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Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship
Summer 2011
DOI: 10.5062/F4PN93H7

URLs in this document have been updated. Links enclosed in {curly brackets} have been changed. If a replacement link was located, the new URL was added and the link is active; if a new site could not be identified, the broken link was removed.

[Refereed]

Science and Technology Resources on the Internet

Local Food Systems: Selected Resources

Elizabeth Berman
Science & Engineering Librarian
Bailey/Howe Library
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
elizabeth.berman@uvm.edu

Copyright 2011, Elizabeth Berman. Used with permission.

Introduction/Scope

The term "food system" is used to describe the complex and interconnected activities of agricultural food production, processing, marketing, consumption, and ultimately disposal. "Food systems" is not a true discipline, but an emerging area of interdisciplinary study that brings together scientists, social scientists and humanists to help address the cultural, social, ecological, physical, ethical and political aspects of "food."

Food systems can be framed in any number of ways, including industrial, conventional, globalized, organic, sustainable, fair-trade, or local food systems. This webliography focuses specifically on local food systems, also commonly referred to as community or regional food systems.

While there is no single accepted definition, as used here "local food system" refers to the interrelated pieces of food production and processing, distribution and direct marketing, and consumption that strengthen the economic, environmental, social and nutritional health of a geographic region, often defined within a 400-mile radius of food origin.

This webliography starts by providing general information on local food systems before delving into more specific sub-topics, including food policy and law, community food security and access, farm-to-school programs, urban agriculture and community gardening, and farmland conservation. Also included is information on sustainable and organic agriculture; while these concepts are not mutually exclusive, there is natural overlap.

The interdisciplinary nature of food systems research -- as well as the growing popularity of "local foods" in our culture -- allows for a large number of available Internet resources. This webliography highlights a selection of resources that represent the most in-depth and current coverage of food systems. Resources were identified through the course of the author's work in food systems scholarship; through professional contacts and participation in conferences and workshops; and through the use of Web 2.0/social media. Many of the general local and community food systems resources have extensive bibliographies that were also culled through to identify additional web sites. With the many interconnected facets of a local food system, this webliography is by no means exhaustive; instead, it is meant to be illustrative of the kinds of information that can be found on this topic.

While local food systems exist both domestically and internationally, this webliography focuses broadly on the United States. The emphasis is on national-level resources; state or regional information sources related to food systems have not been included.
Librarians (both in the sciences and in other disciplines), undergraduate students researching local food systems, and members of the general public who are interested in issues surrounding local foods are the intended audience for this webliography.

Index

Resources
Local/Community Food Systems
Statistical Resources
Food Policy and Law
Sustainable and Organic Agriculture; Small-Scale Farms; Young and New Farmers
Community Food Security and Access
Farm-To-School; Farm-To-College
Urban Agriculture and Community Gardening
Farmland Conservation; Environment
Farmers Markets, Community Support Agriculture, and Pick-Your-Own
Eating and Cooking; Nutrition
Research Centers

Resources

Local/Community Food Systems

Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC), National Agricultural Library
{http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/}
AFSIC "specializes in identifying resources about sustainable food systems and practices." While much of the web site talks generally about sustainable food systems, the section on "Farms and Community" focuses on the social and economic benefits of local food systems, including information for new farmers, information about grants and loans for farmers, and farmland preservation.

Civil Eats
http://civileats.com
Civil Eats "promotes critical thought about sustainable agriculture and food systems as part of building economically and socially just communities." This blog focuses on the American food system and food politics, with topics broken up by category, including food access, eating culture, food policy, energy policy, health, and environment.

Community Food Systems, National Agricultural Library
{http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nutrition-assistance-programs/community-food-systems}
This portal on the National Agricultural Library's web site provides extensive information about community food systems, including information about agricultural practices, food security, direct-to-consumer marketing, and a bibliography highlighting research on community food systems from government agencies and institutions of higher education.

The Ethicurean
http://www.ethicurean.com/
The Ethicurean is a blog that provides information about "where and how [food] was grown and by whom, how it got to our plate, and the less obvious effects of consuming it." The information is organized into numerous topics around the food movement, including news and current events, food policy, food safety, labor practices, and cooking and eating.

eXtension
http://www.extension.org/
eXtension is an online portal of resources provided by cooperative extension agents from participating land-grant institutions. Under the topic "Organic Agriculture," there is information on local food systems, including marketing case studies, business planning resources, food system assessments and toolkits, information on "eat local" campaigns, and related videos and webinars.

Farm to Table: The Emerging American Meal
http://www.farmtotableonline.org/
This blog tackles issues across the local food spectrum: "from the fields" addresses local farmers, sustainable agriculture and local marketing; "backyards" covers urban agriculture and community food programs; "in town" shares stories about local food economies and communities; "locavore living" provides articles on integrating local foods into everyday practice; and "profood politics" covers political and grassroots local food issues.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), United States Department of Agriculture
{http://nifa.usda.gov/}
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), formerly known as the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), is a research branch of the USDA. NIFA's mission is to "advance knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities" by supporting Extension services at land-grant universities through grants. Their web site is a portal to their programming and grant-supported research, with specific reports on small and family farms, organic agriculture, and sustainable agriculture. It also administers the "Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program."

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA), National Center for Appropriate Technology
http://attra.ncat.org/
This web site provides information on organic farming, including "in-depth publications on production practices, alternative crop and livestock enterprises, innovative marketing, organic certification, and highlights of local, regional, USDA and other federal sustainable agriculture activities." Under its "Local Food Systems" section, the web site provides specific information about the benefits of local foods, local marketing and distribution, policy information, and links to additional resources.

Science.gov
http://www.science.gov
Science.gov is an information gateway to scientific government information, searching across 18 government science organizations within 14 federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Under the section on Agriculture and Food, there are links to information on: Food Supply; Pesticides, Insecticides, and Herbicides; Plant Production, Agronomy, Gardening and Horticulture; and Food Safety.

Statistical Resources

Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.ars.usda.gov/
The Agricultural Research Service is the USDA's primary scientific research agency. Their web site provides access to information on nutrition and food safety, animal and crop production, and the interface between sustainable agriculture and natural resources, including soil, water and air. The site also provides access to a number of reports on local food systems that can be accessed by a simple keyword search.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor
http://www.bls.gov/
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides national data on the "Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing" industry, broken down to employment, pay and benefits, and productivity. The web site also provides timely reports on organic food production and local food production, including an occupational outlook.

Census of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture
{http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/}
The Census of Agriculture, conducted every five years, provides "a detailed picture of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them." This web site provides access to current and historical data on organic production at a national, state and county level.

Consumer Expenditure Survey, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/cex/
The Consumer Expenditure Survey provides access to data on the buying habits of American consumers. Detailed information is available on how much food is spent on food away from home versus food at home; the food at home is broken into further categories, including cereals and bakery products; meats, poultry, fish, and eggs; dairy products; fruits and vegetables; and other.

County Business Patterns, United States Census Bureau
{https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cbp.html}
An annual report from the U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns provides regional economic activity data on industries such as forestry, fishing, hunting and agriculture; manufacturing; wholesale trade; and retail trade. Organized by NAICS codes, information will include number of employees, payroll, and number of establishments. **Excludes data on self-employed individuals and agricultural production employees; see also Nonemployer Statistics, United States Census Bureau.

Economic Census, American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau
http://factfinder2.census.gov/
The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the Economic Census every five years, measuring business activity during the calendar year. To find national and regional data on industries such as food manufacturing, wholesale trade, and retail trade, select Industry Quick Reports under the Economic Census data set. Organized using NAICS codes, industry information includes number of establishments, employees, payroll and sales for industries by state.

Economic Research Service (ERS), United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.ers.usda.gov/
The Economic Research Service provides research and economic data from the USDA, including statistics on crops, farm economy, farm practices and management (including organic and sustainable farming practices), organic prices, and organic production. The site also provides access to a number of publications on local food systems that can be accessed by a simple keyword search.

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.nass.usda.gov/
The National Agricultural Statistics Service serves as a gateway to United States agricultural statistics, including the Census of Agriculture, with an emphasis on demographics, commodities, agricultural economics, and chemical usage. Statistics can be accessed at a national or state level, including state agriculture overviews.

Nonemployer Statistics, United States Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov/econ/nonemployer/index.html
An annual report from the U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics provides regional economic activity data on businesses without paid employees, including agricultural production. Organized using NAICS codes, information is available for industries such as forestry, fishing, hunting and agriculture; manufacturing; wholesale trade; and retail trade. **An important complement to the economic census reports in American FactFinder and County Business Patterns, United States Census Bureau.

Food Policy and Law

2008 U.S. Farm Bill
http://www.usda.gov/farmbill
The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (also known as the 2008 U.S. Farm Bill) is the current five-year agricultural policy bill that establishes commodities, conservation, energy, nutrition, rural development, and foreign aid in the United States. Title X, "Horticulture and Organic Agriculture," specifically deals with funding for farmers' markets and direct-marketing practices, as well as reinforces federal organic regulatory activities.

AgObservatory
{http://www.agobservatory.org/}
A project of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, this web site covers information related to U.S. and international agriculture, including food policy, food safety, food security, biotechnology and agribusiness, bioeconomy, and alternative approaches to agriculture. There is also a section related to the 2008 Farm Bill, including reports analyzing specific issues addressed in the bill, including the environment, labor and hunger.

Agricultural Law Center, Drake University Law School
http://www.law.drake.edu/centers/agLaw/
The Agricultural Law Center recognizes the role the legal system has in shaping our food system, and provides legal information on "the full scope of food and agriculture, including marketing and finance; biotechnology; international trade; tax planning; soil and water conservation; land use and environmental issues; food safety; and federal farm programs." The web site links to information about food policy and local food movements, and has a section for the Center's publications, including the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law.

Farm Foundation
http://www.farmfoundation.org/
The Farm Foundation is a nonprofit organization that addresses policy issues in a number of agricultural areas, including local food systems. The web site provides access to the Issue Report, a publication addressing the challenges of agriculture in rural America, as well as nformation from current projects looking at sustainable agriculture, food economics, and agricultural research.

Farmers' Legal Action Group (FLAG)
http://www.flaginc.org/
The Farmers' Legal Action Group is a "nonprofit law center dedicated to providing legal services and support to family farmers and their communities in order to help keep family farmers on the land." Their web site provides legal information about organic farming, disaster assistance, and agricultural contracts, as well as links to numerous publications on a variety of topics, including conservation programs and family farming.

Food Law, Institute for Food Law and Regulations, Michigan State University
http://www.foodlaw.org/
Run by the Institute for Food Laws and Regulations (IFLR) at Michigan State University, this web site collates state and local food laws, as well as specific government information about food labeling and food safety issues.

Healthy Community Design and Access to Healthy Food Legislation Database
http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=13227
Developed by the National Conference of State Legislatures, this database allows access to summaries of state food legislation from 2004-present. The database is searchable by state, year, bill type, specific bill number, and topic (including "agriculture/local foods," "farm-to-school," and "supermarket/food access").

House Committee on Agriculture
http://agriculture.house.gov/
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture's web site provides access to press releases, hearings, and legislation related to agriculture, including publications from the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture (formerly the Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture), which is responsible for organic agriculture, direct-marketing initiatives, and nutrition and consumer programs.

Local Food Systems, The National Agricultural Law Center
{http://nationalaglawcenter.org/research-by-topic/local-food-systems/}
This web site, run by the University of Arkansas' School of Law, is a clearinghouse for agricultural and food law research. The local foods systems portal includes cultivated information on: relevant government statutes and regulations, Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports, and an extensive list of additional resources and publications.

Local Food Systems -- The United States Agricultural & Food Law and Policy Blog
{http://nationalaglawcenter.org/ag-and-food-law-blog/}
This blog, created by the American Agricultural Law Association, is comprehensive in its coverage of accurate and up-to-date news and research related to policy issues surrounding local foods, including food labeling, food safety, and nutrition programs.

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
http://sustainableagriculture.net/
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is an advocacy organization that seeks federal policy reform to "advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities." In particular, their web site provides information on "Marketing, Food Systems & Rural Development," including local and regional food systems, organic production, farm-to-school programming, and food security issues.

Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry
{https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/}
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry's web site provides access to legislation, hearings and news items related to agriculture, including information from the Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition and Family Farms, which is responsible for local and healthy food initiatives and hunger prevention and school and child nutrition programs.

Sustainable and Organic Agriculture; Small-Scale Farms; Young and New Farmers

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.ams.usda.gov/
The Agricultural Marketing Service "administers programs that facilitate the efficient, fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products." AMS manages the National Organic Program and provides information about organic production, handling and labeling standards. Under "Farmers Markets and Local Food Marketing," the web site also provides information about direct-to-consumer marketing practices and grant programs to assist local food producers.

Agriculture, United States Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/
This web site, sponsored by EPA's National Agriculture Center, provides information about agricultural compliance with environmental regulations. Specific topics covered on this web site include organic farming, integrated pest management, composting, pollution prevention, sustainability, and water protection.

Beginning Farmers
http://beginningfarmers.org/
Beginning Farmers is "a comprehensive compilation of information resources on farm financing, finding land, business planning, agricultural production and marketing." The web site provides information across a wide spectrum, including finding land, starting a farm, and resources for financing agricultural enterprises through loans and grants, and production information; they also provide resources on more specialized topics, including urban farming, permaculture, and chicken and goat farming.

GrowFood
{http://www.growfood.com}
GrowFood's mission is to connect small-scale farmers with volunteers who are interested in hands-on experience with organic farming. This web site helps connect farms and community members, facilitating both short-term and long-term agricultural opportunities.

National Young Farmers' Coalition
http://www.youngfarmers.org/
This nonprofit advocacy organization, "created by and for young beginning farmers in the United States," provides a social network for the young farming community, as well as practical information, including regional and online training opportunities, and national agricultural policy information.

Organic Farming Research Foundation
http://ofrf.org/
The Organic Farming Research Foundation sponsors organic farming research and education projects through a competitive grant program. The web site provides information about current grant proposals, as well as links to funded projects; there is also a publications section which includes information related the intersection of organic farming and local food systems.

Rodale Institute
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/
The Rodale Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the research of organic farming, providing information on: conversion to organic farming, the impact of climate change on farming, and the intersection between nutrition and agriculture. The web site also includes news and reports about the Farming Systems Trial, their long-running comparative study of conventional chemical agriculture and organic agriculture. They also provide a community forum that addresses common questions about organic farming.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.sare.org/
SARE, sponsored by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, provides grants and outreach to "advance sustainable innovations to the whole of American agriculture." The web site provides information about current funding opportunities for sustainable agriculture, as well as links to reports from past SARE-funded projects. There are also links to a number of publications that cover sustainable agriculture, economics and marketing, and education and training.

Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms USA (WWOOF-USA)
http://www.wwoofusa.org/
WWOOF-USA is a branch of the international WWOOF organization that facilitates the placement of volunteers on organic farms, providing them with first-hand experience of the organic agriculture movement. The web site serves as a portal to connect farms and the community, providing information about membership and volunteer opportunities.

Community Food Security and Access

The Campus Kitchens Project
http://www.campuskitchens.org/
This national student-run organization engages college and high-school students in anti-hunger programs for their local communities. The web site provides a list of the current Campus Kitchens projects, press releases, and a blog that provides information on the organization's national initiatives.

Community Food Security Coalition
http://www.foodsecurity.org/
The Community Food Security Coalition seeks to build "strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food to all people at all times." Their web site provides information on grant opportunities for community food projects, including profiles of specific community food projects, and reports on community food systems, farm-to-school programs, and food security issues. They also provide an extensive list of local food banks and local foods community partners.

Feeding America
http://feedingamerica.org/
Feeding America is a domestic hunger-relief charity whose mission is "to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger." To that end, their web site provides information about a number of local programs they support and links to specific food access case studies; they also publish an annual study looking at the status of hunger in America.

Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides food security and nutrition education to children and low-income families. Included in their nutrition assistance programming is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food stamps to low- and no-income families, and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant, Children (WIC) program, which includes the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. FNS also runs the National School Lunch Program. The web site provides access to reports looking at the farm-to-school initiative, as well as publications and data sets about their various programs.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation
http://www.wkkf.org
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation provides funding for organizations and institutions to invest in communities and children. Through their Food & Community Program, they seek to strengthen community food systems by improving school food and promoting national healthy eating and active living movements. The web site provides information about grant opportunities, as well as a list of grantees and their projects.

World Hunger Year (WHY)
http://www.whyhunger.org/
World Hunger Year (WHY) is a nonprofit organization working to "end hunger and poverty by connecting people to nutritious, affordable food and by supporting grassroots solutions that inspire self-reliance and community empowerment." The web site has links to WHY publications on community food security, youth and urban agriculture, and farm-to-school initiatives, as well as the National Hunger Clearinghouse's resource directory.

Your Food Environment Atlas, Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture
{http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-environment-atlas.aspx}
This interactive map gives a spatial overview of food access at a national, state or county-level, looking at statistics related to food choices, health and well-being, and community characteristics. The Atlas provides specific data for local foods, including direct-to-consumer sales, farmers' markets, and farm-to-school programming.

Farm-To-School; Farm-To-College

Center for Ecoliteracy
http://www.ecoliteracy.org/
The Center for Ecoliteracy supports K-12 education for sustainable living, helping students engage in the natural world, nurture healthy communities, and explore the role of food in daily life. They have developed a program "Rethinking School Lunch" that provides information on improving school food and teaching nutrition, which includes an online guide that covers topics such as procurement, facilities, finances and waste management.

Children's Health Protection, United States Environmental Protection Agency
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/homepage.htm
This web site, created by the EPA, seeks to provide information on protecting children's health from environmental risks. In their Health School Environments section, they provide information on a spectrum of environmental risks, including access to clean water and waste reduction and composting.

Farm to College
http://www.farmtocollege.org/
This web site, created by the Community Food Security Coalition, profiles a number of successful farm-to-college initiatives across the country, as well as a link to publications, including guides on how to start a program, curricular resources, case studies, and resources for organizing or locating local farm product supplies.

Farm To School
http://www.farmtoschool.org/
Farm to School connects K-12 schools 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 web site provides information about specific state farm-to-school programs, case studies and feasibility analyses on farm-to-school initiatives, information about funding opportunities, and links to federal policies and legislation.

The Food Trust
http://www.thefoodtrust.org/
The Food Trust in a nonprofit organization that seeks to "ensure that everyone has access to affordable, nutritious food" by supporting a number of school-based and community-based programs. The web site is a portal to a number of reports and resources on topics including the Comprehensive School Nutrition Policy Initiative and the School Food and Beverage Reform Initiative.

FoodCorps
http://food-corps.org/
FoodCorps, a partner program of AmeriCorps, is a national school garden and Farm to School service program, engaging service volunteers to help bring healthy food infrastructure to schools by establishing Farm to School supply chains, expand food system and nutrition education programs, and build and tend school food gardens.

Healthy Schools Campaign
http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/
This nonprofit organization advocates for policies that allow students, teachers and staff to work in a healthy school environment. Their School Food & Fitness program aims to integrate exercise and nutrition into K-12 education, including building partnerships with local farms. The web site provides access to a number of publications, including the Guide to School Wellness and their periodical Healthy Schools.

The LunchBox
http://www.thelunchbox.org/
The LunchBox is an advocacy organization working to transform school lunches in K-12 schools. The site provides links to a number of resources, including news and videos about farm-to-school initiatives, peer-reviewed curricula for gardening, cooking and nutrition learning, and a toolkit with recipes to help plan menus.

Real Food Challenge
http://realfoodchallenge.org
This grassroots organization seeks to mobilize college students to educate their community about "real food," food that "nourished producers, consumers, communities and the earth." The organization's web site includes resources to help students campaign for local sustainable food in institutional food service operations, including successful case studies. They also have the Real Food Calculator, a tool developed to help track institutional food purchasing.

School Nutrition Association
http://www.schoolnutrition.org/
The School Nutrition Association's mission is to make healthy and nutritious meals more accessible to all children. Their web site includes a resource center that addresses the mechanics of starting and running a school nutrition program, including procurement, preparation, and staff education. They also provide links to their two publications, School Nutrition and Journal of Child Nutrition & Management, both of which address the challenges and opportunities surrounding child nutrition programs.

Urban Agriculture and Community Gardening

American Community Gardening Association
http://communitygarden.org/
A nonprofit organization, American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) seeks to build community ties by "increasing and enhancing" community gardening across the United States and Canada. ACGA promotes regional and local gardening networks, conducts educational training, and develops resources to support community gardening.

Gardening Resources, Cornell University
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/
An information portal supported by Cornell Cooperative Extension, this web site provides access to a number of resources related to home gardening, including growing guides for over 500 fruits and vegetables, weather and climate information, and links to community gardening and garden-based learning resources.

Kitchen Gardener International
http://kitchengardeners.org/
This nonprofit organization provides a community platform for home and community gardeners to network, share information, and organize local activities. The web site also provides links to blogs and annual reports, and a forum for members to pose questions related to organic gardening, seed-saving, composting and soil fertility, water issues, food and cooking, and school, community and urban gardens.

Seed Savers Exchange
http://seedsavers.org/
Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving diverse, but endangered, heirloom plant varieties by building a membership network that collects, conserves, and shares heirloom seeds and plants, while providing education about the value of genetic and cultural diversity.

Urban Farming
http://www.urbanfarming.org/
This nonprofit organization's mission is to bring communities together to "plant food on unused land, space, rooftops and walls, with the intention of ending hunger." The web site provides links to current garden locations, as well as information on the Home Farming Movement, their Health and Wellness Program, the Urban Farming Community and Green Science Garden Program, and their Food Chain vertical farming project.

WinterSown
http://www.wintersown.org/
An Agricultural Network Information Center (AgNIC) partner, this web site provides practical information on how to winter sow seeds, including seed germination methods and seed saving and storage.

Farmland Conservation; Environment

American Farmland Trust
http://www.farmland.org/
The American Farmland Trust (AFT) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save farmland, promote local food systems, and protect the environment. Under Studies & Reports, the web site provides access to AFT's publications, including a national study done on agricultural easement programs. The web site also provides advocacy information for protecting agricultural lands and promoting local foods through their "No Farms No Food" program.

Farmland Information Center
http://www.farmlandinfo.org/
The Farmland Information Center, a partnership between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and American Farmland Trust, provides information (including fact sheets, legislation, statistics, and news) about farmland protection, preservation and stewardship. They also provide sample documents for model conservation easements of agricultural land.

National Resources Inventory (NRI), Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/NRI/
The National Resources Inventory is a statistical survey of land use and natural resource conditions on non-federal croplands and grazing lands. This web site provides access to primary data sources looking at issues such as land development, land use, soil erosion, and water quality.

Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) "works [at a local level] with landowners through conservation planning and assistance to benefit the soil, water, air, plants, and animals for productive lands and healthy ecosystems." Their web site is a gateway to numerous technical resources, with topics covering conservation practices related to Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) and Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), energy resources, plant materials, and air quality. They also highlight a number of conservation programs, including environmental improvement programs, stewardship programs, and easement programs.

The Trust for Public Land
http://www.tpl.org/
The Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit that seeks to conserve parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places to ensure access for generations to come, including working to protect farms, ranches and forests from development. Their web site provides information about current projects, as well as numerous publications and the LandVote database, which provides statistics of state and local government efforts to raise public funds in support of land conservation.

Farmers Markets, Community Supported Agriculture, and Pick-Your-Own

Farm Locator, Rodale Institute
{http://newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/embedfarmlocator/}
The Farm Locator, created by the Rodale Institute, helps link consumers to local farmers, as well as farmers to local restaurants and retailers. Each local farm has a fact sheet with contact information and a farm description; they also highlight growing practices and agricultural products.

Farmers Market Coalition
http://www.farmersmarketcoalition.org
The Farmers Market Coalition is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support and strengthen farmers markets throughout the United States. Their web site provides access to information on starting farmers markets, management and operation, food safety and handling, insurance, liability and licensing, evaluation and assessment, and marketing, as well as links to state associations.

FoodRoutes Network
http://www.foodroutes.org/
FoodRoutes Network is a nonprofit dedicated to the local foods movement by "reintroducing Americans to their food." Their program "Buy Fresh Buy Local" seeks to educate consumers about the benefits of knowing the seeds their food grow from, the farmers who produce it, and the routes that carry it from the fields to their tables. The goal of their web site is to provide information, resources and market opportunities to the local food and farming community.

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/knowyourfarmer?navid=KNOWYOURFARMER
This USDA initiative seeks to create new economic opportunities by connecting consumers with local producers. The web site not only provides information about the economics and health of local food, but also provides links to additional government programming, including grant programs for local agricultural producers.

LocalHarvest
http://www.localharvest.org/
LocalHarvest is an informational resource for the Buy Local movement, connecting consumers with farmers' markets, family farms, and community support agriculture (CSA).

Local Food Directories, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA)
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/local_food/search.php
This resource is a searchable local food directory, highlighting local sources of agricultural products, CSAs and farmers markets.

Eating and Cooking; Nutrition

Chef's Collaborative
http://chefscollaborative.org/
The Chef's Collaborative is a "nonprofit network of chefs that fosters a sustainable food system through advocacy, education, and collaboration with the broader food community." Educational programs give chefs information about making sustainable purchasing decisions, including the Grow-Out program, which promotes the development of markets for locally-raised, regionally significant, heirloom produce.

Eat Well Guide
http://www.eatwellguide.org/
The Eat Well Guide helps consumers find sustainable food options by location, keyword or category, including farmers, stores/co-ops, restaurants, and farmers markets. Each entry has a detailed profile that highlights its local products and production methods.

Food and Nutrition Information Center, National Agricultural Library
{http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/}
This web site provides nutrition information for health professionals. Topics covered include hunger and food security, diet and disease, weight and obesity, food safety and food labeling, as well as links to food and nutrition surveys, grant information, legislation and policy. It also provides access to nutrition.gov, a government portal to food and nutrition information and dietary guidance.

Healthy Food Systems, Healthcare Without Harm
http://www.noharm.org/all_regions/issues/food/
An initiative of Healthcare Without Harm, this web site provides information for hospitals who want to support and create economically and socially viable food systems while providing nutritious food for patients and staff. Resources include purchasing policies and guidelines, information about balanced menus, links to successful case studies, and a number of publications related to healthy food in health care.

National Good Food Network
http://www.ngfn.org/
Part of the Wallace Center, the National Good Food Network (NGFN) seeks to connect local food suppliers to buyers and distributors, creating new supply chains which "rewards sustainable production, treats growers and workers fairly, improves the health of families and the wealth of communities, and meets the growing demand for healthy, green, fair, affordable food." The web site includes the NGFN Database, a searchable resource that provides access to individuals and organizations working towards local food supply chains, as well as research reports and business plans.

New York Times, Local Food
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/l/local_food/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=locavore&st=cse
An archive of New York Times articles published on local food topics, including a Local Food Navigator, highlighting a list of external resources related to local food.

Slow Food USA
http://www.slowfoodusa.org/
Slow Food is an international nonprofit, a grassroots movement that "links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment." Comprised of local chapters, Slow Food uses programming to raise public awareness of food that is locally and sustainable grown; protection of biodiversity; promoting heirloom produce, animal breeds, wild food and cooking practices that are endangered; and promoting the celebration of the interplay between community and food.

Research Centers

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