NFFC Local Food

Local Food/ New Farmer Initiative

Local food systems have to become the norm, not a niche. By helping farmers to overcome the logistical barriers of local food marketing, NFFC can help farmers enter emerging local markets that provide local food to consumers while creating a new source of income for producers. Click here for a report on local food.

Barriers to Local Food Marketing

Farm to School

The National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) and its Local Food Committee conducted a survey of member groups and farmers to help identify barriers to local food marketing to help NFFC formulate its role in the local food movement.

In many regions throughout the country, demand for local food far outstrips current levels of supply. By focusing on increased access to local food markets, credit, discrimination, and mentoring programs, NFFC can fill an important niche in the local food movement and help raise public awareness of the challenges farmers face across the country.

Click here to access the Barriers to Local Food Marketing report.

According to the National Farm to School Network, farm to school is broadly defined as:

"…a program that connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local and regional farmers."

The National Family Farm Coalition, as a member of the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC), supports current legislation to fund Farm to School programs nationally through the upcoming Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR).

To learn more about NFFC and Farm to School , read our one-page NFFC Farm to School Backgrounder.

You can also check out these websites for more info:

Community Food Security Coalition's Farm to School Page

National Farm to School Network

Selling Strategies for Local Food Producers

Beginning Farmer Resources

America is experiencing a generational gap in the farm population. This means there are more farmers retiring than there are farmers to replace them. With the current US farm population at 1.5% of the total population, we cannot continue to lose farmers if want a supply of sustainable food.

Fortunately, the local food movement is growing as consumer interest in local food is rising. Within that movement exist many young landless farmers with skill and energy who would farm if they had access to land and credit and other opportunities.

NFFC has compiled a list of resources for beginning and young farmers across the country from a number of sources.

Click here to view Beginning Farmer Resources.

Click here to see a directory of Educational and Training Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture, organized by state.

National Family Farm Coalition
110 Maryland Ave. N.E., Suite 307
Washington, DC 20002

nffc@nffc.net

ph (202) 543-5675
fax (202) 543-0978