Local farm production tours set for Sept. 8

The South Dakota Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) is bringing farm tours featuring the production of eggs, mushrooms and microgreens 12-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, in Brandon and Sioux Falls.

The tours are free and open to the public.

The first tour begins at 12 p.m. at Fruit of the Coop, 8700 Sunset Circle, Brandon. Owner Stephanie Peterson will present “Egg Production” and provide a tour of her 7-acre farm. Peterson sells eggs from heritage chickens that are pasture-raised on natural grains and forage. She also sources eggs from small flocks in the Sioux Empire and sells to area restaurants and through CSA programs and an off-site farm grocery store. 

The next stop is Dakota Mushroom & Microgreens, 27063 Tallgrass Ave., Sioux Falls. At 3:15 p.m., owner Dan Rislov will present “Growing Mushrooms & Microgreens” and provide a tour of his urban farm and growing facilities. Rislov has been producing gourmet mushrooms and microgreens without herbicides and pesticides since 2015. The tour will end around 4:30 p.m.

Local producers, chefs, consumers and organizations involved in local or specialty foods are encouraged to attend. Families are also invited to enjoy a day learning how these crops are produced. Participants may attend one or both sessions. No registration is required.

Chefs can receive 2.00 CEH’s for each tour. Master gardeners are eligible for continuing education hours for the horticultural tour.

The event is sponsored by SDSPA in partnership with Homegrown Sioux Empire.

The final tour featuring agritourism at Cherry Rock Farms is set for Oct. 6. 

To learn more, contact the SDSPA at 605-681-6793 or SDSPAinfo@gmail.com.