farmers markets
Farm Bureau launches survey of USDA programs
The largest U.S. farm organization announced an online survey open to all farmers and ranchers to rate their experiences with 10 USDA programs on soil and water conservation, rural energy, farmers markets, and farm operating and land ownership loans.
Farmers markets, food co-ops build sense of community
Americans shop at farmers markets and join food cooperatives because they enjoy knowing who grows their food and because the commitment to local food makes them feel part of a community pursuing a healthy lifestyle and a sustainable environment, according to a U-Iowa study.
Farmers markets add cooking demos, social media
There are more than twice as many farmers markets as a decade ago, says Civil Eats in listing "five ways these vital spaces are redefining themselves."
More food-stamp shoppers at farmers markets
Food stamp recipients spent $18.8 million of their benefits at farmers markets, roadside stands and in direct purchases from growers, six times larger than redemptions in 2008, said the USDA.
Projects aim to get more fruits and vegetables to poor people
The USDA awarded $31 million to three-dozen projects that will experiment with ways to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among food-stamp recipients. Many of the projects will offer financial incentives to buy produce at farmers markets. Two of the awardees, Fair Food Network and Wholesome Wave, run "double up" programs that will match spending on fruits and vegetables up to a specified amount. Food-stamp recipients, like other Americans, do not eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables.
Tax rules encourage hospitals to boost nutrition programs
Nonprofit hospitals are expanding "'upstream' prevention-based programs that can help reduce the burden of chronic disease," says a blog at the site Health Care Without Harm.
Young, urban-born and working on the land
"Being a farmer was the most radical vocation I could choose," says a Columbia graduate now running a sheep and garlic farm in Vermont and quoted in "The New Farmers" in Orion magazine.
Pedaling a story from farm to fork
Photographer Glenn Charles made 40 stops on a 16-day bicycle trip from Bridgeport, Conn, to Portland, Me, to follow fresh food from the field to the table.
USDA creates three new directories for local food sales
With 8,268 listings in the National Farmers Markets Directory, USDA is creating three new directories for local food marketing. The new catalogs will cover Community Supported Agriculture projects, food hubs and...