With a shared commitment to family farmers, a partnership between the Minnesota Farmers Union and Birchwood Cafe, Minneapolis, was only natural.

The two proved the joint venture was successful for several years by offering Birchwood foods at MFU’s state fair booth.

The two organizations recently announced they are taking the next step. They are expanding their partnership to form the MFU/Birchwood Alliance, with plans to open a new restaurant at 750 S. 2nd St. in Minneapolis.

The site is the longtime home of chef Brenda Langton’s pioneering Spoonriver restaurant. The riverside location will continue to honor Langton’s legacy and focus on local, seasonal and sustainably sourced ingredients.

The new collaboration with Birchwood and the 14,000 farmers of MFU builds on the notion of “farm to table” in a whole new way, strengthening farm-to-community connections to result in more of the good, real food for which Birchwood is revered.

“We’ve been presented with many opportunities in our 24 years in business, but none as special and unique as this,” says Tracy Singleton, owner of the Birchwood Cafe, of both the storied restaurant space and the expanded partnership. “Brenda has always been a role model; by elevating farmers, community and sustainability to our conversations about food, she’s redefined what it means to ‘eat healthy.’ We’re excited to carry on her ethos through our ‘Good Real Food’ and trusted farmer relationships.”

MFU president Gary Wertish says restaurants offer a good market option for many farmers.

“As generations get further removed from the farm, it is exciting to use this opportunity to reconnect consumers to their farmers through their food,” he says.

The alliance will be partnering with the Minneapolis design firm Shea to brand and transform the space, with further concept and menu details to come. The restaurant will open in 2020.

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