Yesterday marked the 8th Annual Local Food Forum, a networking event hosted by Farm Fresh RI that brought together farmers, buyers, and advocates to engage in a dynamic discussion about this year’s topic: Food Fight! How the 2012 Farm Bill Will Affect Rhode Island.
Every 5 years a new Farm Bill passes through Congress and reshapes our food and our agriculture. It includes programs like SNAP, commodity subsidies, WIC, conservation programs, community food projects and more. Currently, in the $288 billion 2008 Farm Bill, the budget for local farms and foods might as well be a rounding error. But there’s an opportunity: the 2012 Farm Bill is currently being crafted!
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree of Maine (D) delivered an inspiring keynote speech discussing the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act, a proposed title for the upcoming Farm Bill that outlines many changes that would benefit the local food landscape, the environment, and America’s overall health.
According to Ken Ayars, Chief of RI DEM Division of Agriculture, RI represents a “bright spot” in its incorporation of local food into our state’s fabric. With much momentum already brimming, there is great opportunity for policy changes in the upcoming Farm Bill that would support the already growing local food economy.
Read below for some observations and facts gleaned by our awesome intern, Anna Foster!
“The localizing of farming contributes to the resolution of many issues plaguing our society, such as: obesity, jobs, environmental problems. This movement is not a new phenomena, but a rebirth of the way people used to live in New England. The public is itching to mobilize. Farmland needs to be protected as a natural resource, and farmers need to be supported economically for their work in protecting and producing on this land, whether on a 30 acre farm in rural RI or a sub-acre urban plot in Providence.
On an oddly appropriate note, the food at the Local Food Forum was fantastic. Local bagels, cheese spreads, apples, cider, squash soup, and sandwiches were served to roughly 200 friendly excited people attending, on beautiful winters day.”
Thanks to all who attended!
