Road Map for the Food Economy: Direction and Speed of the Local Food Movement
By Julie Perine on January 30, 2013 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Just right off the I-79 Corridor, advocates for the promotion of local foods gathered Tuesday for the “Road Map for the Food Economy” working conference.
Bridgeport Conference Center was the site where statewide growers, distributors, networkers and concerned citizens met to review “farm to table food” progress of 2011/12 and put into action some new goals for the coming year.
Hosted by the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition, the event included updates on various working group projects, such as Processing Infrastructure, Aggregation and Distribution, Teaching Youth Through Agriculture and Improving Access to Healthy Local Food.
WVFFC Chair Savanna Lyons was among those who took the floor to bring attendees up to speed on the farm to table movement.
Her information-packed report included updates on agriculture programs being instituted in West Virginia high schools, as well as an increase in the amount of local foods being served in West Virginia schools.
Lyons noted that the agricultural progress is a “sign of the times.”
Grants are being made available to students to encourage them to develop their own niche in the local food movement, she said.
West Virginia Farmers Markets are obviously at the forefront of the effort. An opportunity largely missed until recently was the acceptance of food stamps at West Virginia Farmers Markets. Thirteen new venues implemented the “SNAP” policy this past year, she said,
The retail scene is also seeing increased action insofar as locally-raised and grown foods are concerned. Last year, 84 convenience stores added fresh produce to their merchandise offerings.
The West Virginia Legislature is also on board with the initiative, Lyons said.
The Collaborative for the 21st Century Appalachia, with which Bridgeport Farmers Market works closely, works together with Road Map for the Food Economy, said Scott Duarte, Bridgeport Conference Center manager.
All of the organizations collaborate to educate people on why to eat and buy local foods and support local food systems.
“There are local growers, packers and distributors. They came to learn what’s going on out there and be part of the mission of West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition,” Duarte said.
Pictured is Jessica Lyons, speaking on behalf of the WV Food & Farm Coalition.
