Ohio Grown: Local Food Creating Local Opportunities

INVITE: Ohio Grown: Local Food Creating Local Opportunities

You are invited! Ohio Grown: Local Food Creating Local Opportunities With Keynote Speaker Kathleen Merrigan, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Come learn about changing policies to support local food economies, local food financing, scaling up, and more. Thursday, August 9, 2012 9:00am - 5:00pm Registration begins at 8:30am The Ohio State University Fawcett Center 2400 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus, Ohio Please register for the event by contacting Ohio State University Extension at (614) 292-7875 or grevents@cfaes.osu.edu This event is free and open to the public Locally-sourced lunch will be available for $15/person Space available for materials or display of your organization; please request in your RSVP. Space is limited. First Come, First Served. Tentative Agenda Time Session 8:30-9:00am Registration 9:00-9:15am Welcome and Opening Remarks 9:15-10:00am Keynote Speaker: Kathleen Merrigan, USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Increasing Access to Locally Grown and Healthy Food 10:00-11:00am Why Local? The Potential of a Local Food Economy—How does local food fit into the future of Ohio’s economy? Can local food create jobs and opportunities for rural and urban Americans alike? What will it take to make sustainable agriculture a viable career and profitable business opportunity for Ohio farmers? 11:00-11:15am Networking/Break 11:15-12:15pm Good Food Financing—Whether a farm business, a grain mill, a food hub, or a school, the future of local food must be rooted in sound economics and viable business models. Finance experts and practitioners will share their wisdom. 12:15-1:15pm Working Lunch provided by Ohio State University Extension Ohio grown to the extent possible. 1:15-1:30pm Networking/Break 1:30-2:30pm Making the Local Food Connection—This panel will feature individuals from Ohio and beyond who are involved in institutional purchasing and others who will explain how they are tackling the challenges associated with the aggregation, distribution, and infrastructure of local food. 2:30-2:45pm Networking/Break 2:45-3:45pm Changing Policy To Support Local Food Economies—From local zoning and regional planning to federal food and agriculture laws, policy can help or hinder continued growth of a local food economy. A few of Ohio’s leaders will discuss their efforts to change policy to support local food economies. 3:45-4:45pm Building on Best Practices & Looking Forward—Ohioans who are making local work will share lessons learned, best practices, and lead a discussion on what it will take to grow Ohio’s local food economy in the years to come.

REP FUDGE CELEBRATES FARM BILL VICTORY ON MICROLOAN AND YOUTH LOANS

For Immediate Release LeMia Jenkins Press Secretary LeMia.Jenkins@mail.house.gov (202) 225-7032

July 12, 2012 REP FUDGE CELEBRATES FARM BILL VICTORY ON MICROLOAN AND YOUTH LOANS WASHINGTON, D.C. – After a meeting of the House Agriculture Committee that lasted into the early morning hours, Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) is pleased to announce the passage of two amendments to the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012, known as the Farm Bill. Congresswoman Fudge sponsored the USDA Microloan and the USDA Youth Loan amendments. Both amendments are enormous victories for the 11th Congressional District and national urban agriculture movement.  This was a bipartisan effort supported by Congressman Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska. As a strong advocate for urban and youth farming, the Congresswoman’s legislative accomplishments show her commitment to  improving  federal agricultural credit programs to better meet the needs of small, young, beginning, veteran and urban farmers and ranchers. Congresswoman Fudge’s USDA Microloan initiative will provide nontraditional farmers with loans up to $35,000, help streamline the application process, and minimize administrative burdens. This initiative comes with no cost to the government. The Congresswoman’s USDA Youth Loan amendment breaks down the residential barrier that kept urban youth from accessing agriculture loans.  Formally USDA Youth Operating Loans were only available to young people who live in rural areas. Now ALL youth, no matter where they live, have access.  This amendment also comes at no additional cost to the federal budget. “The passage of these amendments is a victory for America’s youth and urban farmers. Both pieces of legislation are groundbreaking by eliminating nonsensical barriers for urban farmers. Now these Americans will have the same access as rural farmers in agriculture, a billion dollar industry. This is how we create jobs and get Americans back to work!” says Congresswoman Fudge. ###

Mike Walton of Tunnel Vision Hoops Testifies Before House Ag Subcommittee

For Immediate Release Belinda Prinz Communications Director Belinda.Prinz@mail.house.gov   (216) 522-4900

May 10, 2012 CLEVELAND URBAN FARMER TESTIFIES BEFORE HOUSE AGRICULTURE SUBCOMMITEE AT INVITATION OF CONGRESSWOMAN FUDGE "URBAN AGRICULTURE IS HERE TO STAY AND URBAN FARMERS DESERVE ACCESS TO CREDIT AND OTHER USDA PROGRAMS THAT TRADITIONAL FARMERS RECEIVE." WASHINGTON, D.C. - In what may be a first for the House Agriculture Committee, Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) invited an urban farmer from Cleveland to testify today before the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight & Credit of which she is the Ranking Member. Michael Walton, co-owner of Tunnel Vision Hoops and League Park Market Place in Cleveland testified at a hearing to discuss the reauthorization of the Farm Bill and USDA credit programs. "Based on testimony received, including that from Mr. Michael Walton, a Cleveland agricultural entrepreneur, it is clear that USDA does not consider the unique needs of non-traditional farmers when developing its credit programs," said Congresswoman Fudge.    "Urban farmers are legitimate agricultural producers who happen to live and farm outside of the traditional rural environment.  They are filling an increasingly important role in the economic well being of urban areas, and provide healthy nutrition for many who would otherwise not have access to it.  Yet time and time again, producers in the Eleventh Congressional District and other urban areas across this nation have expressed valid frustration, particularly with the USDA credit programs. Access to credit can make or break rural farm operations, and urban farm operations are no different.” The Farm bill is currently being updated. Congresswoman Fudge is urging colleagues on the Agriculture Committee to give serious consideration to the needs of urban farmers.

CONGRESSWOMAN FUDGE PLANTS SEEDS TO FIGHT HUNGER, SUPPORT URBAN AGRICULTURE BY INTRODUCING "LET'S GROW ACT OF 2012"

For Immediate Release Belinda Prinz Communications Director Belinda.Prinz@mail.house.gov   (216) 522-4900 April 16, 2012

CONGRESSWOMAN FUDGE PLANTS SEEDS TO FIGHT HUNGER, SUPPORT URBAN AGRICULTURE  BY INTRODUCING "LET'S GROW ACT OF 2012" WASHINGTON, DC-- Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) today will introduce the Let’s Grow Act of 2012 to support sustainable agriculture activities in American cities, promote urban farming, eradicate hunger and improve access to healthy food.  The legislation addresses the epidemic of hunger and the high rate of childhood obesity, as well as encourages health and wellness in our communities.  "This bill will allow American cities to address chronic problems dealing with hunger and obesity as well as health and wellness.  It will provide a path for more Americans to live healthier lives by focusing on local, fresh foods.  It provides incentives for urban gardening, which are especially important in urban areas including Cleveland, and gives agricultural entrepreneurs the support they need to grow and build successful enterprises," said Congresswoman Fudge. "This bill will give a generation of children, many of whom are estimated to have shorter life expectancies than their parents due to poor health, a hope for the future.  It will allow low-income residents access to healthier foods and improve their diets, relieving some of the stress on our current health care system.  With thousands of acres of vacant property from the foreclosure crisis as well as a recession that hit middle class families hard, many cities need investment in their local infrastructure, local food production, and the health of their residents." The bill: Improves access to nutritious food by promoting an expansion of the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit at farmers markets across the nation and assisting local corner stores to offer more fresh food options; Lowers the rate of childhood obesity by creating the Farm-to-Preschool Program and a private, public partnerships to conduct assessments on the availability of nutritious foods served to children through federal feeding programs; Eradicates hunger through the Weekends and Holidays Without Hunger program for kids, and the expansion and modernization of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which makes funding for TEFAP food more responsive to changes in need through the creation of a trigger that ties funding to the unemployment rate.  This will increase support to food banks during an economic downturn. Encourages training and job creation by establishing the Urban Agricultural Workforce Training Pilot Programming, which provides grants to develop and implement urban agricultural workforce training programs. Incentivizes urban farming through the creation of the Urban Entrepreneur and Microenterprise Assistance Program, which includes training and operation support for prospective and struggling urban farmers, as well as a grant program to assist with the creation and sustaining of community gardens.  The legislation includes grants for eligible individuals and entities to acquire abandoned and/or foreclosed properties in urban areas to convert for agricultural uses, while supporting the conversion of public land to usage for urban farms and community gardens. The legislation could increase annual regional output and expand state and local tax collections as well as increase the food security of hundreds of thousands of people, especially residents who live in food deserts.

Discussion on Child Nutrition and Urban Agriculture with Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge

Members of Growhio were fortunate to attend, along with many urban ag and local food champions and advocates, to participate in a discussion on child nutrition and urban agriculture with Congresswoman Marcia Fudge today. Fudge was recently named to the Committee on Agriculture. The panel also included Morgan Taggart and Amanda Block of OSU Extension and Daryl Rush from the City of Cleveland Department of Community Development.

The discussion touched on new and ongoing urban agriculture projects, including the Urban Innovation Zone, community gardens and distribution models such as City Fresh. It touched on policy (farm subsidies) and budget. It touched on existing grants and resources and needed tools. But the main takeaway from the discussion is that although Congresswoman Fudge hears us and is advocating on our behalf in Committee, the rest of the Agriculture committee members (and all representatives near and far, and not just in our district for that matter) need to hear from us.

Silence is getting us nowhere. Email, phone or fax other members of the Agriculture committee and tell them that subsidies to large corporate farms must end so that small farmers can compete and people can get access to fresh, healthy and safe food at affordable prices. For a primer on how these subsidies distort our "free-market" economy and pervert pricing, watch King of Corn.

If you want a copy of the 2012 farm bill or any bill of importance to you, reach out to Fudge's office. The Congresswomen will consider your suggested edits to legislation if you provide them to her office.

We can effect change, but we have to speak up.

EcoTuesday Meetup March 22: Hurdles for Small Farms Selling Direct

The new buzz among Americans is all about eating healthier foods. The discussion has finally come front and center in a nation struggling with diabetes, obesity, heart disease and other diet-related chronic illness. As demand for locally grown food steadily increases, supply from existing local farms cannot meet the growing demand.

North Union Farmers Market (NUFM) has been a pioneering advocate for local farmers, with a 16-year history of attracting more than 300 small farms to its eleven “certified producer only” markets throughout Cuyahoga County. In surveying local farmers over the years, NUFM has pinpointed what it perceives as the greatest threat to small farm business - over regulation by state and federal governments. The impact on local farms can be devastating - more than half have left the business of farming because of lack of funding, lack of personnel resources, physical constraints and the costs associated with running a farm business.

EcoTuesday's March 22 will address the questions striking at the heart of this critical issue affecting both our economy and our public health: How can governments protect the consumer and grow more small farms? Is it the job of government to protect the consumer? What is the government’s role in protecting the consumer while encouraging local agriculture?

Panel Members Include:

• Adam Sharp, Legislative FB Representative
• Gale Betterley, Ph.D., Dairy Farmer
• Tom Wiandt, Killbuck Valley Farm
• Eric Ross, Red Wagon Farm
• Susan Woodworth, Middle Ridge Gardens
• Louis Rorimer, Snake Hill Farm
• Todd Mogren, Millgate Farm

This amazing set of speakers has been organized by event co-planner Donita Anderson, Executive Director of NUFM.

Special Guest Moderator: Liz Lockert of the Civic Commons

For more information or to register, please visit the event website.