Food Farms Jobs http://foodfarmsjobs.org Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:48:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Get Fresh! 2011Community Food Assessment http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/08/get-fresh-2011community-food-assessment/ http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/08/get-fresh-2011community-food-assessment/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:42:42 +0000 foodfarmsjobs http://foodfarmsjobs.org/?p=362 Food Access, Food Justice and Collective Action in Fort Greene & Clinton Hill, Brooklyn – 2011 Community Food Assessment

Though this report comes from two communities in New York, it provides helpful information about their strategies and the tools used to assess their communities access to fresh foods and addresses the issue of food justice. Please click on this link to read the full report:   GetFreshComtyFoodAs2011

]]> http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/08/get-fresh-2011community-food-assessment/feed/ 0 “Policy Webinar” – Good Food & Good Business: State Options http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/08/how-to-webinar-good-food-good-business-state-options/ http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/08/how-to-webinar-good-food-good-business-state-options/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:05:35 +0000 foodfarmsjobs http://foodfarmsjobs.org/?p=357 Charting a Course toward Good Food and Good Business: State Options  December 14, 2011   11 a.m. Central Time

Charting a Course toward Good Food and Good Business: State Options

Healthier people and a more thriving economy can result from strengthening food systems.  This webinar will feature presentations about work in the states to bring food that is affordable, fresh and healthy to schools and communities. It will include an overview of Michigan’s Good Food Charter including provisions related to local food purchasing, school nutrition standards and nutrition education that incorporates agricultural entrepreneurship. Local food systems including the Nuestras Raíces project in Holyoke, Massachusetts and policy efforts by Wholesome Wave and their cultural, health and economic benefits will also be discussed. 

To participate - you will have to register on the site of the National Conference for State Legislatures…but well worth it! Go to: www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?TabId=23873

]]> http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/08/how-to-webinar-good-food-good-business-state-options/feed/ 0 USDA ERS Reports: Local Food Accounted for $4.8 Billion in 2008 http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/07/usda-ers-reports-local-food-accounted-for-4-8-billion-in-2008/ http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/07/usda-ers-reports-local-food-accounted-for-4-8-billion-in-2008/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:18:59 +0000 foodfarmsjobs http://foodfarmsjobs.org/?p=351 Authors of a recent USDA ERS report had this to say about the local food sales in the US during 2008: Despite increased production and consumer interest, locally grown food accounts for a small segment of U.S. agriculture. For local foods production to continue to grow, marketing channels and supply chain infrastructure must deepen. Information on U.S. local food producers and their marketing channels, however, is incomplete. New information on farmers that market foods locally and the marketing channels they use presented in this report could aid private- and public-sector efforts to support this sector of the agricultural economy. 

The USDA Economic Research Service Report written by Sarah Low and Stephen Vogel and released in November 2011 is available in whole or as an Amber Waves article. You can download both by clicking the links below:

LocalFoodMarketing

ERSReport128

 

 

 

]]> http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/07/usda-ers-reports-local-food-accounted-for-4-8-billion-in-2008/feed/ 0 Finding the Balance: Local Food and Public Health http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/06/finding-the-balance-local-food-and-public-health/ http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/06/finding-the-balance-local-food-and-public-health/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:22:30 +0000 foodfarmsjobs http://foodfarmsjobs.org/?p=345
Bob Heuer/ILFFJC Secretary

Finding the Balance: Local Food & Public Health

Who: The Illinois Local Food Farms and Jobs Council

What:  A forum exploring how the people of Illinois can benefit from an expanding local food marketplace that ensures food safety.

When:   Wed. Dec 7 1:00 -2:00 pm

 

Where:  Illinois Department of Agriculture Building; Illinois State Fair Grounds; 801 E. Sangamon Avenue; Springfield, IL 62702

Why: 

Last summer, the Illinois General Assembly passed—and Gov. Quinn signed—two state laws that demonstrate the need for flexible public health guidelines that will enable the expanding local food marketplace to satisfy both consumer demand and consumer protection.

One law—a “cottage food industry” measure–will allow farmers markets statewide to sell certain homemade products with a low risk for causing food-borne illness. (Numerous states find that direct-marketed products do not require the same formalized procedures as products sold through wholesale channels.) The other law creates a task force charged with generating recommendations to standardize regulations that are being administered by local jurisdictions at hundreds of farmers’ markets statewide.

The successful implementation of these state laws will help Illinois grow local and regional food systems, say ILFFJC co-presidents Johari Cole and Jim Braun. (Cole is a Kankakee-based organic farmer ccole@techsgroup.net 312-515-7842; Braun is a Springfield-based community organizer. 515-229-2679)

The ILFFJC is a statewide, community-led coordinating body created by the IL General Assembly. Its 35 directors–appointed by the governor—are establishing a non-profit organization whose charge will be to facilitate local food system development in urban, suburban, exurban, and rural communities throughout Illinois.

Nationwide, local food is expected to generate $7 billion in sales this year, a new USDA report finds. (See 11/14/11 Bloomington Pantagraphhttp://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FOOD_AND_FARM_LOCAL_FOOD_ILOL-?SITE=ILBLO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

The lion’s share is direct-market sales of fruits and vegetables. Food safety concerns increase with products such as dairy and meat as well as larger-volume, wholesale market channels such as restaurants, grocery stores and institutions.

At tomorrow’s forum, public health representatives from the federal, state and county level will present perspectives on their agencies’ response to the strongest food trend in decades.

  • Center for Disease Control; Anne Haddix (confirmed)   

  • IL Dept. of Public Health; Patricia Welch (confirmed)

  • Cook County Dept. of Public Health; Jim Bloyd (confirmed)

  • City of Chicago Mayor’s Office; Mike Simmons (confirmed)

The forum moderators will be Wes King of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance and Pat Stieren of coordinator of the Illinois Farmers Market Network.  

For more information, go to the ILFFJC website www.foodfarmsjobs.org

]]> http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/06/finding-the-balance-local-food-and-public-health/feed/ 0 December 7th ILFFJ Council Meeting – Open to Public http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/05/december-7th-ilffj-council-meeting-open-to-public/ http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/05/december-7th-ilffj-council-meeting-open-to-public/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:56:06 +0000 foodfarmsjobs http://foodfarmsjobs.org/?p=320
Illinois Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council (ILFFJC) Meeting

COUNTDOWN 2020: A New Approach to Community Building for Illinois

   December 7, 2011

   10:00 am-3:00pm

Location:

Illinois Department of Agriculture Building

Illinois State Fair Grounds

801 E. Sangamon Avenue

Springfield, IL 62702

   Conference Call: Toll-free: 888/363-4734
   Caller Paid: 215/446-365
   Access Code: 7301955

3:30 pm Meet & Greet Reception

Augie’s Front Burner

109 S. 5th St, Springfield, IL

 

For the agenda click this link:  ILFFJC.Dec 7 2011 Agenda

To read a report of the actions of the Council at the September 2011 meeting go to the Council Meeting page or click this link:  9-14-11ILFFJC mtg report

 

 

 

]]> http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/12/05/december-7th-ilffj-council-meeting-open-to-public/feed/ 0 Farm World Writer Reports on Illinois Local Food, Farms Jobs Plans http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/10/13/farm-world-writer-reports-on-illinois-local-food-farms-jobs-plans/ http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/10/13/farm-world-writer-reports-on-illinois-local-food-farms-jobs-plans/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:02:43 +0000 foodfarmsjobs http://foodfarmsjobs.org/?p=306  

 

 

Steve Binder, writer for Farm World interviewed attendees of the September meeting of the Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Council and then posted his story about the plan to enhance the local food economy as well as creating greater awareness of the benefits of buying Illinois produced, processed and distributed foods. For more about this read on….

Farm World Writer Reports on Illinois Local Food, Farms Jobs Plans

]]> http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/10/13/farm-world-writer-reports-on-illinois-local-food-farms-jobs-plans/feed/ 0 Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Council Invites Community Participation http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/10/12/illinois-local-food-farms-and-jobs-council-invites-community-participation/ http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/10/12/illinois-local-food-farms-and-jobs-council-invites-community-participation/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:55:52 +0000 foodfarmsjobs http://foodfarmsjobs.org/?p=301 The Executive Committee of the Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Council invites community participation in one of the four working groups formed to help fulfill the mission of the Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act. Do you have an interest in the local food system? Perhaps you have a skill needed to help with completing the working group projects. If you are interested then read on.

 

ILFFJC working groups

]]> http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/10/12/illinois-local-food-farms-and-jobs-council-invites-community-participation/feed/ 0 Food Entrepreneurs Grow Sweet on Emanuel http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/09/28/food-entrepreneurs-grow-sweet-on-emanuel/ http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/09/28/food-entrepreneurs-grow-sweet-on-emanuel/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:18:04 +0000 foodfarmsjobs http://foodfarmsjobs.org/?p=297 Chicago Tribune reporter, Monica Eng, wrote about some of the issues being addressed by Mayor Emanuel’s office and the Chicago Department of Health where food entrepreneurs feel that there is hope in the future for food access, food safety and economic development related to food.

To learn more about what she reported read the whole story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-chicago-food-policies-20110928,0,1933968.story

]]> http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/09/28/food-entrepreneurs-grow-sweet-on-emanuel/feed/ 0 Challenge the “Let’s Move” Campaign to Strengthen Food Access through Local Food http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/09/28/challenge-the-lets-move-campaign-to-strengthen-food-access-through-local-food/ http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/09/28/challenge-the-lets-move-campaign-to-strengthen-food-access-through-local-food/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:50:29 +0000 foodfarmsjobs http://foodfarmsjobs.org/?p=286 Michel Nischam wrote in the Atlantic a suggestion for making the “Let’s Move” campaign even better by creating improved food access through local farmers markets. He quotes economists’ estimates of $1.84 increase in overall economy for every $1.00 of SNAP benefits used by families to put food on their tables. Imagine the community economic stimulus if the buying power of SNAP benefits were used to purchase locally grown and sold foods from farmers markets, roadside stands, pick-your-own operations, and grocery stores with local harvests….

Get the full story at http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/lets-make-lets-move-even-better/245669/

]]> http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/09/28/challenge-the-lets-move-campaign-to-strengthen-food-access-through-local-food/feed/ 0 Woodbury County, Iowa Actions in Local Food http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/09/14/woodbury-county-iowa-actions-in-local-food/ http://foodfarmsjobs.org/2011/09/14/woodbury-county-iowa-actions-in-local-food/#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2011 06:25:14 +0000 foodfarmsjobs http://foodfarmsjobs.org/?p=262 Various members of the Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs have spoken with the one of the leading local food activists in Iowa, Robert Marqusee. Here are a few links to the Woodbury County web page topics of interest to those wanting to think more actively about the possibilities of local food procurement goals:

www.woodburyorganics.com/Woodbury_Organics/Main.html

www.woodburyorganics.com/Woodbury_Organics/Local_Food_System_Policy_Solutions.html 

www.woodburyorganics.com/Woodbury_Organics/Letter_Can_We_Really_Compete.html 

JAFSCD_Laws_on_Locally_Grown_Food_Corrected_10-10

 

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