County Agent News

Dan Folske

February 22, 2010

Local Foods Conference

            I spent Friday and Saturday in Jamestown attending the Dakota Grown Local Foods Conference and the North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association Annual Meeting. The conference was well attended by over 120 people including vegetable producers, grocery buyers, health department and food safety specialists, NDSU Extension Horticulture specialists, Sustainable Agriculture representatives, and organic industry people. With this broad mix of people and industries there were clearly opposing views about some topics, but the overriding theme of producing high quality food and getting that food to people who want and need it made for a great learning experience and sharing of ideas. My own attitude and emotions had a real rollercoaster ride as topics like producer liability, and food safety issues alternated with enthusiastic presentations about production, and marketing, and the North Dakota Hunger Free program.

            One speaker who hit close to home for me was Dr. David Proctor from the Rural Grocers Initiative in Kansas. David talked about the loss of rural grocery stores throughout the Great Plains and shared some of the success stories of rural communities to keep or reopen their grocery stores.

            Over all it was a great conference and I am back at the office with some great programming and educational ideas.

            PS: If you or someone you know is interested in vegetable production or selling at a local farmers market please give me a call at 377-2927 or email me at dan.folske@ndsu.edu