farmers/farming information

Southern Food

Although we have many barriers yet to remove in the South, we are lucky to have valued and retained a great deal of our food culture. We are also lucky to have Southern Foodways Alliance diligently working to capture history and help create new history too. Their website is a treasure trove of stories, recipes and facts of southern food. Their events often sell out quickly-for good reason.

One of the projects they have begun is a movie. Here is the filmmaker’s story:
Hey, I’m Joe York. I make documentaries for the Southern Foodways Alliance and the University of Mississippi’s Media & Documentary Projects Center. In early 2010, we began production of a feature-length documentary film with the oh so original working title of “Southern Food: The Movie”.
Read more about his project:
Movie

And become a member to stay in touch with all of their excellent work.

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All of Louisiana declared an agricultural disaster area

Floods, drought and other nasty weather have made all of Louisiana — and 27 adjacent counties in Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas — an agricultural disaster area for 2011. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says its declaration is based on combined effects of severe storms, tornadoes, severe spring flooding, Tropical Storm Lee, widespread drought and excessive heat since Jan. 1.

Disaster story

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Immigrant farmers

“Mr. Kim, who witnessed mass starvation in Cambodia, losing a brother, refers to his two-acre plot as “my plenty.” His fellow farmer Sinikiwe Makarutsa grew up in Zimbabwe and now grows maize on land rented from a local church. She made enough money to buy a tractor and rototiller.”

NYT

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Agripedians Wanted for Food System Wiki

(For subscribers of the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development and/or as a member of AgDevONLINE):

The local food movement is growing dramatically, and with it is emerging new lingo and jargon. The Food System Wiki — a collaboration of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Wisconsin Madison and the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development — is designed as a user-friendly and evolving repository of food system lexicon. This is a place where you can contribute new words and definitions, show how the terms are used, and fine-tune those of existing words.

There are several dozen agripedians contributing currently to the Food System Wiki. We would like to see greater participation from nutritionists, community development professionals, Extension agents, faculty, students, public officials, agency representatives, and, of course, farmers and food entrepreneurs.

Please join in the project! SIGNING UP to use the Food System Wiki is easy. After approval, follow the simple instructions to get started. Start by being a member of JAFSCD:
agdevjournal

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Food Day market run by students

Another way we can use the mechanism of markets to encourage food system changes. A student group in Hammond Louisiana called Reconnect will be hosting a one day farmers market at their Southeastern Louisiana University campus to encourage Aramark to consider buying directly from farmers for the campus. This one day market can begin a multitude of conversations around farming, food, small business growth and smart planning.

One day farmers market at Southeastern Louisiana University to be held on October 24th.

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Another educational opportunity

Mother Jones has an article about how organic strawberries can come from plants that are not organically started. I insert two of the comments here, one that expounds our point of view, and one that does not:

That’s why farmers’ markets are getting so popular. More and more people want to know where their food is coming from. They don’t want to get sick from nasty bacteria or chemicals. The local market where we shop is busy every week, and the growers accept WIC, SNAP, and Senior Nutrition coupons (thus belying the popular right-wing myth that only rich yuppies go to farmers’ markets.)

Yesterday 03:40 PM in reply to
beware … the farmer’s markets AND roadside stands … ask the question … they are often owned by the BIG scale producers … being in a farmer’s market / road side stand … DOES NOT make it organic.

otherwise … yes … buy local … join the best local COOP or Food Share.

Toxic organic strawberries

Hopefully, our friends in CA farmers markets have their conversational ear ready for this sort of question at their markets. Do you?

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Study debunks myths on organic farms

Let’s remember that its our job to spread the environmental message of good farming.

Study debunks myths on organic farms.

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Watch Two Heartbreaking Videos About Upstate Farmers Affected by Irene

Watch Two Heartbreaking Videos About Upstate Farmers Affected by Irene.

Thanks to Kelly Verel of Projects for Public Spaces for sharing this link.

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Oh, yeah-let’s remember to save the farmland…

The very idea that stories in relatively mainstream publications cover farmland issues is a testament to many organizers. However, the land keeps disappearing….

At Home in Agriburbia – The Sweet Pursuit – Utne Reader.

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Northeast farmers warn of Irene pumpkin shortage

Northeast farmers warn of Irene pumpkin shortage.
Everywhere I go, I mention some of the shortages we can expect from natural disasters this year. It seems almost every time, people are surprised. How soon we forget…

So, it remains an important piece of work for market organizers to remember to continue to tell the story, long after the farmer may be tired of another shopper saying,”Why no pumpkins?”

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Santa Rosa dispute

Wow. This article gives some information on a dispute between vendors and management at a California market that has, sadly, gone to court. The article (which certainly needs more information from both sides) and the ensuing comments show that this issue has been coming for a while in this community.
Long ago, when I was learning non-profit management, I proudly related to my supervisor at the end of the day just how I had stopped an argument between 2 senior staff while the entire staff was driving to a site. I expected congratulations, but instead my excellent boss said to me: “Well, I’m glad you stopped it, but I would expect you to have seen the argument escalating long BEFORE that point and steered the conversation and tone to other directions before it got to inflammatory words that now everyone remembers throughout their day. So, next time plan ahead and try to orchestrate good interactions from the beginning. It’s your job to give everyone the best chance to succeed at their job and that also means reducing tensions that are unnecessary.”

Good advice still.

Santa Rosa Market dispute

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Stepping in to help save a market

Great story on a small market in Oregon that was struggling to such an extent that it was about to close- until a market vendor stepped up to manage it. Interestingly, those interviewed seem to think that produce, although vital, needs to be balanced with a whole bunch of other items and educational events to attract and retain a large enough customer base. Sounds like a good track to me, but hey folks I might also look at the size, how space is used, parking and type of events offered already…
And take a look at how neighboring Oregon City Farmers Market manages the balance.
West Linn

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Conservation incentives

According to a press release from The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition,
the Conservation Stewardship Program (which is outlined in the link below) offers support to farmers in exchange for better environmental practices, The Conservation Stewardship Program pays farmers for adopting “new conservation enhancements” and actively managing ongoing conservation activities. Those payments are calibrated directly to the environmental benefits derived from specific practices.

Each geographical region has its own unique agricultural challenges, which are addressed in a five-page section of data analysis. The data includes analysis of program participation by geographic region, land use type, commodity type, and the top conservation practices and enhancements chosen by farmers and ranchers who enrolled in the program.

Some of the important issues addressed by the program include water quality, wildlife habitat, soil quality and erosion. In some areas of the country, water conservation and air quality are also important considerations

Read more: More information here

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Competing for space

Story on competition in WI farmers markets

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