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Local Food Promotion Gets $300K Boost from USDA
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Programs to promote the purchase and use of local foods received nearly $300,000 in federal funds this week.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Farmers Market Promotion grants to the Lake-to-River Food Cooperative in Youngstown for $99,350 and to the Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership for $96,733. Additionally, the 30 Mile Meal Initiative received $100,000 from USDA from its Local Food Marketing Program.
“There is a huge consumer demand for locally produced food and it's strong and it's growing,” Anne Alonzo, administrator of USDA’s agricultural marketing service, said. “Folks want to know where their food is coming from and as the sector matures we see the importance of supporting our farmers and ranchers for positioning their businesses to meet the demands across the local food supply chain.”
According to the USDA announcement, Lake-to-River, which is operated by Common Wealth Inc., will use its funds to strengthen the online market for local produce delivery in the Mahoning Valley; encourage purchases from community, school and institutions; and expand training opportunities for growers. TNP’s F.A.R.M. Warren program will use the funds to provide educational and networking resources for local farmers and to promote the Warren Farmer’s Market.
Common Wealth will work with partners in the 30 Mile Meal branding program to move beyond promoting farmers markets and expanded availability of locally processed food from the Kitchen Incubator, to bring institutional buyers and families into more supportive local buying efforts, according to Jim Converse, Common Wealth regional development director.
“USDA is putting funds behind their policy of encouraging consumers to eat local, buy local and support local growers and value-added processors,” he said. “It is a much-awaited step to put some ‘meat on the bones’ of their Know Your Farmer Know Your Food program.”
PICTURED: Dave Waldeck of Birdsong Farm in Garrettsville, backs fresh vegetables at the Warren Farmer's Market this summer.
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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