News
Center for Regional Food Systems digs into local food impacts for farmers and communities
Recent analysis of local food system programs shows how targeted investments and supporting infrastructure can strengthen opportunities for farmers.
Jude Barry is the associate director for the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.
“Significant dollars have been invested in local food systems more recently to the point that we have been able to measure those investments, explore the change that was seen, and start to understand the impact of investing and see the business development,” she says.
Farm to Institution Programs Director May Tsupros says providing students with fresh, local food in schools and early childcare can shape lifelong food preferences.
“We build lifelong love of local food, delicious food, fresh food that will have trickle effects and ripple effects for years and years and years to come,” they say.
Assistant Director of Partnerships and Director of Food and Farm Business Assistance Jamie Rahrig says grant funding for food purchases alone isn’t enough to sustain programs.
“The state agencies, hubs and distribution partners need adequate staffing to administer the program on top of just costs for food and developing the operations at the farm level and distributor level all took lots of time,” she explains.
Researchers say initiatives like USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance program helped build the foundation and networks necessary to grow local food systems. The program received nearly $900 million over five years following the pandemic through the American Rescue Plan and USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation.
Tsupros says more targeted funding could further expand economic development and improve local food economies.
Add Comment