COMMUNITY FOOD ENVIRONMENT
ENACT STRATEGY: Farm Preservation
Support local and regional food systems by preserving farmland, creating regional infrastructure for processing and distribution, and investing in new and existing farmers
In the United States agricultural land is being lost to development at an alarming rate – approximately two acres every minute (American Farmland Trust, 2002). At the same time, the number of farmers is declining, as small and mid-sized farmers are finding it harder to make a living. With the ever-increasing need for fresh, healthy, and affordable farm-grown food and a growing interest among institutions, such as schools and worksites in purchasing farm fresh products, communities must take steps to preserve existing farmland and protect potentially productive open space from development. Additionally, communities can provide incentives and technical assistance to existing farmers, as well as encourage new farmers, including people of color and women, to go into the farming profession. Lastly, while large institutions and retail establishments are enthusiastic about the potential to purchase local food from small and mid-sized farmers, constructing the necessary infrastructure for processing and distribution is necessary to create a seamless process for both farmer and consumer. By supporting the preservation of small and mid-sized local farms, community advocates can help to ensure that their communities have better access to farm fresh, healthy products, such as fruits and vegetables.
- Communities have dedicated land and open space dedicated to farming and farm production
- Existing farmers are able to make a viable living from producing healthful products such as fruits and vegetables
- New farmers are supported in learning the trade of farming and encouraged to grow foods other than commodity crops (which are highly subsidized by the federal government and often unhealthy) such as fruits and vegetables
- Mechanisms, such as light processing and distribution structure, are in place to allow for local farmers to sell their products to regional retail establishments and institutions
10 Reasons to Save Farmland and Natural Areas
The Land Conservation Partnership makes the case for why farmland and open space are worth saving.
Seven Simple Steps to Save Farm and Ranch Land
The American Farmland Trust provides tips for how all community residents can show their support for protecting local agricultural resources.
Minority & Women Farmers in the U.S.
This article published in Agriculture Outlook in May 1998, illustrates some of the characteristics of small farms run by women and minorities.
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives has worked with family farmers, predominantly African-American farmers, for over forty years. The organization provides education and technical assistance to assist farmers with land retention and development, and assists in the development of cooperatives and credit unions as a collective strategy to create economic self-sufficiency.
Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association
The Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) provides educational and business opportunities for farm workers and aspiring farmers to grow and sell crops grown on two organic farms in Monterey County, California.
Diana and Gary Endicott are highlighted here for their Rainbow Farms in the New American Farmer, 2nd Edition publication produced by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. This article highlights many Rainbow Farms success, challenges, and opportunities.
Red Tomato, a Massachusetts-based non-profit, is uniting growers, trade buyers, and consumers by serving as a distributor between farmers in the northeast and southeast U.S. to supermarkets and other institutions in the New England area.
The Growers Collaborative is a unique distribution model that works to get local fruits and vegetables from family farms to public and private grade schools, colleges, hospitals, and corporate cafeterias.
GROWN Locally Cooperative: A case study
GROWN Locally is a cooperative in a rural Iowa. From a CSA to fresh food deliveries this case study highlights how collaborative efforts and pulling resources can lead to greater community development and access to healthy foods.
Fact Sheet: The Farmland Protection Toolbox
This fact sheet provides a brief description of the tools and techniques that state and local government are using to protect farmland and ensure economic viability of agriculture.
This toolbox assembled by the Land Conservation Partnership demonstrates the breadth of regulatory, voluntary land acquisition, and community planning tools to protect farmland and open space.
This guide developed by the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, outlines the 5 key planning tasks to building a sustainable farming business. The guide was developed to address the evolving needs of both beginning and existing farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
Risk Management Training for Diversified Family Farmers
This risk management toolkit, developed by Community Alliance for Family Farmers is intended for family farmers. These tools came out of a series of workshops about practical farm business strategies to farmers. The categories covered in these tools include family and personal risk, production risk, marketing risk, legal and regulatory risk.
Counties and Local Food Systems - Ensuring Healthy Foods, Nurturing Healthy Children
This report, published by the NACo Center for Sustainable Communities, was written for readers interested in the links between agriculture and economic development, environmental protection, and food security. This publication contains four methods and case studies for how county governments can support their local food systems.
The Beginning Farmer Center is dedicated to addressing the needs and issues facing beginning farmers. The Center has a range of online resources and links to other organizations serving the needs of new farmers.
Sonoma County Agriculture and Open Space Preservation Proposition
Raises funds for agricultural land preservation and open space acquisition by imposing a 0.25 percent sales tax.
Ventura Save Open-Space and Agricultural Resources (SOAR) Ordinance
Limits urban sprawl and promotes sustainable communities by giving citizens in Ventura County the right to vote before development takes place on open space and agricultural lands within the county.
Woodbury, IA Organics Conversion Policy
Provides real property tax rebate incentives for farms that convert from conventional farming techniques that use pesticides to farming that complies with the USDA ‘National Organic Program’ Standards and Regulations.
Food and Agriculture Related Policies and Practices to Benefit Limited Resource Farmers
This publication from the Community Food Security Coalition reviews existing state and local policies, and offers recommendations for additional policies, designed to create increased market opportunities for disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The paper also identifies roles for Food Policy Councils in strengthening opportunities for limited resource producers to contribute to state and local food systems.
in ENACT Local Policy Database
Founded in 1980 by a group of farmers and conservationists concerned about the rapid loss of the nation's farmland to development, American Farmland Trust (AFT) is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting our nation's strategic agricultural resources.
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national, nonprofit, land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.
The Center for Rural Affairs supports small, family farms through advocacy, technical assistance, financing and loans, and network-building. Many of there materials are focused on young farmers with an interest in healthily food and stewardship of our natural resources.
National Immigrant Farming Initiative (NIFI)
The National Immigrant Farming Initiative (NIFI) is a collaborative effort of Heifer International and other partners around the country. NIFI provides training, information sharing, networking opportunities, funding for projects through Heifer’s project development process, and other resources to support immigrant farmers.
National Black Farmers Association
The National Black Farmers Association was started in 1995 and now has over 94,000 members. This organization has a strong membership base and works on political issues that affect Black farmers and their families.
Women, Food and Agriculture Network
The Women, Food and Agriculture Network’s mission is “to link and empower women to build food systems and communities that are healthy, just, and sustainable, and that promote environmental integrity.”
Oxfam America works with small farmers to access new markets, compete in mainstream markets, develop sustainable methods, diversity the farms, organize into cooperatives, as well as provide funding.
Ecotrust is a conservation organization committed to strengthening communities and the environment. Ecotrust hosts Building Local Food Networks, an online, interactive learning community designed to stimulate peer-to-peer exchange of ideas, questions, and lessons learned around the topic of building local food networks.
Growing New Farmers (GNF) is a regional initiative to provide future generations of Northeast farmers with the support and expertise they need to succeed.