Locavore News by Elbert van Donkersgoed
Posted: November 2, 2009
Categories: Food in the News / News from Sustain Ontario
Perspectives on good food and farming
My, how you’ve grown (UK)
The number of farmers’ markets has increased dramatically since the first was opened in the Somerset town of Bath 12 years ago. There are now 750 farmers’ markets across the UK, generating about £250m for the economy. When you include the 4000 farm shops, plus various pick-your-own and box schemes across the UK, the retail value of the direct-sale farm produce sector is estimated at £2.5bn. The biggest growth in new farmers’ markets and farm shops was during 1997 to 2001 and then, after the foot-and-mouth outbreak, there were another six years of expansion. The recession has put the brakes on new start-ups, but strong underlying demand for local food and increasing government backing means there is a bright future. Farmers Weekly Interactive story
Will Allen, Urban Farming’s Leading Proponent, Played UM Basketball
The leader of the Urban Farming movement took lessons from his Miami and Florida sports careers that still help him today. Will Allen is the head of Milwaukee-based Growing Power Inc., an urban ag producer and educating organization focused on teaching poor communities techniques for creating self sustaining, and profitable, food supplies. Miami New Times blog.
The good food revolution
It’s a time of change in many ways. Our nation is grappling with the daunting challenges of health care and global warming. Another change is coming as well. It’s called the good food revolution. By bringing locally grown, organic, nutritiously rich food to a table near you, the good food revolution can help us tackle these larger societal issues, and benefit us all. We need a revolution in our food delivery system because the global $3.2 trillion processed-food industry is undermining our health and significantly contributing to our carbon footprint. Will Allen founder of Growing Power, an urban farm based in northwest Milwaukee writing in the Boston Globe.
Sustainable baked goods by weekly subscription
Every Wednesday, Dulcinea delivers ‘a wholesome indulgence’ to its subscribers in Manhattan. Its muffins, cakes, tarts and cupcakes are made using local and organic ingredients. Springwise story.
Journal of Agriculture and Food Systems Development (JAFSD)
The Journal is an online, international, peer-reviewed publication focused on the practice and applied research interests of agriculture and food systems development professionals. As the journal focuses on the practice of agriculture and food system development, empirical and methodological content are emphasized over the theoretical. Research-based papers, case studies, project postmortems, effective strategies, impact analyses, new possibilities (problems-solving, opportunity-taking and the like) are examples of what professional in government and private practice find helpful in their work. Website.
USDA Promotes Local Food in Georgia
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan visited the University of Georgia Monday to discuss the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative. The stop is part of Merrigan’s ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food,’ college tour, which aims to educate “the next generation of farmers, ranchers and consumers.” The college tour has also included visits to Rutgers University and Iowa State University. According to the USDA, ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ is promoting a national conversation about how to develop local and regional food systems to help small and mid-sized farms and “reinvigorate” rural communities and to reconnect consumers and producers. Food Safety News story.
Putting America’s Diet on a Diet — Jamie Oliver’s Next Challenge (US)
On his first day in Huntington, W. Va., Jamie Oliver spent the afternoon at Hillbilly Hot Dogs, pitching in to cook its signature 15-pound burger. That’s 10 pounds of meat, 5 pounds of custom-made bun, American cheese, tomatoes, onions, pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayo. Then he learned how to perfect the Home Wrecker, the eatery’s famous 15-inch, one-pound hot dog (boil first, then grill in butter). For the Home Wrecker Challenge, the dog gets 11 toppings, including chilli sauce, jalapeños, liquid nacho cheese and coleslaw. Finish it in 12 minutes or less and you get a T-shirt.Jamie Oliver profile in the New York Times (4,600 words).
Let’s answer our state’s food challenges
We have filed legislation to create a Massachusetts Food Policy Council, following a successful model used in at least 20 other states. Our state food system faces challenges. Productive farmland is disappearing, poor nutrition and obesity are on the rise, and hunger is all too common. But too often we work independently to address these problems. Two State Representatives writing in the Boston Globe.
Farmers find buyers for their wares
Farmers and prepared food producers from around Windham County traveled to Windsor on Wednesday for the Agency of Agriculture’s second annual Local Food Matchmaker Event. The agency invited farmers from all over the state to sit down with local and national food buyers and distributors to explore the possibilities of opening up new markets for their produce. Retailers like Wal-Mart and Hannaford sat next to nonprofits such as the Vermont Food Bank and distributors such as Black River Produce for the chance to meet with the farmers and food producers for 10-minute “speed dates.” Brattleboro (Vermont) Reformer story.
Creation of food policy council pushed
A food policy council should be created in the Springfield metro area because it would trigger an increase in the local food supply and protect the region if a catastrophic event severed the Ozarks’ national and global food link. The regional coordinator of the Well-Fed Neighborhood Alliance, Galen Chadwick, recently emphasized those points to the City Council. Springfield, Missouri News-Leader story.
Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture
Dedicated to promoting a sustainable food system through the operation of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and its educational programs. Website.
Toronto Urban Growers
TUG meeting will take place this Tuesday from 3 to 6 PM at FoodShare [90 Croatia Street, entrance off Brock Street, just south of Bloor]. The meeting will be in 3 parts: a) updates related to urban agriculture in Toronto b) launch the newly installed Jac Smit Library of Urban Agriculture and c) TUG working groups
AND if You Have Time
How food shapes our cities
Every day, in a city the size of London, 30 million meals are served. But where does all the food come from? Architect Carolyn Steel discusses the daily miracle of feeding a city, and shows how ancient food routes shaped the modern world. Â Talk posted on TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading.