| ERS
Workshop on Local Food Systems, Co-sponsored
by Farm Foundation |
Friday, June 26, 2009 |
|
7:30 am — 8:15 am |
Registration |
|
8:15 am — 9:00 am |
Setting the Stage: Local Foods Issues and Policies
Introduction – Kitty Smith, Acting Deputy Under Secretary, Research Education and Economics, USDA
Recorded remarks – Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary, USDA
Opening Speaker – David Shipman, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA |
9:00 am — 10:00 am |
Session 1 – Describing Local Food Systems and Evaluating Market Performance
This session will assess the
size and scope of the local foods industry and
discuss methods for evaluating local food market
performance. Topics to be addressed include the
various definitions of "local," the current state
of knowledge regarding local foods, and how researchers
evaluate the market performance of local food systems.
Moderator: Cheryl Brown, West Virginia University
- "Local Food Systems Research at ERS: Goals and Perspectives," Michael Hand, USDA-ERS
- "Local Food Systems: A View from the Field," James Hanson, University
of Maryland
- "Performance-Based Evaluation of Local Food
Systems," Luanne Lohr, University of Georgia
|
|
10:00 am — 10:30 am |
Break |
10:30 am — Noon |
Session 2 – Performance Issues for Local Food Markets
This session will begin to examine different aspects
of local food market structure, retailing, demand,
and supply. Specific examples of how local food
supply chains operate and how they may be different
or similar to predominant supply chains will
be provided.
Moderator: Jim Barham, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
- "Demand for Local Foods," Dawn Thilmany, Colorado State University
- "Local Food Systems and Institutional Purchasing," Shermain Hardesty, University of California, Davis
- "Supply and Marketing Issues in a Local Food Supply Chain: A Pilot Case Study," Rob King, University of Minnesota
- "Availability, Price, and Retail Marketing," Ed McLaughlin, Cornell University
|
Noon — 1:00
pm |
Lunch |
|
1:00 pm — 2:30 pm |
Session 3 – Economics and Impacts of Local Foods
This session will highlight key topics of market performance for local food systems. Major topics include social sustainability, environmental performance, and rural economic impacts from local food systems.
Moderator: Carol Kramer LeBlanc, Office of the Chief Economist, USDA
- "Values-Based Value Chains: Case Studies from Agriculture of the Middle," Steve
Stevenson, University of Wisconsin
- "Environmental, Economic, and Social Impacts
of Local Food Supply Chains: Checks, Balances
and Trade-offs," David Oglethorpe, Newcastle
Business School, United Kingdom
- "Rural Economic Development Impacts of Local Food Systems," Rich Pirog, Iowa State University
|
2:30 pm — 3:00 pm |
Break |
3:00 pm — 4:00 pm |
Session 4 – Panel Discussion: "Programs for Local Food Systems: What’s Available, What Works?"
The first of two panel discussions will focus
on the interaction between organizations and people
involved in local food systems and the Government
programs aimed at supporting the development
of local foods.
Moderator: Tom Tomich, University of California, Davis
Panelists:
Debra Tropp, USDA-AMS
Michael Rozyne, Red Tomato
Glyen Holmes, New North Florida Cooperative
Ann Karlen, Fair Food/White Dog Community Enterprises
Darlene Knipe, Illinois Market Maker |
4:00 pm — 5:00 pm |
Session 5 – Panel Discussion: "Policy and the Role of Government in Local Food Systems"
The second panel will discuss issues related to public policies, laws, and regulations that affect the size and scope of local foods. Key issues to be addressed include what barriers may exist that inhibit growth in local food systems, what role the Federal government should play in local food systems, and how businesses and organizations may be affected by policies related to local foods.
Moderator: Tom Tomich
Panelists:
Craig Watson, SYSCO
Larry Yee, University of California Cooperative Extension
Ferd Hoefner, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Andy Fisher, Community Food Security Coalition and National Farm to School
Network |
5:00 pm |
Wrap-Up – Neil Conklin, President, Farm Foundation and Mary Bohman, Resource & Rural Economics Division Director, ERS, USDA |
5:15 pm |
Adjourn |
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