Newsletter -- January 2008

 

Finding Local Foods
Policy Corner
Funding Possibilities: EQIP, Rural Development
Local Food Focus

 

 

   Consumers Seek Out Local Foods but Are Unable to Find Them

At our successful, first ever “Meet Your Local Producers” event in Springfield this November, we surveyed consumers on their local food buying practices.  From the 32 respondents we discovered that 94% of consumers seek locally grown and produced foods in grocery stores and restaurants.  The number one reason preventing 50% of buyers to make local purchases is that they are unable to find locally produced foods.  What can you do if you are unable to find locally produced foods in restaurants and stores?  Ask your supermarket manager or restaurant chefs to offer local food selections or go to www.illinoisfarmdirect.org to find a farmer near you.  When consumers ask, the market will listen.

Local Food Purchase Survey Results

 How often do you shop at a farmer’s market or direct from a farmer?
1-3 times per month – 56%
3-6 times per month – 31%
More than 6 times per month – 13%
Never – <1% 

Do you seek out local foods in retail outlets (grocery stores, etc.) and restaurants?
Yes – 94%
No – 6% 

Would you purchase locally produced foods over non-locally produced foods if both were available?
Sometimes – 23%
Usually – 48%
Always – 29%
Never – N/A

 What prevents you from buying more locally produced foods?
Prices are too high – 12%
Unable to find locally produced foods – 50%
Inconvenient to buy locally produced foods – 22%
Can not find the kinds of food I like produced locally –  19%
Don’t know how to prepare locally produced foods – 6%

 

      Policy Corner

Thank you to Senators Obama and Durbin for voting for commodity crop payment limitation reform! This amendment to the farm bill would have put a cap of $250,000 a year on total commodity support per farm, but unfortunately the amendment fell short of the needed votes. Other programs are still in the air as the farm bill goes to conference committee, including whether the final version will include adequate funding for the Conservation Security Program, and include a directive for the USDA to conduct a Local Food Systems study. For more information on the farm bill go to: http://www.sustainableagriculturecoalition.org/.

 

      Funding Possibilities: EQIP, Rural Development

Funding is now available from the Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and from the National Research Initiative through the Rural Development Program.

Illinois NRCS is offering cost-share assistance through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Funding is available for Grazing Land Operations, Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans Forest Management Plans, Forest Management Implementation, and more. All eligible applications and contracts are due by 1/25/08. Contact your local NRCS office for more information: http://www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/directory/ilcntys.html

Through the Rural Development Program, the National Research Initiative provides a competitive grant program for integrated projects that help to develop sustainable rural communities. Priorities include enhancing economic vitality through the creation of employment opportunities including entrepreneurship and small business development strategies; cost-benefit analysis of environmental protection and analysis of strategies to enhance ecosystem services while promoting economic development and employment; and the development of innovative strategies to build the rural workforce, including projects to attract and retain rural youth.  The applications period closes on 2/14/08. For more information go to: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/ruraldevelopmentnri.cfm.

 

        Local Food Focus: Southern Illinois

Things are brewing in Southern Illinois with efforts for more community support of local foods. Jerry Bradley and Dayna Conner, two local food advocates, have been researching food policy councils as well as looking into collaborative partners to initiate local food projects. In order to provide an online resource and give people an opportunity to learn more about the environmental, social and economic benefits of local foods, they started a blog. Local Matters, http://eatsouthernillinois.blogspot.com, is a fantastic source of information about local food issues, local farms, food-related policy and more. One recent post offers a list of 15 things you can do to do support your local food system, from asking your supermarket manager to stock local produce to calling your representatives to encourage them to support local foods. 

For others interested in starting a blog, Jerry says it is really simple, “you click, you pick, you click and you are up.” He suggests using www.blogger.com because it is free and easy to use.  Two tips on blogging from Jerry:  1. Keep it current. People will stop looking if you aren’t updating regularly.  2. Use an interactive tool. For example, a poll keeps people engaged and gives them something to think about. 

Their next step is to get people together from the community to assess their food system. Looking ahead, they anticipate dealing with some of the infrastructure needs to support local growers. We are looking forward to seeing how things develop in Southern Illinois and we will be checking in on their blog and hope you will, too!

If you have a story about food system development or a local food project that you would like to share, please contact Lindsay@illinoisstewardshipalliance.org