Good Food for All

Weekly Digest: President Obama Signs Child Nutrition Re-Authorization Act

This week's digest is cross-posted at ChicagoReGen.com. 

• This week, President Obama signed the Child Nutrition Re-Authorization Act into law.  The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 will authorize funding for child nutrition programs and aims to increase access to healthy food for low-income children nationwide.   

• Increasing numbers of private investors are looking for ways to support local food systems. 

• Chicago Garden highlights a number of local food products for the holiday season that support social enterprise ventures.  

• Door to Door Organics is partnering with Goodness Greeness to provide an organic and local food products delivery service in Chicago.  

• Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council and Advocates for Urban Agriculture are actively focusing on Chicago's zoning ordinance proposals for urban agriculture.  Click here to view the ordinance. 

 

Daily Digest: Inspired by Slow Money (ISM), Mobile Food Collective and School Lunch Reform

Community Food Security Coalition and Farmers Market Coalition released a report, "Real Food, Real Choice", detailing the obstacles for SNAP participants to redeem benefits at farmers markets.  Download the full report here. 

The Mobile Food Collective visited Logan Square Farmers Market this past weekend.  Check out the video and blog for upcoming events. 

An increasing number of local Illinois farms are offering "haycations" for families.   

Civil Eats offers insight on last month's Slow Money National Gathering. Watch this video to learn about "ISM" = Inspired by Slow Money. 

The House Education and Labor Committee passed the "Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act".   Both bills are now on the House and Senate floors and must be passed by each chamber before becoming law. 

Daily Digest: Obesity in Illinois, Dill Pickle Food Co-op, and Investing in Organic Farmland

Chicago Tonight has more news coverage on the recent study on obesity in Illinois and the construction of Wal-Marts in Chicago in the next five years.  

The Cook County Jail has a greenhouse which is providing high-quality local food to Chicago's restaurants.

AREA Chicago features an article on the Dill Pickle Food Co-op and how its members have managed the cooperative business model.  

Investing in organic and sustainable farmland is sparking more interest among Chicago consumers and investors. 

Daily Digest: Local Food Distribution Models, Fresh Food Consumption and Slow Money

The New York Times has a comparative infographic showing the amount of fresh food vs. packaged food consumption in the United States (via OrganicNation.TV). 

Join Illinois Stewardship Alliance in Springfield, IL, on Wednesday, April 28 for Local Food Awareness Day.  Activities will include legislative updates and a lobbying training.  Registration is due Monday, April 19.  

Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems in Wisconsin has a national map of local food distribution models.  View the map here. 

Secretary Vilsack visited RMH Foods, a meat processing facility in Morton, Illinois.  RMH is a recipient of a USDA Rural Development loan and the owners succeeded in maintaining the business and retaining over 130 jobs. 

To further its civil engagement, USDA released the Open Gov Plan, accessible here.  Anyone can register and submit ideas or feedback on the website. 

The Slow Money National Gathering "ISM" (Inspired by Slow Money) will take place June 9-11 at Shelburne Farms, Vermont.  Register and view the program schedule here. 

Register Today for the Financing Farm to Fork Conference and Chicago Food Policy Summit!

Growing the sustainable and local foods movement by encouraging investment in farm and food production, processing, and distribution businesses    March 11-13, 2010 at UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL  Register today for Financing Farm to Fork and the Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council Summit. Purchase tickets here.  Get involved in the financial future of food with the area's leading investors, artisan food producers, farmers, and entrepreneurs as they discuss local food opportunities and business strategies at the Financing Farm to Fork Conference, sponsored by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center.  The day-long conference schedule features prominent panelists including financiers, farmers and CEO's ranging from Goose Island, Tallgrass Beef, and Eli's Cheesecake to Seedling Farm and the Chicago Climate Exchange. Topics covered include creating growth in sustainable businesses, farm financing with carbon sequestration, urban success stories, and more.  The closing Financing Fair and Networking Reception will bring farmers, business owners and financiers together to discuss business opportunities.    *Note: Community food professionals can receive a special rate of $45.  Enter the coupon code: community.

Daily Digest: School Lunch Reform, Soy Protein, and Slow Money

A new bill in Congress would encourage the purchase of more fresh produce for school lunches, upgrade cafeteria equipment, promote salad bars, and allocate $20 million in grants for farm to school programs.  

Weston A. Price Foundation is funding a lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Corrections over the adverse health effects of soy protein served in prisons. 

The National Farm to School Network is quickly expanding. 

The Social Innovation Fund is seeking feedback on the Draft Notice of Funds Available (NOFA). 

Woody Tasch, founder of the Slow Money Alliance, is featured in an interview in ACRES magazine. 

West Michigan schools are trying to find ways to source local food.