SHIP stories
The Statewide Health Improvement Program
(SHIP) helps communities bring fresh produce
to people’s homes, schools and work.
Connecting farms and farmers to businesses,
schools, and communities is one important
way to encourage consumption of fresh,
Minnesota vegetables.
Brandt Brings Fresh Veggies to Businesses
and identify his business.
Bill Brandt, founder of Brandt Gardens and
Greenhouse, has been farming since 1978 and has
sold produce in farmers markets for 13 years. Now
Brandt has expanded his reach and started a new
business for providing fresh produce to more people
while at their jobs.
“The most rewarding thing supplying fresh produce to
the three businesses is hearing customers express their
appreciation of being able to buy fresh, quality
produce,” shares Brandt.
In 2012, Brandt partnered with SHIP to help identify
interested worksites and gain awareness. An online
survey was conducted with three large business
around the Windom and Jackson area. The survey
gauged the level of interest among employees in
having accessible, fresh produce available during the
week.
He found that more than 80 percent of Jackson
County employees were interested in having Brandt's
mobile produce trailer stop on a weekly basis. Toro
and Accent employees also responded with
overwhelming support.
Now Brandt sets up his tent and trailer every week
during the summer at these three employers. To ensure
his veggies stay fresh while outside in the summer
heat, Brandt purchased a mobile refrigerator, which is
marked with his notable company logo to promote
SHIP invests in local solutions for better health. With the
support of SHIP, communities across Minnesota are making
healthy eating, active living and avoiding commercial
tobacco use and exposure easier for more people. Find out
more at www.health.state.mn.us/ship
This was only a start. Since then, Brandt has also built
a produce washing and storage facility on his farm,
through a University of Minnesota grant project, so he
is able to sell produce every day in addition to his
mobile trailer. Brandt has expanded to have EBT
available for residents with SNAP benefits. Brandt
was instrumental in starting the Riverside Farmers
Market in Jackson, too!
Because of Brant, his out of the box ideas, and SHIP,
more people in Cottonwood and Jackson Counties are
able to get fresh, healthy, local produce. This makes
these company’s employees, the businesses, Brandt,
and the whole community the winners.
***
9/2014