Dan and Lisa Graffunder have always been eating organic produce - and now share the wealth of their garden at the Alexandria Farmers Market.

The couple raises produce at their Belle River farm 15 miles northeast of Alexandria. This is the second year they’ve sold at the market.

Transitioning their land to be certified organic was fairly easy, they said. The land has been farmed for roughly 40 years without chemicals.

Their soil is lighter so they use a fabric covering to reduce weed pressure and a drip line to water their crops.

“It’s a little bit of a learning curve,” Dan said of larger scale organic gardening. “Last year we understood our irrigation system well and, as we’ve experimented a bit with it this year, we are gathering more information on how it will work best.”

Talk to those who have a knack for growing crops, fruits and vegetables and you will usually find them trying a new variety and using a different planting system. There is no one way to do something. What works for one farmer might not work for the next. Soil types are different and growing seasons change. Take this year, for example. Those who rely on outdoor, soil based production have been challenged with a late spring and cool start to the season.

Besides vegetables, the Graffunders also sell flowers. The’ve planted peonies and have planted more than 1,000 gladiola bulbs, they said.

They don’t grow and sell sweet corn for the market, Lisa said. They have several neighbors in their area who do.

Their produce is hand picked, nutrient dense,, non-GMO and has had no chemicals applied to it, they said.

they have been certified organic by the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association.

Come visit them at the Alexandria Farmers Market.