By: Tara Bozick
Published: August 31, 2011
Danville and Pittsylvania County consumers, farmers and food-related businesses are invited to join forces with their neighbors in a local food system coalition.
Martinsville and Henry and Patrick counties formed “Field to Friends” in June after a study showed how improving the local food system could help the area in its economic recovery while promoting health.
A food system isn’t just farmer’s markets. It’s production, processing, distribution, consumption and waste disposal. Leaders would like the region to improve access to local foods to capitalize on unprecedented demand and keep money local.
“In most cases we all eat three times a day,” said Eric Bendfeldt, community viability extension specialist in Harrisonburg. “We can all participate in making a few small choices and having a really big impact.”
If Pittsylvania County households spent $10 a week on locally grown food, the local economic impact would be $15.3 million annually, he said. For Danville, the impact would be $12.1 million.
Consumers in the eight counties surrounding the Dan River Region spend about $900 million buying food from outside the region each year, according to an economic study by Ken Meter and the Crossroads Resource Center. That was while regional farmers and ranchers lost an average $35 million a year in food commodities from 1999 to 2008 due to loss of income and increased expenses.
“Developing a local food system is not simple,” Walker said. “It’s a complex operation.”
One goal of the coalition is to connect local food with local institutions like schools or hospitals, restaurants and wholesalers. Another is developing the infrastructure and resources to sustain a community-based food system while engaging the community and increasing local consumer demand.
A supportive system could also help small business development or expansion, like farmers developing value-added products, Bendfeldt said.
“I think for economic recovery, it’s a very good foundation to build on,” Bendfeldt said.
Rieck would like to see a cooperative market where farmers all chip in to pay for the labor of running a store so consumers can find the products at a central location.
“We do need the local support,” Rieck said.
For more information, visit www.fieldtofriends.org
or email fieldtofriends@gmail.com.
If You Go
» WHAT: “2011 Local Food Systems: Building the Market” conference to explore marketing ideas and resources for developing a robust local food system
» WHEN: From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Spencer Penn Centre at 475 Spencer Penn Road in Spencer
» COST: $15, includes lunch
» REGISTER: Register by Oct. 7 by calling (276) 694-7181 Ext. 22 or emailing martinlm@vt.edu
Read more:
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2011/aug/31/group-hopes-link-food-chain-dan-river-region-ar-1275020/
