Health News
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has unveiled its newest tool to promote local food systems, an online instrument that lets viewers see what local and regional food projects are under way in their area and read case studies, watch videos and see pictures from the field.
- Nationally And Statewide, Farm-to-school Program Is A Success
With approximately 80 Kentucky school districts participating in the Farm to School program, many of them are finding special ways to celebrate National Farm to School Month, with much to celebrate, as a preliminary U.S. Department of Agricuture report...
- Kentucky's Local Food Movement Is Booming, But Some Say Home-processing Laws Places Undue Burden On Qualified Entrepreneurs
The local food movement is alive and well in Kentucky, which leads the nation in federally funded local food projects, Janet Patton reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader. In 2014, "Local food sales topped $11.7 billion, according to the United...
- Kentucky Is One Of Three States To Get Walmart Foundation Money To Expand Farm-to-school Programs
Kentucky will use money from The Walmart Foundation to partner with the National Farm to School Network to expand efforts to get more local foods into schools. A project called Seed Change will ?jump start? programs that get local...
- Comer Encourages Kentucky Schools To Serve Fresh Local Foods On 'farm Fresh Fridays'
State Agriculture Commissioner James Comer wants Kentucky schools to offer fresh, local foods for students on Farm Fresh Fridays. The program will launch with Farm to School Month in October, according to a Department of Agriculture press release....
- Ten Counties Getting $5,400 Each For Farm-to-school Programs
More than $50,000 in grants were awarded to Kentucky school districts this week to start or expand farm-to-school programs, an effort meant to support local farmers and get healthier meals in school cafeterias. Funding was given to Calloway, Carlisle,...
Health News
USDA launches online tool to link farmers with nearby consumers
The "Food Compass" is the latest effort in the "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" project, meant to expand the number of small, local farmers and ranchers who serve their communities. An interactive map lets viewers see USDA-supported projects related to local food systems in place across the country. That includes information about access to local meals, careers in agriculture and access to healthy food.
The written section includes stories about local food system projects, whether that pertains to farm-to-school, farm-to-hospital and farm-to-institution programs; local meat processing; hoophouses; urban farms; organic farms; and school gardens. Readers can see how people are putting their USDA funds to work to connect to their communities.
The compass notes that buying and selling food at the local, rather than mass consumer, level is a growing trend. In 2011, more than 85 percent of customers asked by the National Grocers Association said they chose to shop at a grocery store based in part on whether it carries food grown from local producers. More than 2,000 schools across the country have farm-to-school programs, and more than 7,000 American cities and towns have farmers' markets. The growing trend is a positive thing since it is "spurring job growth, keeping more farmers on the land and more wealth in rural communities," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. To view the compass, click here.
- Nationally And Statewide, Farm-to-school Program Is A Success
With approximately 80 Kentucky school districts participating in the Farm to School program, many of them are finding special ways to celebrate National Farm to School Month, with much to celebrate, as a preliminary U.S. Department of Agricuture report...
- Kentucky's Local Food Movement Is Booming, But Some Say Home-processing Laws Places Undue Burden On Qualified Entrepreneurs
The local food movement is alive and well in Kentucky, which leads the nation in federally funded local food projects, Janet Patton reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader. In 2014, "Local food sales topped $11.7 billion, according to the United...
- Kentucky Is One Of Three States To Get Walmart Foundation Money To Expand Farm-to-school Programs
Kentucky will use money from The Walmart Foundation to partner with the National Farm to School Network to expand efforts to get more local foods into schools. A project called Seed Change will ?jump start? programs that get local...
- Comer Encourages Kentucky Schools To Serve Fresh Local Foods On 'farm Fresh Fridays'
State Agriculture Commissioner James Comer wants Kentucky schools to offer fresh, local foods for students on Farm Fresh Fridays. The program will launch with Farm to School Month in October, according to a Department of Agriculture press release....
- Ten Counties Getting $5,400 Each For Farm-to-school Programs
More than $50,000 in grants were awarded to Kentucky school districts this week to start or expand farm-to-school programs, an effort meant to support local farmers and get healthier meals in school cafeterias. Funding was given to Calloway, Carlisle,...