Minnesota Produce during the Fall Season

 

Otto Bremer Trust co-CEO and trustee Charlotte Johnson plays a key role in the funding of organizations that create brighter futures for communities. When not working at Otto Bremer, Charlotte Johnson enjoys cooking dishes that feature seasonal ingredients.

Using seasonal ingredients in your cooking can provide benefits ranging from better flavors to lower costs. In addition, eating these fruits and vegetables during their prime seasons ensures that you have excellent variety throughout the year. Like most US states, Minnesota farmers grow a wide array of produce that come into season throughout the year, but the fall season boasts a particularly impressive harvest.

As temperatures cool, vegetables such as carrots, apples, and brussels sprouts reach their peak season. Much of Minnesota’s fall produce is available through at least mid-November, but look for items like sweet corn and radishes before then. Dark green vegetables are also abundant throughout fall but will be out of season beginning in the winter. Fall is also the best time to purchase onions, which will be at their best throughout the entire season.

Ways to Increase Results With a Nonprofit Organization

Charlotte Johnson is co-CEO of Otto Bremer Trust, based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Outside of her duties at Otto Bremer, Charlotte Johnson has served on the board of directors for multiple nonprofits and is experienced with charitable organizations.

Profit may seem like a topic you shouldn’t be discussing when it comes to charitable activities. However, in order to increase a nonprofit organization’s revenue, it’s crucial to learn how best to maximize fundraising proceeds.

The first goal should be decreasing costs. Look at the organization’s budget and see where you can either negotiate with vendors or just take a chunk directly out of your budget. Try looking for volunteer workers, for example, to cut down on labor costs.

The next step is to maximize revenue. If you already have a fundraising plan, look it over and check each strategy. See how you can increase the revenue by 5 percent at each fundraiser, sponsorship, or other events involved in your current plan. Once you start testing out new and different strategies, you are likely to gain a clearer sense of what works best for your organization.