June 26, 2009
Promoting Local Food the Goal of Local Foods Network Conference
LINCOLN, Neb. — The production, marketing and distribution of local food will be the focus of the Nebraska Local Foods Network conference July 9 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The conference will highlight various speakers who will discuss the promotion of local food in the marketplace, said Kim Peterson, coordinator at the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative.
Gov. Dave Heineman has proclaimed July 5-11 as "Nebraska Local Foods Awareness Week," and this conference is one of the activities helping to promote local foods during the week, Peterson said.
The local foods network was started in 2008 by a collaboration of Nebraskans working together to encourage and facilitate the production and consumption of local foods. The network strives to build stronger communities, healthier lives and a cleaner environment, Peterson said.
Following registration and an introduction, guest speaker Diana Endicott, farm to market coordinator with the Good Natured Family Farms in the Kansas City area, will talk about how the business has used cooperative marketing to distribute local foods into grocery stores and restaurants.
"Diana has truly been a pioneer in this area and will share her experiences of overcoming distribution barriers and hurdles," Peterson said.
Her talk will be followed by a panel of Nebraska producers sharing their experiences of marketing local food to larger regional markets. The panel will include Marv Fritz, operations manager of Garden Fresh Vegetables in O'Neill, Andy and Tannie Daniels, owners of Andy's Candy Corn and Daniels Produce in Columbus, and Terry Landes, marketing director for Prairieland Dairy in Firth. They each will explain how they are successfully marketing their local products, Peterson said.
Following a lunch of local foods, state Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton and Josh Moenning, a representative from U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry's office, will share their respective interest in the local food movement. They will be followed by Judy Gilliard, an author, chef and host of the Judy ala Carte show on Lincoln's KFOR radio.
Jenny Montoya-Tansey of USDA Rural Development will lead a forum discussion on local foods. The forum will allow conference participants to provide feedback to the Obama administration about the barriers and hurdles that exist that prohibit or hinder local food producers from accessing markets, Peterson said.
The event will conclude with a speech by John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural economics at the University of Missouri, who will speak about the sustainability and profitability of local foods.
The conference, scheduled 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Nebraska East Union, is open to anyone interested in local food production or consumption. Registration cost is $15 per person by July 5 and $20 afterward. The registration fee includes conference breaks and a noon meal of local foods prepared by the university's dining services and the Good, Fresh, Local program. To register go to CARI Registration. Scroll down and click on the Nebraska Local Foods Network Conference.
For more information about the Nebraska Local Foods Network, contact the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative at ruralinfo@unl.edu, (402) 472-2940.
6/26/09-LM
Kim Peterson
Rural Initiative
Coordinator
(402) 472-9287
Lori McGinnis IANR News and Photography (402) 472-0918
Department: Center for Applied Rural Innovation
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