75 miles south of Omaha in Johnson County Nebraska, near Elk
Creek. Travis Dunekacke (pronounced doon-UH-khaki) began his
niche pork business in 2007 specifically to produce consistently
delicious pork for both restaurants and individuals in
Nebraska. This is accomplished by using breeds of pork with
outstanding meat quality. The product is further enhanced by
raising hogs in an outdoor, fresh air environment, giving them ample
room to exercise, root, and socialize. The hogs are fed
locally produced grains supplemented with the appropriate vitamins and
minerals for their age and weight. Providing a clean growing
environment has made antibiotics unnecessary on Dunekacke’s
farm. A lifelong “farm kid,” Travis is happy to be raising
hogs on Southeast Nebraska land that has been in his family for 60
years. Travis raises a variety of Heritage breeds including
Berkshire, Duroc Gloucestershire Old Spot, Hereford, Large Black,
Mulefoot, Red Wattle, or Tamworth. |
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Blue Valley
Aquaculture| Sutton, NE | bluevalleyfish.com
Blue Valley
Aquaculture (BVA) is a family-owned business established in 1999. The
farmstead was purchased with the dream of raising fish. Blue Valley
sits atop the eastern portion of the Ogallala Aquifer. It provides some
of the cleanest water available and is the source of the clear, cold
water we use at Blue Valley. They make wise use of this valuable
natural resource by raising three different crops. The water first
passes through a series of raceways at its natural 52 degrees, perfect
for raising Donaldson Steelhead variety. The water then flows outside
where it is used in pond culture systems to raise Yellow Perch,
Largemouth Bass and Hybrid Bluegill. Any excess water is also used to
irrigate the cropland surrounding our farm. At Blue Valley, they
believe in giving back to the land that supports them.
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Blacksheep
Farms | Bennington, NE | blacksheepfarms.com
Black Sheep Farms is a
chemical-free family farm operated by Brian and Kelly Smith.
They are sometimes assisted by our three boys, Sam, Jack and Comet.
Black Sheep Farms grows heirloom vegetables and specialty cut flowers
in Bennington, NE, near Omaha. Our products are available through
a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and
an on-farm store. Brian contributes articles to periodicals and speaks
about local food issues, rural/urban dynamics and farming as a
profession. Clients have included The
Nature Conservancy, chapters of The
Sierra Club and Slow
Food groups. |
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Honey
Creek Creamery| Honey Creek, IA | honeycreekcreamery.com
Honey Creek Creamery
is a certified goat dairy located just 10 miles from the Omaha/ Council
Bluffs area. Co-owners Sharon Oamek and Janna
Feldman operate the creamery in a renovated bunkhouse on the Oamek’s
century farm. They craft artisan cheese using fresh milk
every two days and focus on serving local markets. Honey
Creek Creamery is the only dairy west of Des Moines and the only USDA
Qualified herd of dairy goats in the state. Goats are fed rich,
chemical-free alfalfa raised on the Oamek's farm along with native
plants from browsing the Loess Hills. The result is a fresh,
lively cheese with a smooth and creamy finish. Organic
herbs are added for a variety of flavors that they know you
will enjoy. The cheese is a welcome addition to menu items
from appetizers to desserts. |
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George
Paul Vinegar | Cody, NE | georgepaulvinegar.com
George Paul Vinegar
is the culmination of nearly a decade of hard work, patience, and
perseverance by the Johnson family - George and Karen and their three
children Eric, Adam, and Emily. They wanted their vinegar
operation to be as sustainable and energy-efficient as possible, so
they embraced strawbale construction. Primarily designed by Emily and
built by their family, friends, and neighbors, it is beautiful. They
broke ground in May of 2007. The passive solar design and thick bale
walls keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The vaulted
ceiling in the processing room and stucco finish make it a truly warm
and pleasant place to work. Beginning in 2008, their acetobacter
cultures started their slow work of turning wines into vinegar. Their
first bottled vinegars made with 100% Nebraska fruit were
available at our Open House in October 2009.
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Fertile
Ground Farms | Washington County, NE
Established in
2000, Fertile Ground Farms (FGF) is
a small, family owned & operated farm that lies
far-and-away in the rolling hills of Washington County North-West of
Blair, Nebraska. FGF specializes
in organically grown heirloom produce. Sustainability is
their ultimate and underlying goal. They feed the soil that feeds the
plants that feed you — it's that simple. What they grow also
feeds their own family, so great care is taken in how the food is
produced. No chemicals, artificial fertilizers or GMO's are
ever used on our farm. We are a resource of fresh
and tasty fruits & vegetables from sustainable sources grown
the old-fashioned way.......sun, soil and water! |
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Rhizosphere Farm | Waterloo, NE | rhizospherefarm.com
Rhizosphere Farm is
inspired by a love of good, locally food grown in a conscious and
sustainable way. Their emphasis is on naturally grown (certified) and
heirloom varieties. This is their second season and they are
so excited to be a part of the Omaha community. They have been farming
with organic farms for the last six years and have
been fortunate to realize the farm in the area where they grew
up. They look forward to sharing their experience and
vegetables with you. |
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Bedford Gardens | Omaha, NE
Urban farming at its
finest! Local, fresh heirloom vegetables and herbs right in the heart
of Benson in Omaha. |
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