About Farm Direct Minnesota | Connecting Local Farmers & Consumers

Farm Direct Minnesota is a platform dedicated to helping people buy local food in Minnesota directly from farmers across the state, including grass-fed meat, farm-fresh eggs, dairy, and seasonal fruits and vegetables.

In early 2020, something was deeply wrong. I saw farmers dumping milk, plowing under crops, and throwing away perfectly good food—not because they wanted to, but because the supply chain had collapsed.

At the same time, grocery store shelves were empty, and families were desperate for food. I remember a farmer in Idaho dumping tons of potatoes into a field and posting on Facebook, saying, "Come take them." People showed up in droves—he got rid of them all.

I saw Wisconsin dairy farmers—like the ones I grew up around—pouring milk down the drain while people struggled to find essentials. I couldn’t just sit back and watch.

Sazzy Calhoun, Founder

On May 5, 2020 as farmers’ markets shut down, supply chains collapsed, and traditional sales avenues disappeared, I created Farm Direct Minnesota (FDMN) to try and bridge that gap. What started as a simple Facebook Group—which has now grown to over 113,000 members—and a website I taught myself to build, has since expanded into a powerful grassroots movement that continues to strengthen Minnesota’s local food system.

The Idea That Grew to: A Statewide Asset for Local Food

Since its creation, FDMN has outpaced similar organizations that have been around for decades. It has provided farmers with direct access to customers while offering consumers a transparent, local food marketplace.

We did not need a government grant or research funds to learn what farmers needed. We saw it with our own eyes. They needed to move products period.

The Interactive Farm Map

Our map makes it easy to find Grass-fed Beef, Honey, Eggs, and Poultry. Farmers, there is no keyword limit! You can list as many items as you want so everything you offer is showcased.

We believe in transparency and choice. Our users can filter by payment methods like SNAP, Venmo, and Credit Cards, or support specific values like Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned, and Generational Heritage Farms. You can also install the interactive map directly to your phone’s home screen as a Progressive Web App (PWA).

For Farmers: $50/Year

• 500+ map views
• Instant FB Auto-Posting
• Zero commissions

For Consumers

• Real-Time Updates
• Transparency = Trust
• Direct Connection

Why This Matters

REVISITING MAY 2020: WHY WE STARTED

FDMN was born out of necessity. It’s raw, effective, and built to serve farmers and consumers alike. This is about immediacy, engagement, and direct sales—no waiting, no middlemen.