A leader in food sustainability, land stewardship, and water conservation, Janaki Fisher-Merritt ’99 brings a true liberal arts mindset to farming. Fisher-Merritt grew up on his family’s farm in Wrenshall, Minnesota and was a sociology/anthropology major at Carleton, where he also met his future wife, Anne Dugan ’00. He returned home after graduation and took over ownership of Food Farm, which is hailed for raising the standards of organic farming and provides produce to local families through the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program as well as to restaurants and co-ops in the Duluth, Minnesota area.
Thanks to his efforts in increasing food productivity and preservation, he was named Farmer of the Year by Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service in 2010 and one of “20 Under 40” by the Duluth News Tribune in 2014. In 2015, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed a proclamation honoring Fisher-Merritt’s pioneering role in organic and CSA farming.
Food Farm is unique in its dedication to educating the next generation of farmers and its community by offering farm mentorships, hosting field days, and giving workshops. Fisher-Merritt’s dedication to education also resulted in his serving 16 years on the Wrenshall School District Board of Education as a member, treasurer, and chair, during which time he led major renovations to the school.
In 2004, Fisher-Merritt and Dugan co-founded the Free Range Farm Festival, showcasing “fresh” indie movies in their vintage red barn. This two-day festival draws hundreds of people to the Wrenshall area in celebration of the arts and has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and in the Voice.