Good Food for All

A Round Up of New Food and Farm Related Resources and Tool Kits

This update was cross-posted on ChicagoREgen

New Source for Food and Environmental News
The Food and Environment Reporting Network, Inc., an independent non-profit news organization that contributes investigative reports to major media outlets on food, agriculture, and environmental health, has launched:  www.thefern.org

Farmers Market Management Tool
Check out a free tool for managing farmers markets, designed to cut down on admin time, make vendors easier to manage and keep customers better informed.

A Strategy and Tool Kit to Help Beginning Farmers Succeed
Check out FoodshedGuide.org  for a tool to assist farmers and creditors in understanding the new food business landscape.

Farm to School Toolkit Available
An online toolkit designed to assist anyone interested in incorporating more local foods into their school menu, available on the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition website.

United Fresh: Produce Affects All 50 States
View comprehensive state-by-state profiles that show the impact of fruit and vegetable production nationwide, demonstrating that the fruit and vegetable industry has a tangible impact on the health and economy of every state.

New Listserve for Chicagoans interested in Food
FoodLoveChicago is a space to share stories, recipes, events, inspirations, skills, resources and opportunities related to food and community. Join

Farm Bill Update, Two Great Reports, and Girl Scouts Join the Locavore Movement

This update was cross-posted on ChicagoREgen

Farm Bill Update
The fast track 2011 Farm Bill, which was part of the Super Committee process, was scrapped when the Super Committee could not broker a deficit reduction bill.  A more traditional farm bill process will begin early next year on the 2012 Farm Bill.  Here is a summary of the process, in two parts:  one and two.

The Plant was recently featured on WBEZ
Converting empty buildings: a template on Chicago’s South side? Read and listen here.

Report: Agroecology and the Right to Food
An important report presented to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2011, demonstrates that agroecology, if sufficiently supported, can double food production in entire regions within 10 years while mitigating climate change and alleviating rural poverty.

Report:  Building a Future with Farmers: Challenges faced by young American farmers
A new survey by The National Young Farmer's Coalition finds that access to capital, land and health insurance are the largest challenges faced by young and beginning farmers.

2012 Frontera Farmer Foundation application
The Frontera Farmer Foundation is accepting applications from small, sustainable Midwestern farms serving the Chicago area. Details and application are here

Girl Scouts Can Now Win ‘Locavore’ Merit Badges
Girl Scouts can earn a locavore badge through five easy steps, including finding their local food sources and cooking a simple dish that showcases local ingredients.