Re-building our Local Food System was the theme of the Local Food Summit attended by over 120 local food stakeholders and advocates on May 19th at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds. Participants were presented with the losing economics of our current commodity based food system by national local food economic analyst, Ken Meter of the Crossroads Resource Center in Minneapolis. Ken's presentation posed the data to the Food Summit that our county ships approximately $68 million a year out of the region to buy farm inputs from fertilizers, seeds, equipment, and fuel. Additionally, Mendocino County consumers spend approximately $210 million dollars a year buying food from outside of the county. As we re-build our local food system, there is a tremendous economic opportunity of almost $300 million dollars a year leaving our county that could be captured here!
The Summit also presented numerous local initiatives underway to address the challenges of access to land, labor, capital investment, healthy food in schools, community access to garden space and food stamps and food banks. Local farmers, schools, and non-profits shared their models and participants broke into discussion groups to make connections and brainstorm solutions to the challenges.
The Summit was hosted by North Coast Opportunities and Community Health Services of Mendocino County. As the movement builds momentum, organizers will continue to foster connections and seek funding and support for the numerous initiatives underway.
Ken Meter's presentation can be viewed at: --> -->http://www.crcworks.org/crcppts/camendo10.pdf
1 comment:
This was a fantastic event! Please let us know when you have summarized the breakout discussions and have made them available to the public. I am anxious to share the information with others who are interested in establishing a vibrant local food system!
Thank you so much for the opportunity, Miles, et al! You are a real asset to our community!
Haji Warf
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