Sprouting business brings locally grown food to the table

Agronomist Denny Wimmer and his wife Patty are two peas in a pod as they like to laugh and say.

After living in the Chicago area for the past 29 years, Denny decided it was time to return to his old roots in Arispe so he and Patty could plant some new roots as vegetable farmers.

The Wimmers of Wimmer Farms grow certified naturally grown produce on 12 of their 75 acres of land. They also grow vegetables in two 30- by 96-foot high tunnels.

Their bounties include more than 20 different kinds of produce, including several types of lettuces, spinach, tomatoes and watermelon. They planted five acres of aronia berries for the first time last year and are now offering organic tea compost to customers who are looking for an organic form of pest control to use in their gardens.

Denny said it’s healthier to eat naturally grown foods and there is no need to use chemicals.

“You can grow just as good of yields without using pesticides,” Denny said.

Patty said by eating locally grown foods there are less foods miles. She added the produce is fresher and tastier compared to industrialized vegetables that have traveled hundreds of miles and picked before ripeness.

“The flavor is going to be better, it’s going to be healthier for you,” Patty said.

Their farm has been in Denny’s family since 1919. The Wimmers, who started farming in May of 2012, have big plans for their sprouting business. They bought and transformed an old car wash building, located on Highway 169, into a roadside vegetable stand which includes a cooler and wash station for their vegetables. They also hope to venture into agro-tourism.

Growing healthy foods isn’t their only priority. The Wimmers also plan to grow healthy minds. They want kids to know how fresh food is grown and where it comes from.

Patty shared a story about a farmer who pulled a carrot out of the ground and handed it to a little boy who then replied, “Now, who put these in the dirt?”

With hearts bigger than any vegetable they’ve ever grown, this couple feels a sense of duty to help their less fortunate neighbors.

“If there are people in the community that can’t afford healthy food, we’ll let them have it (fresh produce),” Denny said.

A couple of years ago the Wimmers had an excess of sweet corn, but had to leave town for a family function. They left their sweet corn unattended on the side of the road with a donation jar.

Produce from Wimmers Farms can be found at Drake and Valley Junction Farmers’ Markets in Des Moines and Winterset and Creston Farmers’ Markets.

Wimmer Farms also offers a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in which customers receive weekly boxes of farm-fresh produce. They also sell their produce to area institutions including Greater Regional Medical Center, Arispe Feed and Grain restaurant, Creston Hy-Vee, Gateway Market in Des Moines and the Iowa Food Coop (www.iowafoodcoop.com).

For more information visit their website at www.wimmerfarms.com.

Contact Southern Iowa RC&D Food Coordinator Alexi Groumoutis at 641-782-4033. Like ‘Southern Iowa Local Food Initiative’ on Facebook.

Southern Iowa RC&D Area, Inc. is a seven county area non-profit corporation managed by local people for the purpose of accelerating rural development.  Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider.