Meet the organizations working to connect Northeast Indiana residents to local farmers

Never Creative LLCA HEAL Market sign at the Johnnie Mae Farm, 2518 Winter St, Fort Wayne, IN 46803.Twice a week over the summer, HEAL Farm Markets pop up at the Johnnie Mae Farm and the Parkview Community Greenhouse and Learning Kitchen. These markets carry the typical sights, sounds, and smells of a typical farmers market, like colorful, fresh, nutritionally dense produce grown by local farmers. There’s more than meets the eye here, however.
 
Operating in the background is a coalition of four key organizations: Northeast Indiana Local Food Network, Purdue Extension, Plowshares Cooperative Food Hub, and the Burmese Farmers Group. These partners have aligned to connect vulnerable populations with nutrient-dense, locally sourced food while strengthening economic opportunities for farmers across the region. They’re also working towards the goal of building a sustainable food system that prioritizes dignity, choice, and community.

“What we've found is that there are two separate food systems in our community,” explains Karen Petersen, executive director of the Northeast Indiana Local Food Network. “There's one for those who have resources and can buy highly nutritious foods, and then those who don’t have resources and [are relying on food banks.] The concern of the Northeast Indiana Local Food Network is to build one, full food system that everyone can come to. We think this is essential so that everyone has access to nutritious food.”

Petersen, a farmer herself, adds that this is not a charity project. It’s a way to ensure farmers can thrive by cultivating meaningful relationships with their communities. The backbone of this initiative is programs like Double Up Indiana and HEAL Markets, which empower participants by matching funds for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs. HEAL Markets feature a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers whenever possible. 

Never Creative LLCPrograms like Double Up Indiana and HEAL Markets empower participants by matching funds for recipients of SNAP and WIC.By building pathways for small and large farmers alike, the initiative hopes to level the playing field.

Meg Distler, executive director of the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, represents the funder’s perspective. In her estimation, a healthy and robust food system is one rooted in connection. The St. Joe Foundation and Parkview Health co-fund the HEAL Farm Markets and the DoubleUp Indiana program.  

“We want consumers to have relationships with the farmers, to share what they like, so that the farmer can make a fair living while growing and scaling — not grow more and lose money.”

Never Creative LLCHEAL Markets feature nutrient-dense, locally sourced food.These dynamics are important elements in the mix, but challenges can get in the way of progress. For instance, Petersen says they often find that many SNAP participants are unaware of Double Up or where HEAL Markets are located. For that reason, the partner organizations are constantly working to get creative and reach these vulnerable populations.

Efforts like the annual Local Food Week celebration are another way for people to develop a deeper connection to their food. This year it takes place from July 25 to August 3. The 10-day lineup features Northeast Indiana’s farms, markets, artisan food producers, restaurants, and organizations that bring local food to consumers.

A newly released study only reinforces the need for such an effort. The Northeast Indiana Local Food Needs Assessment captured feedback from 500 stakeholders in Northeast Indiana and helped redefine priorities for food systems. For Petersen, the findings are a call to action for residents, policymakers, and organizations to invest further in local agriculture.

And the need for those solutions is urgent, with food prices soaring and working families feeling the brunt. According to the BBC, the US recently imposed a 17% tariff on most tomatoes imported from Mexico.

Never Creative LLCLocal farmers bring a diverse variety of produce to the markets.In Distler’s estimation, such an economic force drives home the point that local food is the answer on a number of fronts. 

“There's no tariff on local food,” Distler says. “I think that speaks volumes about why we need the [Northeast Indiana] Local Food Network.

Beyond the practical and health elements, Distler says these markets can be venues for dialogue, cultural exchange, and education. Farm-fresh produce like sour leaf and other unique varieties brought by the Burmese farmers group, for example, cater directly to both local and culturally specific tastes. This also benefits regional agriculture, creating demand for an array of distinctive crops.

The diversity among participating farmers illustrates the program's far-reaching impact. From small-scale farmers like Garwood Farms in Roanoke to the three-generation farming legacy of “Farmer Charlie,” managed by son-in-law Paul Fields, Petersen says the diversity underscores the initiative's inclusion and reach.

Garwood Farms is a recent addition to the Double Up program this year, Petersen explains. The farmer is a veteran, and his produce serves high-need areas like Huntington County. As Petersen notes, this rural area has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the region. The income the farmer gets not only supports his family but also serves his community.

Conscious of areas with limited access in Fort Wayne, HEAL Markets are strategically located in areas with low food access.

Never Creative LLCHEAL Markets feature nutrient-dense, locally sourced food.“You should see the vibrancy at these markets,” says Distler. “You’ll see many new families and pregnant women coming in — it’s a wonderful cross-section of the community."

Both Petersen and Distler acknowledge that all of this would not be possible without bringing together each group’s distinct strengths. For instance, the Northeast Indiana Local Food Network focuses on connections and education. Purdue Extension offers expertise in agricultural practices. Plowshares Cooperative Food Hub handles logistics, and the Burmese farmers group provides culturally significant crops that expand the palate of local markets.

Never Creative LLCA HEAL Market at Johnnie Mae Farm.Distler reminds the collective of the importance of an individual’s agency and autonomy with respect to how they approach program design. 

“Choice of food is such a huge part of dignity for people,” she says. “That’s why efforts like HEAL Markets and Double Up matter so much. They enable families to choose the vegetables and produce they actually want and will use, creating a real connection between farmers and communities.”

This story was created in partnership with the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation.