Submitted photo Pictured left to right on a tour stop at the New Ulm Community Market and Co-op’s new summer space are back row: Derek Hersch, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation; Virginia Suker-Moldan, Turner Hall; Kelly Kunkel, University of Minnesota Extension Mankato Regional Office; Laura Schmidt; Hy-Vee; Joey Schugel, New Ulm Park and Recreation; Amanda Groebner, New Ulm Market and Co-op; front row: Jen Maurer, New Ulm Medical Center; Jenny Beaudette, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation; Melissa Hoffman, Brown County Public Health; Michael Dahl, director of the MN Food Charter Network; and Karyn Clemons, New Ulm Market and Co-op. The team also toured the greenhouse and kitchen facilities at New Ulm High School, the New Ulm Food Shelf, the Community Garden, Turner Hall, Lutheran Social Services Senior Center, Martin Luther College and Topher Jacobsen’s aquaponics facility. The team will use the insights from the tour to develop a strategic plan for the food environment in New Ulm.

NEW ULM — The Heart of New Ulm Project’s Food Environment Action Team, accompanied by the director of the MN Food Charter Network, participated in a tour of various New Ulm food venues on July 19.

The purpose of the tour was to determine the strengths of the food environment in the community, discuss barriers that people or organizations may encounter in finding or offering healthier options, and identify opportunities for improvement.

The Food Environment Action Team works to improve access, availability and affordability of healthier food choices in a variety of different venues throughout New Ulm.