Local Farmers Encouraged to Join Wisconsin Food Directory
new program allows farmers to add products to a public directory, support local food access and Wisco farms
McKenna Scherer, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
The Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program is a new statewide program aiming to strengthen local and regional food systems to distribute fresh, nutritious foods and support Wisconsin farmers. For the directory to be a success, it needs a robust list of farmers to join.
The program was created in partnership with the Wisconsin Farmers Union to strengthen and diversify local food systems, and the new directory has the potential to be an impactful tool to help do just that.
The directory allows farmers to create profiles for their farms and list available products and prices determined by the farmers themselves. (Find more information about pricing, payment, and more on this Q&A webpage). In turn, hunger-relief organizations, food and meal programs, institutional and wholesale purchases, and community members can search for producers in their region, explained a media release.
Farmers can also choose to supply directly to a community pantry or inquire about supplying specific hunger relief programs in Wisconsin.
In the Chippewa Valley, Maiv Harvest – also known as Maiv Flower Farm – is already listed in the directory, and its flowers and vegetables are regularly part of the Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market.
As of early July, the program has delivered nearly $20,000 worth of food, supplied 15 hunger relief sites, delivered 43 different types of product from 24 growers, and served 13 Wisconsin counties.
“I hope that people take advantage of this opportunity,” said Forrest Humphrey, Wisconsin Farmers Union local foods organizer and the lead for the directory. “The strength of our rural communities depends on our social networks.”
Learn more about the Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program on its website. If you have questions about the LFPA program or the Local Foods Directory, contact Forrest Humphrey at (715) 450-9179 or fhumphrey@wisconsinfarmersunion.com.
