December 28, 2008. Third Annual Local Food Summit. Agri-View. The Third Annual Local Food Summit will be held Jan. 8-9 at the Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids.http://www.agriview.com/articles/2009/01/05/capitol_news/ag_briefs/agbriefs03.txt

November 7, 2008. New Resource for Local Food Producers. MADISON – The Wisconsin Local Food Marketing Guide, a new publication for local producers, is now available online and in hard copy. http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/

November 6, 2008. Two Wisconsin food companies launch retail gourmet dinners made with local ingredients.
MADISON, WI – Two Wisconsin food companies are collaborating to launch a new retail product category of ready-to-heat gourmet meals made from locally-grown and produced Wisconsin ingredients... http://www.dbicusa.org/planningoptions/news+from+the+dbic/press+releases/default.asp

October 15, 2008. GIS Mapping Project: Local foods in Minnesota Get a Boost. Minnesota Ag Connection. The University of Minnesota's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Land Stewardship Project, and the Minnesota Project are pleased to announce a first-of-its-kind project "Mapping Minnesota's Local Foods Infrastructure." http://www.minnesotaagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=957&yr=2008

October 9, 2008 - Farmer in Chief. Michael Pollan. New York Times. Dear Mr. President-Elect, It may surprise you to learn that among the issues that will occupy much of your time in the coming years is one you barely mentioned during the campaign: food. Food policy is not something American presidents have had to give much thought to, at least since the Nixon administration — the last time high food prices presented a serious political peril. Since then, federal policies to promote maximum production of the commodity crops (corn, soybeans, wheat and rice) from which most of our supermarket foods are derived have succeeded impressively in keeping prices low and food more or less off the national political agenda. But with a suddenness that has taken us all by surprise, the era of cheap and abundant food appears to be drawing to a close. What this means is that you, like so many other leaders through history, will find yourself confronting the fact — so easy to overlook these past few years — that the health of a nation’s food system is a critical issue of national security. Food is about to demand your attention... http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12policy-t.html?_r=2&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

September 30, 2008 - Wisconsin Receives Funding For Organic Cost Share Program. Contact Laura Paine, DATCP. For the first time since 2005, cost-share funds for organic certification will soon be available in Wisconsin. The 2008 Federal Farm Bill provides five years of funding for this popular program that helps organic farmers and processors pay for their organic certification. A recent announcement by the USDA signals the establishment of agreements between federal and state Departments of Agriculture to administer the program, but application procedures have yet to be put in place... http://datcp.state.wi.us/press_release/result.jsp?prid=2219

September 16, 2008 - US Fish Farms Tap Former Coal Mines for Water. Ben Block. Worldwatch Institute. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5886?emc=el&m=146333&l=4&v=36e79ba6b3 In the Appalachian mountains of the United States, growing numbers of fish farmers are raising trout, catfish, and even salmon throughout the valleys of the state of West Virginia.

September 2008 - To market, to market to buy a fat tomato: As consumer demand grows, so do Ninth (Federal Reserve) District farmers markets. Kathy Cobb - Contributing Writier. fedgazette. http://minneapolisfed.org/publications_papers/pub_display.cfm?id=4024#top Wisconsin is easily the district leader in total markets at more than 160.

September/October 2008 - Fresh, Local Food on Wheels: Farmers can reach new customers with mobile delivery routes. By Marcia Hahn, Farmers' Markets Today. http://www.farmersmarketstoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57&Itemid=1

August 26, 2008 - Sign Up for Wisconsin’s Eat Local Challenge: Challenge Yourself, Buy Local Madison http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/press_release/result.jsp?prid=2208

July 30, 2008 - A taste for something different: Some on north side oppose proposed Church’s Chicken

By Karen Herzog kherzog@journalsentinel.com Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=778274

July 23, 2008 - 'Buy Local' grants immediately spur debate The Country Today
"Gov. Jim Doyle has been traveling across Wisconsin with his dog and pony show again in recent weeks, distributing ceremonial checks for the state's Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grants." http://www.thecountrytoday.com/story-opinions.asp?id=BH90G0U9EDF

July 17, 2008
Governor Doyle Announces $225,000 to “Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin”
Presents $41,000 Grant for Chippewa Valley Efforts to Buy, Sell Local Food
"EAU CLAIRE – Governor Jim Doyle today announced $225,000 for seven projects to increase local food sales and grow the state’s economy. The funding is from the state’s first-ever “Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin” grant program aimed to keep food spending in local communities... http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/mktg/business/marketing/val-add/directmktg/pdf/DATCPPressRelease7-17-08.pdf

July 17, 2008. Letter to the Editor. Local Food is Good Medicine for Everyone The Chippewa Valley Museum has an excellent exhibit titled “Farm Life” that tells of profound changes over the past century for farm families and rural communities. One caption near an interior photo of an abandoned barn notes, “Wisconsin lost almost 40% of its dairy farms during the 1990s.” A decade later, with the rising
cost of fuel and food, local farms could be the very thing to help recession-proof our local economy...http://www.sacredhearteauclaire.org/Choose/MediaCenter/Documents/CEOLettertotheEditor.pdf

June 27, 2008 - Food composting continues historic campus tradition River Falls Journal
"While several thousand people dine at the contract and retail food services in the University Center each day, the idea of pursuing sustainability in food supplies and waste management on campus might seem like a supersized initiative".
http://www.riverfallsjournal.com/articles/index.cfm?id=87720&freebie_check&CFID=52914516&CFTOKEN=59890625&jsessionid=88301b8eafce7b207211

June 19, 2008 - Farmers, Food Makers, Restaurants and Grocers – A Dating Game Made Easier By Jennifer Smith

http://www.riverfallsjournal.com/articles/index.cfm?id=87720&freebie_check&CFID=52914516&CFTOKEN=59890625&jsessionid=88301b8eafce7b207211June

An Evaluation of Food and Tourism Culture in Door County - By Michael L. Dougherty, Gary P. Green and Dean S. Volenberg
Local food networks are growing in popularity, and therefore it is important to understand precisely how they work. Because Door County is on the cutting edge of the local food network trend, researchers at the University of Wisconsin‐Madison and the University Extension conducted surveys of food producers and food retailers in Door County who specialize in marketing local foods as part of the tourist economy. Our food producer survey was sent to 62 farms, fisheries and other food production/processing businesses in Door County. Of those 62 surveys there were 40 responses (64% response rate). What follows is a summary of key findings from the producer survey. The results of the retailer survey are available as a separate report.
http://www.drs.wisc.edu/green/_documents/_community/Door%20County%20Culinary%20Tourism--%20Producers.pdf


June 12, 2008 - Healing History: North America’s Indigenous Peoples Look to the Past to Find a Healthier Future By Lauren Wilcox
Diet-related illnesses, such as diabetes, affect Native Americans at a higher rate than the rest of the population. But Heifer’s Indigenous Peoples Initiative is tackling the problem one mouthful at a time.
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.4171181/

June 12, 2008 - From Farm to Table - By Helene York
Take a minute to consider the long, strange trip your food takes—via planes, trains, tractors and trailers—and how much energy it embodies.
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.4172133/

June 12, 2008 - The Carbon Hoofprint: A closer look at the indictment of the livestock industry - By Austin Gelder and Lauren Wilcox
Is livestock-based agriculture detrimental to the environment as a U.N. report seems to claim, or is the issue more complex? World Ark takes a closer look at an indictment of the livestock industry.
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.4172985/

June 11, 2008 Buy Local to Support Farmers Affected by the Floods
"Recent floods have hit more than corn and soybeans. Growers who market to local food consumers also report flooded fields and potential losses. But their overriding message to consumers is "Keep buying locally. Local farmers need your support more than ever."
http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/press_release/result.jsp?prid=2183

June 8, 2008 - Farmers markets' financial clout rises By Scott Williams
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“When she noticed that cherries were a hot seller at the Kenosha farmers market one Saturday morning, Kathleen Bubinas wondered which vendor was suddenly doing big business. Bubinas was surprised to learn that it was an enterprising farmer from Michigan who had hauled his inventory across Lake Michigan on a ferry. It made Bubinas, an anthropology professor, realize that farmers markets no longer are simple trading posts where local farmers casually peddle their wares.”
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=759857

June 5, 2008 - UNC to study link between sustainable farming and health
Would people and their communities be healthier if they still got food from local farms?http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/health-and-medicine/unc-to-study-link-between-sustainable-farming-and-health.html

June 5, 2008 - Food is Gold, So Billions Invested in Farming By Diana Henriques.

The Food Chain

May 15, 2008 - Map Helps Madison Residents Eat Local. By Jesse Boyett-Anderson.
(MADISON) A group of UW-Madison students wants locals to eat local as a way to support community growers, promote healthy diets, and cut travel costs. They've created the "100-Mile Diet Map" as a final project for their Geographical Information Systems class. The current version of this online reference pinpoints farms, farmers' markets, co-ops, and restaurants within 100 miles of Madison. Althea Archer is one of the students who created the map. She says taking the "100-mile challenge" benefits more than just the local economy. She notes that the typical American diet travels 1,500 miles to reach the plate, and even if it's organic, it's still necessary to transport organic spinach from California in a refrigerated truck to Wisconsin and that has a huge impact on the environment. Archer says her group will expand the statewide database, to help people in other towns and cities eat local.

May 14, 2008 - Geography students put local foods on the map. By Jill Sakai.
"Four UW-Madison geography students have created an interactive, online map of food sources within 100 miles of Madison. Their 100-Mile Diet Map aims to educate consumers and provide a central resource for those interested in eating close to home."
http://www.news.wisc.edu/15251

May/June 2008 - Solar Today: Getting Connected: Why sharing electrons, local produce and Radiohead makes for better communities. By Bill McKibben http://solartoday.org/2008/may_june08/getting_connected.htm.

April 29, 2008, Local Fare: Outstanding Turnout for First Southwest Wisconsin Local Food Summit
BELMONT – More than 85 local leaders, urban and rural residents, farmers, organizations and community representatives gathered on Earth Day to share information and build efforts to expand the region’s local food markets.
The first ever Southwest Wisconsin Local Food Summit, held April 22 in Belmont, Wis., provided an outstanding opportunity for local residents to provide a voice in building networks for the growing demand for locally-produced food.
The event was sponsored by Local Fare and made possible through UW-Extension’s Continuing EDvantage Grant and was a project of the UW-Platteville Office of Continuing Education.
“We were extremely pleased with the record turnout and diversity of participants,” said Rink DaVee, Local Fare Coordinator.
Keynote speakers and activities included:

• Ron Doetch, Executive Director of Michael Fields Institute in East Troy, Wis.: "Scaling Up Sustainable Midwest Food and Farming Systems."
• Dick Cates, Cates Family Farm, Spring Green, Wis.: "Local Food: Cultivating a Circle of Hope."
• Local Foods Distribution Panel featuring a local grocery store owner, local chef, a representative from a grass-roots institutional buying program, a local farmer involved in community supported agriculture and research presented on selling local food to large grocery stores.
• World Café interactive afternoon session facilitated by Carol Roth, followed by an opportunity to network with others and complete neighborhood action plans.
  For more information, visit http://www.uwplatt.edu/cont_ed/LocalFare/.

April 29, 2008 - Consumers Still Living Green and Buying Organic Despite Economty -
By Lisa Lazarczyk
Mambo Sprouts Survey Reveals Savvy Consumers Using Coupons, Shopping
Locally and Cooking More to Offset High Fuel and Food Costs http://www.mambosprouts.com/press/pdfs/Consumers%20Still%20Buying%20Org%20Release.pdf

April 27, 2008 The Toronto Star: Eat Locally, Survive Globally: National food policy should give priority to local agriculture over globalized agribusiness. By Thomas Axworthy. http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/27/8551/


April 20, 2008 - The Way we Live Now, Why Bother? By Michael Pollan
The article prompted several far-reaching conversations around here. It got us thinking about personal and collective action, in the garden and beyond. We are continuing the conversation in the short article below. And ... from our nutrition and cooking columnists, we include a few thoughts on the glories of barley. How's that for something for everyone?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-lede-t.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

April 18, 2008, Worldwatch Institute: International Commission Calls for 'Paradigm Shift' in Agriculture, by Ben Block, http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5712

Spring 2008 Pointer Alumnus: http://www.uwsp.edu/news/alumnus/, page 6, Cafe' promotes healthy eating through local foods.
April 2008 REAP Reporter: http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/Newsletters/newslettercurrent.htm

April 16, 2008 - The BEE: " Phillips girl wins 'Ag in the Classroom' essay contest. Mary Beth Nutt's entry takes first place in Price County, District 8 and Wisconsin competitions." by Cathy Peterson: http://www.phillipswi.com/articles/2008/04/16/schools/doc4806568f57fa5122534851.txt

"Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation (WFBF) recently announced that Mary Beth Nutt, a homeschooled fifth-grade daughter of Doug and Patty Nutt of Phillips, has been named the statewide winner of the “Agriculture in the Classroom” essay contest. The contest is sponsored by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Wisconsin Fresh Market Vegetable Growers Association, and the WFBF’s Women’s Committee...

Mary Beth’s essay, which won the Price County, District 8 and state competitions, reads as follows:

From the Farm to My Home

Wisconsin is a great place to live. If all we had to eat was what was produced in our state, we’d have a feast!

Dairy farms produce milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, ice cream and many other products.

Hog, beef, fish and poultry farms supply meat for our meals. Farmers raise their stock carefully, watching them grow, protecting them from disease and feeding them so they are healthy and strong. All this is done to supply us with wholesome, nutritional food.

Vegetable and fruit farmers also watch for diseases and protect their plants from frost. They cultivate, water, fertilize, and then harvest their crops when they’re at their best. The produce is washed, sorted, packed and then shipped from farms to be processed. We can buy it frozen, canned, fresh or dried.

Maple syrup and honey are two sweet treats produced in Wisconsin.You can use them in many ways. Maple syrup is made in early Spring when the cold nights and warm days starts the sap flowing in maple trees. Holes and spouts are put into the trees, then sap is collected in buckets, bags, or tubing and boiled down to make syrup. The syrup is then bottled, labeled and sold in grocery stores and gift shops.

Honey is made by bees gathering nectar and pollen from flowers. It takes as many as 300 bees their whole lives to make just one pound of honey! The beekeepers keep a close watch on their bees as the honey is made, then they gather the combs, spin the honey out and bottle it to sell.

Our state produces an abundance of good food for us to enjoy..."