Center for Regional Food Systems

Resources

• Economic Impacts of Local Food Systems: Future Research Priorities

  Published on July 12, 2013
  This commentary addresses the types of local food economic impact studies that have been conducted, identifies criteria by which the effectiveness of these studies can be evaluated, and discusses future research opportunities.

• Grass Run Farms Webinar

  Published on June 25, 2013
  This presentation outlines the challenges any group of producers will need to overcome: consistency of finished product, workable production protocol, and year-round supply logistics.

• Food Hub Zoning and Michigan Growth Initiative Webinar

  Published on June 13, 2013
  This webinar examines zoning and land use issues in identifying and developing sites for food hubs.

• Zoning Lessons Learned Regarding Food Hubs

  Published on June 5, 2013
  The following “lessons” are based on several zoning discussions that ensued when starting food hubs in Battle Creek and Washtenaw County.

• Food Innovation Districts: An Economic Gardening Tool in Michigan Planner Volume 17, Issue 3

  Published on May 30, 2013
  The May/June edition of the publication Michigan Planner featured the release of and key concepts and examples from Food Innovation Districts: An Economic Gardening Tool.

• Supplying Local and Regional Markets: Michigan-Based Meat and Livestock Value Chains

  Published on May 27, 2013
  This document highlights challenges identified by stakeholders at a CRFS Livestock Work Group meeting and discusses potential opportunities suggested to improve the system.

• Economic Analysis of Local and Regional Food Systems Webinar

  Published on May 20, 2013
  CRFS and the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Food & Environment Program convened a meeting of a group of economists and local food researchers in early 2013.

• Economic Analysis of Local and Regional Food Systems: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead

  Published on May 15, 2013
  This brief provides a summary of the discussion that took place among economists and local food researchers at a meeting in early 2013.

• Michigan Junior Chef Competition Videos 2013

  Published on May 9, 2013
  This video provides an overview of and interviews from the 2013 Michigan Junior Chef Competition. The competition's goal is to provide its youth participants hands-on cooking experience and knowledge of healthy and local food choices.

• Native American Food & Agriculture Speaker Series Webinar: Dr. Martin Reinhardt

  Published on May 8, 2013
  In this webinar, Dr. Martin Reinhardt, professor of Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University and co-owner and education division director of First Nations, LLC, presents on the Decolonizing Diet Project.

• Native American Food & Agriculture Speaker Series Webinar: Dan Cornelius

  Published on May 1, 2013
  In this webinar, Dan Cornelius, the Technical Assistance Specialist for the Great Lakes Region of the Intertribal Agriculture Council, presented on Food Systems and American Indian Agriculture.

• Native American Food & Agriculture Speaker Series Webinar: Valerie Segrest

  Published on April 24, 2013
  In this webinar, Valerie Segrest, a native nutrition educator specializing in local and traditional foods, presents "Traditional Foods, Nutrition, and Health."

• Michigan Institutions Expand Local Food Purchasing

  Published on April 23, 2013
  Surveys conducted by CRFS in 2012 show growing participation and interest in local food purchasing by both institutions and farmers.

• Comparative Carbon Footprint Assessment of Winter Lettuce Production

  Published on April 10, 2013
  The following study assesses cold-season hoop house lettuce production in the context of local food systems’ relative environmental effects.

• Farm to Institution: A Summary of Research on Local Food Purchasing by Institutions

  Published on April 9, 2013
  This document summarizes the results of several CRFS surveys on interest in local food purchasing by a variety of institutions in Michigan, as well as farmers' interest in selling to such markets.

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  Food Innovation Districts: An Economic Gardening Tool

  Published on April 5, 2013
  This guide can help planners and other stakeholders in developing food innovation districts that promote positive business environments, spur regional food system development, and increase access to local food.

• Michigan Produce Availability Chart

  Published on March 29, 2013
  This handout outlines the availability of Michigan-grown vegetables, herbs, and fruits throughout the year.

• Feeding a Population with Smaller Scale and Alternate System Production

  Published on March 22, 2013
  Feeding a population with smaller scale and alternate system production: An examination of farm requirements with a multi-species pasture system to feed 10 million people.

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  2012 Local Government Survey Highlights

  Published on March 20, 2013
  Survey results provide insight into the ways and lenses through which local governments engage in food systems, which may be of interest to good food advocates seeking municipal or county support for their efforts.

• Succeeding with Food Hubs: Financial Planning and Food Safety Webinar

  Published on March 14, 2013
  The Michigan Food Hub Network hosted a webinar on financial planning and food safety for food hubs.