South Dakota Searchlight – A farmer- and rancher-led organization committed to promoting soil health recently launched a new online platform to help local food producers and consumers connect.
The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition’s Fresh Connect website provides an interface to bridge the gap between farm-fresh goods and local demand.
Through the platform, producers can create free accounts to list available products on an interactive map, allowing consumers and restaurants to search for fresh local meat and produce by location and product type.
“The detailed farm profile allows us to showcase our unique growing practices and the quality of our offerings,” said Chris Goldade, who owns and operates Flat Rock Farms near Westport. “By using Fresh Connect, we can introduce new, exciting products to our local residents and support a thriving local food economy.”
The website is also designed to benefit small-scale and urban farmers, offering access to educational resources and opportunities for improving soil health, drought resilience and farm sustainability.
The South Dakota Fresh Connect website is made possible with financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.