Each month we ask our Team to share a few highlights of their regional food system work from their perspective. It’s hard to capture all of the meetings, Connections, farm visits, and meaningful conversations into one blog post, but a few highlights from August are below!

FARMWISE Indiana recently wrapped up two Regional Wholesale Connect events in the northern half of the state, bringing together farmers, food producers, and food entrepreneurs who are actively seeking wholesale partnerships with buyers looking to source more locally made and grown food.

I cannot think of a better way to get a glimpse into an area's local food system than at a Farmstop.

Food hubs are one of the most powerful tools for strengthening regional food systems, and earlier this month, two FARMWISE Indiana Value Chain Professionals had the opportunity to see one of the best in action. As guests of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Pete Vissar and Becky Landes traveled to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to visit Valley HUB KVCC, a nationally recognized urban farm, food hub, and education center operated through Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The visit was organized by Rachel Brandenburg with ISDA and brought together 28 food system professionals from Indiana and Michigan for a full day of learning, connection, and hands-on experience. Here is what they brought home.

When kids in Fort Wayne head back to school, some of them will also be heading home with fresh, locally grown produce- and FARMWISE Indiana Value Chain Professional Becky Landes helped make that happen.

Recently, FARMWISE Indiana hosted a melon field day and tasting with the Southwest Purdue AG Center in Vincennes. Located in Knox County, this area is home to countless growers of both specialty and more commonly available melon

FARMWISE Indiana and the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Program are hosting a Field Day and Melon Tasting Event on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

Join FARMWISE Indiana for one of two FREE Regional Wholesale Connect events designed to bring together Indiana producers and wholesale buyers in a relationship-focused setting. These events provide an opportunity to showcase your products, build connections, learn what buyers are looking for, and explore new market opportunities.

Each month we ask our Team to share a few highlights of their regional food system work from their perspective. It’s hard to capture all of the meetings, Connections, farm visits, and meaningful conversations into one blog post, but a few highlights from June are below!

Each month we will recap just a few of the many activities of our Team across Indiana’s food system. From farm tours to our popular Connections, we stay busy and hit the ground every day to meet farmers, buyers, and food system supporters where they are.

At Shoals Community Schools, the agriculture education is immersive and integrated. This ecosystem of garden produce, livestock, students as caretakers, cafeteria and culinary class involvement, and not to mention the welding shop class providing equipment pieces, exposes all grade levels to the origin of food.

Value chain professionals sit at the intersection of agriculture, business, community, and human connection. The work requires far more than helping move food from farms to buyers. It takes trust, listening, strategy, persistence, and a deep commitment to serving people and communities.

FARMWISE Indiana specializes in working in the “intermediated market channel” space. In other words, we work to move food from farm to wholesale buyer.

FARMWISE Indiana is proud to lead efforts in southern Indiana as the Regional Lead for farm to school.

In early March, the FARMWISE Team attended the Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference. Whereas Jodee and Heather have been many times, this was a new(er) experience for our Team Members. Laura Stoltz, Jen Musall, and Becky Landes shared their experiences.

The FARMWISE Team uses data collected and analyzed to inform how we perform outreach and work with partners. What can feel tedious to some is actually quite informative and points to ways we can do more, grow networks, and help build capacity.

Recently Value Chain Professionals Greg Koehler and Audrey Kaul shared a bit of their insight to projects related to organizational and purchasing data.

Our Value Chain Professionals travel hundreds of miles across their regions each month with the sole purpose of learning, connecting, and collaborating. It is through these miles traveled that we discover opportunity. FARMWISE Indiana Value Chain Professional Laura Stoltz shares an opportunity she recently discovered in her region.

To build a regional food system, and maintain a strong network, you must start with a foundation of communication, collaboration, and listening. This is patient work and can sometimes feel slow or at a pace we are not used to in life. FARMWISE Value Chain Professional shares his impressions of building a foundation to make a connection.

We work to connect growers with buyers and also- with eaters. But what about shaping the purchasing decisions of our growing population? These future decision makers are engaged with their food systems in a variety of ways. Recently, FARMWISE Indiana Value Chain Professional Jen Musall spent the day with our future chefs and food buyers and share her experience.

There are no seasonal and weather restrictions in the dairy industry. Cows must be milked and the work must be done- rain, heat, or snow.

Recently, FARMWISE Value Chain Professional Becky Landes visited a farm in her region, and we asked her to share her experience.