Inside Franklin’s Field to Fork market, meats, sauces, vegetables and other products made just miles away are arranged throughout the bright, airy store.
Cuts of beef from farms in central Indiana fill the freezer off to one side. Locally raised products are displayed in a glass counter at the center of the market. Honey, sauces, baby food and much more — all produced within 150 miles of Franklin — is available for purchase.
Every item inside the market is dedicated to making people more cognizant of local food.
“Education is the only thing that will keep us around long term. It certainly won’t be convenience, it won’t be the price. It has to be a chance of habit,” said Sarah Campbell, who runs the store with her husband, Cory. “People are only going to change their habits if they’re educated to do so.”
The potential of a strong local food system is the focus of Learn, Eat, Meet — a casual event designed to inform people about food made within our own community. Organized by the Johnson County Local Food Council, the evening will feature a light meal and drinks, with meat provided by St. Anthony-based Fischer Farms.
Campbell will talk to people about the mission of Field to Fork, while Kelli Oleksiak, owner of Veggi Confetti, discusses her burgeoning microgreens business located in Greenwood.
The entire night will be devoted to the vital nature of local food.
“We’re growing many local things here in Johnson County that shouldn’t have to go very far to get to people. If someone is growing vegetables or raising meat or eggs, it just makes sense for the food dollars to stay here and help the farmers who are working so hard,” said Sarah Hanson, director of Purdue Extension Johnson County and part of the Local Food Council.
The Johnson County Local Food Council is an organization dedicated to improving access to healthy, affordable food that supports the local community. They achieve that through nutrition education, fostering outreach and developing mutually beneficial, strategic relationships between growers, businesses and local residents.
The organization has been active for the past few years, working with farmers, producers and the public to spotlight local food.
With the Learn, Eat, Meet event, it’s a chance for the group to re-emphasize its mission to the community, Hanson said.
“We want to get people involved. People in the community, if they have interest in learning more about local food, if they want to know what that means,” she said. “Even if people just want to come for the evening, or are interested in joining the Local Food Council, they can find out about eating local and keeping money in the community.”
The food council reached out to Campbell and Oleksiak, who had both spoken at council events in the past, about doing a community open house.
With Field to Fork having a physical shop and an event room, they offered to host it.
The Campbells opened Field to Fork earlier in 2022. Their passion for buying local and knowing where their products come from sparked the idea for the new grocery store and meat market, which is filled with products sourced from farms and suppliers within 150 miles of Franklin. Pantry staples such as rice and quinoa that can’t be grown locally is sourced from fair trade distributors.
“What we wanted to do was eliminate the barrier between your food and your plate, demystify that process and make it more transparent,” Campbell said. “We’re such a prosperous country, and with that prosperity comes these awesome conveniences we get. But there are consequences to some of those conveniences — we lose a relationship with our food.”
For them, the chance to educate people about local food was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.
“We wanted to be more involved with that. I love what the food council does,” Campbell said.
Oleksiak created her own local farm settled in the heart of Greenwood, specializing in microgreens — the seedling version of vegetables and herbs known for their potent health benefits and crisp flavor.
Veggi Confetti has been active in the community, including selling microgreens at the Franklin Farmers Market.
“We thought she could bring something different to (the event.) She’s had a lot of growth in her business selling microgreens, which demonstrates the demand of what she’s doing,” Hanson said.
Organizers hope that the Learn, Eat, Meet event helps spotlight the existing local food movement, and presents ways to take part in different ways.
“We want to get our name out there, so people know that we exist, and then people can be involved in it if they want,” Hanson said. “We’ll be there for people to ask questions and learn more.”
IF YOU GO
Learn, Eat, Meet
What: An opportunity to hear from local business owners such as Field to Fork and Veggi Confetti, learn more about the local food council and enjoy a light meal featuring meat from Fischer Farms.
When: 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 27
Where: Field to Fork, 90 W. Jefferson St., Franklin
Cost: $10
How to register: Visit the event page on Eventbrite
