A sure sign of fall is the abundance of fresh produce available at farmers markets and pop-up roadside stands. The Northshore offers a unique option to enjoy a fresh selection of the season’s fruits and vegetables. The Clover Valley Farm Trail (CVFT) is a group of local farmers who have come together to create a conveniently designed road trail that is accessible by car or bike. Clover Valley is a farming community located in or near Clover Valley, between Duluth and Two Harbors.
The concept of creating the trail was the brainchild of fruit grower, Justin Osadjan, owner and operator of Lucky Dog Farm. Originally from Chicago, he says working on a farm has been a lifelong dream of his. “As a child we would go to the coast of Michigan to visit grandpa and pick berries at a fruit farm.” He remembers thinking, this is something he wanted to do some day, especially sharing the peace and serenity he experienced on those trips, with others. A former University administrator, Osadjan bought his farm and moved to Two Harbors in 2014 with the intention of fulfilling his dream of running a berry farm.
He began by growing garden produce while he tended to his young berry crop. “I would drag my trailer down to the end of my driveway to sell my garden produce each season,” Osadjan shares. It took about eight years, and he is now transitioning into being a full-time berry growing entrepreneur. The idea of a produce trail came from a project he heard about in Bayfield, Wis. The Fruit Loop provides self-guided tours of local apple orchards and wineries in the area. He pitched the idea of becoming a collaborative to other neighboring farmers to expand accessibility to a variety of produce and other homemade products in the same informal, self-guided format. There are now 10 farms that make up the trail, and all are part of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). This is a system that connects producers and consumers within a food system and is a production and marketing model. In this model, a community of individuals pledge support to a farm operation, with growers and consumers having mutual support and sharing risks and benefits of food production.
Each of the participating farms on the Clover Valley Farm Trail function independently and offer their own specialty. The goods available range from homemade herbs, vinegars, eggs, seasonal produce, cheese, and berries. A list of options available are updated each week on the CVFT website and social media. The farmers who prepare their items in home are registered with the state Cottage Foods Program and do obtain a permit to sell. Osadjan’s Lucky Dog Farm is the only self-picking experience on the trail at this time.
Osadjan points out the importance and benefits of buying locally produced food, noting 67 cents of each dollar spent stays local, supporting community small business and ensuring the goods have been ethically produced. Ethically produced food encompasses several key considerations which includes workers welfare and livable wages, environmental sustainability which minimizes negative impacts on ecosystems and humane treatment of animals.
The Farm Trail is open on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. May through October. A comprehensive, easy to follow map is available on their website. All farms are within a 6-mile radius of Homestead Road, 10 miles north of Duluth off Highway 61. Easy to read yard signs marking each location are also posted along the route. Whether on bike or in a vehicle, the trail is also an opportunity to enjoy a glimpse into the beautiful back roads of the area, especially during the prime color-changing time of the foliage and is enhanced by the peaceful surroundings. Most locations accept electronic payment and all accept cash. Details and full profiles of each farm are listed on the website. For maps, seasonal products available, and FAQ’s visit: clovervalleyfarmtrail.com