Wisconsin consumers widely agree that “local” food means food grown in Wisconsin, according to a new statewide survey conducted by faculty affiliated with UW-Extension, UW-Madison, and UW-River Falls. Food from Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota, meanwhile, is not considered “local” by most Wisconsin shoppers. Researchers aimed to provide farmers and communities with strategies informed by […]
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Farm Commons has releases a Building a Legally Resilient CSA Workbook. This resource guides farmers through the complex and subtle legal issues that affect Community Supported Agriculture programs around the country. Their approach empowers farmers to understand, assess, and manage the risks specific to their CSA operation. Farmers will find tips, tools, and resources to build CSA […]
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Hunger is a Significant Public Health Issue Hunger and food insecurity affects one out of every five children in Wisconsin. In Dane County, one in five White households and one in three Latino, African American and single-parent households experiences food insecurity. When a household experiences food insecurity, people are unsure of where their next meal […]
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Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods. You can bake, fry, mash, stir fry and even make pie with them. They are versatile, store well and full of nutrients. So what’s not to love? But that is not the only reason I am going to raise them in my garden this summer as part […]
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Check out the PDF of “Wisconsin Consumers and Local Food: Marketing Recommendations for Direct Market Farmers.” This brief describes key findings from a 2015 survey of Wisconsinites about their opinions and behaviors regarding local food, including what people believe the definition of “local” to be, opinions about benefits of local produce, differences in people based on where they live in the […]
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The USDA has announced a new, tailored web tool designed to connect burgeoning farm entrepreneurs with programs and resources available to help them get started. The new web tool is available at www.usda.gov/newfarmers The site features advice and guidance on everything a new farm business owner needs to know, from writing a business plan, to […]
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In preparation for new food safety regulations, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently announced improved financing options to help fruit and vegetable growers build or upgrade food handling facilities. Farm Storage Facility Loans can be used in conjunction with FSA Microloans to finance equipment and buildings for fruit and vegetable washing, packing, handling, and cold-storage. […]
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The Safe and Healthy Food Pantries Project has developed a guide that will provide the opportunity for food pantries to learn the latest research, assess their current practices, review strategies, and develop an action plan to improve the nutrition and safety of the foods they provide to families. See the full project guide to gain […]
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For those interested in dismantling racism and promoting a more equitable food system, your summer reading list has been decided! The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems has developed a robust “Annotated Bibliography on Structural Racism Present in the U.S. Food System” (download the PDF). The authors’ aim with this resource is to “provide current research and […]
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Avian Influenza has been found on poultry farms in four counties around Wisconsin; the closest being Jefferson County, where two farms have tested positive for the disease. Since this is a highly contagious disease and because of its proximity to Dane County, poultry producers and small flock owners should be concerned and take steps to protect their birds. […]
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