A Kansas Community Dedicated to Providing Access to Locally Grown Food

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by USDA Rural Development State Director in Kansas, Patty Clark, on August 8, 2014 at 4:32 PM

On August 5, USDA Rural Development State Director Patty Clark visited the Lawrence Farmers Market in recognition of National Farmers Market Week.

Lawrence, Kansas has been building a local/regional foods movement since the early 1970’s.  In other words – they made local foods “cool” long before the local food movement and Farmer’s Markets gained in popularity across the nation.

The movement started with the creation of a retail food cooperative called the “The Merc” in 1974. The cooperative started with four individuals and currently includes more than 6,800.  The Lawrence farmers market has grown from a single Saturday morning market to four markets each week supported by regional producers that grow everything from asparagus to zucchini – from “A” to “Z” in the fruit and vegetable alphabet.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) businesses are not only growing in popularity with individuals – but also corporate customers including the Lawrence Journal-World newspaper, the Lawrence Hospital and many others.  Restaurants in Lawrence feature local foods and local food producers in their menus.   “Limestone Pizzeria” is the latest addition to the restaurant choices in Lawrence to feature local foods (their fresh sweet corn, tomato and bacon pizza is a favorite).  The restaurants order fresh produce and meats from the Farmers Market vendors in advance – and then pick it up at the Farmers Markets on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Another new twist to the Lawrence Local Foods efforts is their Farm to Pre-School program, called “Healthy Sprouts” that is initiated and supported by the Douglas County Child Development Association.  This program works to cultivate healthy habits in the early years of a child’s life, increase access to local food and provide comprehensive food education.  Their efforts are changing childrens’ eating habits by introducing healthy foods through the gardening experience – not just the eating experience.

Douglas County has a robust Food Policy Council, which was awarded a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant in 2013 to conduct a Food Hub Feasibility Study.  The study is complete and implementation of its recommendations are underway in order to build on past success and create more opportunities for producers and consumers to support the local food environment.

What started as food cooperative and a single-day Farmers Market has grown to a scaled-up local food system that strengthens the connection between producers and consumers, improves nutrition for all ages and creates a positive economic impact in the community and region.

22 year old's non-profit helps NYC kids in the summer - Aug. 8, 2014

Summer is fun for kids, but it can also be a big setback, as their reading, writing and arithmetic get rusty.

That's why 22-year-old Karim Abouelnaga launched Practice Makes Perfect -- a non-profit enrichment program aimed at helping New York City school kids keep their skills up during summer vacation.

22 year old's non-profit helps NYC kids in the summer - Aug. 8, 2014

31% of Americans have no retirement savings at all - Aug. 8, 2014

It's no secret that many Americans aren't saving enough for retirement, but a big chunk of households have saved nothing at all.

Nearly a third, or 31% of U.S. adults said they had no savings or pension to help them afford retirement, according to the Federal Reserve Board.

31% of Americans have no retirement savings at all - Aug. 8, 2014

Pastry Shop in Heidelberg, Germany

Reclaiming Spaces: One Farmers Market at a Time

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Lindsay Buchannan, the Acting National Coordinator for Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, on August 8, 2014 at 4:10 PM

The Ferry Building dominated the busy port as a main boat terminus. As cars and highways became more popular, the terminal went into disrepair. Now, farmers and vendors have revived the space, making the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market one of California’s most famous farmers markets. Photo courtesy of Jim Forest.

At the DeKalb Market in Brooklyn, N.Y., the farmers market is nestled among other vendors including artists, craftsmen, and chefs all housed within colorful shipping containers. Repurposed shipping containers are housing farmers markets on undeveloped lots in, Boston and Raleigh as well. Photo courtesy of Leonel Lima Ponce

Consumer demand for local food is driving the expansion of farmers markets into places of all shapes, sizes, and locations. Ferry terminals, train depots, grain mills and shipping containers all can, and are, housing farmers markets across the country.  There are 8,268 markets listed in the USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory, a 76 percent increase since 2008.  Managed by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, the directory listings reflect continued growth and demand in every region of the country. Today farmers markets are as diverse as the communities they serve and can be found in unique rural and urban spaces across the country.

Built in 1903, the Southern Railways Station in Knoxville, Tenn., was a symbol of America’s great railroad heritage. The terminal is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its late 19^th century architecture and its prominent role in Tennessee railroad industry.  Today, the main building has been repurposed into office spaces and a banquet hall that hosts a winter farmers market.  Last winter, the depot hosted its first market, offering 30 vendors an opportunity to extend their season and continue the tradition of celebrating Knoxville’s heritage.

From land to water, transportation hubs are a favorite way to repurpose farmers markets.  Throughout San Francisco’s history, ferries crisscrossed the Bay and connected one part of the city to another.  The Ferry Building dominated the busy port as a main boat terminus. As cars and highways became more popular, the terminal went into disrepair. Now, farmers and vendors have revived the space, making the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market one of California’s most famous farmers markets.

The water-powered mill in Chester Springs, Penn., was a symbol of the area’s manufacturing prowess throughout the 1800’s.  However, the building became obsolete as technology evolved.  In 2004, the Mill at Anselma restored the space, and the millstones once again milled flour for the first time in seven decades.  The grounds now host a weekly farmers market as well as lectures and special events. The Mill is a destination for area history buffs as well as market customers. 

In addition to creatively reclaiming buildings, farmers markets are also reclaiming vacant spaces.  At the DeKalb Market in Brooklyn, N.Y., the farmers market is nestled among other vendors including artists, craftsmen, and chefs all housed within colorful shipping containers.  Repurposed shipping containers are housing farmers markets on undeveloped lots in, Boston and Raleigh as well.

This week, we celebrate farmers markets during National Farmers Market Week, recognizing the creative spirit these markets embody.  From changing vacant lots to vibrant spaces to renovating historic landmarks offering new opportunities for food entrepreneurs, farmers markets are connecting farmers and customers.   Use the USDA Farmers Market Directory to find a farmers market near you and enjoy the space as much as the food.

If you are a manger of a farmers market, community-supported agriculture (CSA), food hub, or on-farm establishment looking to get connected with your customers, add or update your listing in USDA’s Local Food Directories at: http://www.usdalocalfooddirectories.com.

USDA Partners with Community, Farmers Market in Eastern Kentucky: To Feed Kids and Help Farmers

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Katherine Belcher, USDA Rural Development, Kentucky, on August 8, 2014 at 8:59 AM

Staff of the Letcher County Farmers Market and Kentucky Department of Education proudly highlight the kitchen that serves meals to children in Whitesburg as part of the USDA Summer Food Service Program.

This week marks the 15^th annual National Farmers Market Week and USDA is celebrating the achievements of the more than 8,700 markets across the county. In rural eastern Kentucky, over the summer, a remarkable thing happened in the small community of Whitesburg. Local, state and federal officials all worked together to create the first-ever USDA “Summer Feeding Site” for children to be held at a local farmers market in Kentucky.

The Summer Feeding Site project that was launched in Whitesburg is part of USDA’s Summer Food Service Program that provides free meals to children from low-income households. Over the summer break, many of these kids and teens are in danger of not eating properly or going hungry because they don’t have access to school meals.

Children participating in Whitesburg’s Summer Feeding Site program enjoyed healthy meals like breakfast wraps, fresh eggs and fruit smoothies that were served from a mobile kitchen donated by the Mountain Shrine Club. Local growers provided most of the food items for the meals.

Letcher County is a persistent poverty county in the Appalachian region where residents are at higher risk for health concerns such as obesity, and approximately 60 percent of children are eligible for free or reduced price school lunches. The county is one of the areas targeted for assistance through USDA’s StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity Initiative to combat the effects of rural poverty. It is also part of the Obama Administration’s Promise Zone Initiative to increase Federal investments in economically distressed regions.

USDA Rural Development partnered with a variety of public and private local, state and federal agencies to help fund and start the new summer meals program in Whitesburg. In addition to providing local children with healthy meals, the program also benefitted agricultural producers in the region. The team members who helped launch this new program are working to enable more farmers markets across Kentucky to become summer feeding program sites.

Visit USDA Rural Development’s website to learn more about how our financial programs can help support local or regional foods projects in rural areas.

Thousands of Reasons to Celebrate National Farmers Market Week

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Anne L. Alonzo, Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator, on August 4, 2014 at 2:00 PM

AMS Administrator Anne Alonzo visits with Madison, Wisconsin Mayor Paul Soglin at the Dane County Farmers Market. Alonzo kicked off National Farmers Market Week, sharing USDA’s commitment to strengthening local and regional food systems.

The 15^th Annual National Farmers Market Week is off to a great start!

Farmers markets connect and unite people living in urban and rural environments, provide access to fresh, healthy and delicious foods, and—best of all—put a face to the farmers and ranchers who produce their wonderful wares. We, in turn, can support farmers and local communities with our purchases.

On Saturday, August 2, I had the pleasure of launching National Farmers Market Week at the Dane County Farmer’s Market in Madison, Wisconsin. In addition to touring the largest producer-only market in the country with Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and Dane County Farmers Market Manager Bill Lubing, I was excited to highlight the 2014 update of the USDA Farmers Market Directory.  This free, online directory is a valuable tool for connecting farmers and ranchers with new customers.

The Dane County Farmer’s Market is one of 8,268 markets listed in the directory, a 76 percent increase since 2008.  The listings, which are voluntarily reported by farmers market managers, reflect continued growth and demand in every region of the country.

The states with the most farmers markets listed in USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory are California (764 markets), New York (638 markets), Michigan (339 markets), Ohio (311 markets), Illinois (309 markets), Massachusetts (306 markets), Pennsylvania (297 markets), Wisconsin (295 markets), Virginia (249 markets), and Missouri (245 markets).

The 10 states with the largest percentage increase of farmers markets include Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Arkansas, North Carolina, Montana, Florida and Nebraska. Five of these states—Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and North Carolina—are part of USDA’s StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity, under which USDA has increased investment in rural communities through intensive outreach and stronger partnerships.

And there is more exciting news!  We are developing three new local food directories:

• USDA’s National Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) Enterprise Directory
• USDA’s National Food Hub Directory
• USDA’s National On-Farm Market Directory

These free directories will provide one stop, easy access to the most current information about local food sources. I encourage local growers and food business owners to visit www.usdalocalfooddirectories.com and list their operational details.  Together, we can continue building valuable resources to support local and regional food systems in communities across the country.  These new directories will be available online early in 2015.

Farmers market development is a cornerstone of USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, which coordinates USDA’s policy, resources, and outreach efforts related to local and regional food systems. Secretary Vilsack has identified strengthening local food systems as one of the four pillars of USDA’s commitment to rural economic development.

With additional support received in the 2014 Farm Bill, USDA is redoubling its commitment and support of local and regional food systems. The AMS’s Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program will now make $30 million available annually to farmers markets, other direct producer-to-consumer venues, and other businesses in the local food supply chain.

Our overall goal is simple—to increase support and develop resources for small and midsize producers and new and beginning farmers—many of whom depend on farmers markets to reach their consumers.  Together we can ensure the success of local and regional food systems all year long—not just during National Farmers Market Week.