Community Food Systems

Dane County UW Extension is working to help build a diverse and inclusive community food system that is economically viable, environmentally sound and socially just for all Dane County residents. Our goal is to provide information, resources, and links on the wide variety of farming, gardening, and other important information and activities that happen in Dane County.  [...]

Please join us for the 2012 Midwest Value Added Agriculture Conference – December 12-13, 2012 The La Crosse Center – La Crosse, Wisconsin Presented by River Country RC&D and Wisconsin Farmers Union Featuring: Laura Jackson, Author of “The Farm as Natural Habitat: Reconnecting Food Systems with Ecosystems,” Professor of Biology at the University of Northern [...]

When?   Thursday, May 17th from 1:30-2:30PM                                                     Where? Your computer Cost?     FREE How do I register?   sign-up here Are you interested in selling processed foods, but need help navigating labeling requirements? Food Products Labeling 101 is an opportunity for you to find out exactly what you need to have on your product labels. Arthur Ness, a [...]

Investing in America’s Health A new report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation examines key disease rates in combination with health spending in states around the country, and concludes that sustained and sufficient investment in public health and disease prevention is essential to improving health and driving down the [...]

Michigan State University’s new Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) is pleased to announce the release of the publication, Creating Change in the Food System.   This report, authored by Rich Pirog of CRFS and Corry Bregendahl of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, details the growth and achievements of the Regional [...]

May 23, 2012 – 9:00 am to 3:30 pm Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center Madison, WI   Institutional food buyers, distributors, and producers of local Wisconsin food are all invited to hear from culinary pioneer Monique Hooker at Dane County’s Institutional Food Market Coalition (IFM) 6th Annual Meeting!     Monique will help [...]

New Web Resource Maps USDA Support for Local and Regional Food Projects, Highlights Business Opportunities for Farmers, Ranchers and Growers  WASHINGTON, Feb. 29, 2012- Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan unveiled the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) Compass, an interactive web-based document and map highlighting USDA support for [...]

A new report is available from the Congressional Research Service on local food systems: CRS Local Food & Farm Policy Report Jan 20, 2012

 Presentations from Second Annual Southern Wisconsin Vegetable Workshop for Area Growers The 2012 Southern Wisconsin Vegetable Workshop was held on Tuesday, Feb 7th at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.  The workshop featured sessions on a variety of topics and featured area farmers, UW Extension Vegetable Specialists, DATCP staff, and others. The following Power Point presentations are [...]

The UW Center for Integrated Ag Studies has produced two new online farm to school toolkits. These resources have tools that can help producers and school nutrition directors create successful farm to school programs in their communities. The toolkits offer a variety of interactive resources and helpful links. To see the toolkits, go to http://www.cias.wisc.edu/toolkits/

UW Extension’s Center for Community & Economic Development has released an initial set of community food systems indicators.  The indicators provide a look at how Wisconsin as a state and its counties are faring in food systems development including: an overall look at how local foods fit into the agricultural economy, direct marketing (CSA and farmers [...]