A weekly roundup of food-related news, courtesy of our friends at FoodHub
Week of January 16, 2012
News from the Northwest
Strong Oregon Showing at the 2012 Good Food Awards
Portland Monthly’s Eat Beat (blog)
At the Good Food Awards this past weekend in San Francisco, winners were recognized not only for the quality of their products, but for the means by which they were produced. The competition recognizes food made using sustainable methods and the help of local businesses.
Oregon farmers look for improvement in 2012, but volatility is a perennial crop
OregonLive.com
The local food movement continues to gain strength as people increasingly want to know where their food comes from. The desire manifests itself in restaurant choices and in Oregon’s farm-to-school program, in which local products are featured on lunch menus.
First Crop of Young(er) Urban Farmers Graduates Apprenticeship Program
Neighborhood Notes
On Dec. 20, the Multnomah County commission recognized the inaugural graduating class of 16 participants who completed the Beginning Urban Farmer Apprenticeship (BUFA) program, an apprenticeship intended to provide comprehensive training in sustainable, small-scale, and urban farming methods.
NRCS Programs Aid Central Oregon Organic Grower
USDA.gov (press release) (blog)
Sarahlee Lawrence inspects a row of organically grown flowers on her organic farm in the high desert of Central Oregon. Business is blooming for Sarahlee Lawrence and her organic food-and-flower-growing operation, Rainshadow Organics.
News from the Nation
Farm To Fork Across America — EcoFarm Conference
Huffington Post (blog)
Hot topic Farm Bill 2012 lectures will focus on important policy concerns. Newly emerging topics are elbowing their way into the Farm Bill: local food, urban agriculture, farm-to-school and community gardens. Here’s this year’s conference at a glance with Jillian Steinberger.
Grants to help preschools plant edible gardens
Los Angeles Times
A farm industry group’s charitable arm said Monday it will give 100 California preschools and day-care centers $1000 each to help them start gardens for growing food. The Irvine-based Western Growers Foundation said the project is intended to let young children see firsthand where their food comes from and teach them healthy eating habits that could help curb increasing rates of childhood obesity.
Organic Valley Ends Year Keeping More Farmers on the Land
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Organic Valley, the nation’s largest cooperative of organic farmers and a leading organic brand, today announced their 2011 year-end results, which include bringing on 212 new farmers in regions such as Pennsylvania, Vermont, and California for 12 percent member growth across the country, increasing sales from $620 million to $715 million for 15.3 percent growth.
Originally posted on the FoodHub Blog: http://food-hub.org/news/2012/01/news-from-the-hub-week-of-january-16-2012/
