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Local Food for Local Power

Local Food for Local Power is a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (Southern SAWG) project to support community-based organizations in their work on local food policy issues, funded by the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation.

Southern SAWG entered into partnerships with four organizations to support them in developing and implementing community food policy action plans. Over the course of this fifteen-month project, each organization has been paired with a mentor who has provided ongoing support and feedback for their work to improve access to quality food in their communities. Southern SAWG and the partner organizations also established a regional learning community through a series of conference calls focused on food policy topics and themes, as well as group training sessions.

Local Food for Local Power organizations and activities:

• CASTLES/Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) - North Carolina
  Implementation of local and statewide initiatives to support farmers, youth leadership development, access to healthy food and food policy.

• Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee
  Planning a faith-based initiative to address childhood obesity through grocery stores and food access in Nashville and the surrounding area.

• Virgin Islands Farmers Cooperative
  Developing a territory-wide initiative that engages diverse sectors toward heightening legislative awareness and action to improve food access.

• Youth For a Cleaner Environment (YFACE) - Georgia
  Partnering with local and regional organizations in food, farming, and health through youth involvement at a newly formed farmers' market, the Forsyth Farmers' Market.

The four organizations have accomplished a broad range of goals, including planting the seeds for local food policy councils and engaging elected officials in collaborating to help improve the access to quality food in their communities.

To learn more… Information is available in English and Spanish.

Southern SAWG Seeks Experienced Project Coordinator  Deadline to apply July 24, 2009

Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group is seeking a talented and enthusiastic person with experience in sustainable agriculture to work as a contractor to provide project coordination within our Sustainable Family Farms Program.

The contractor will serve as a Southern SAWG Project Coordinator, working out of her or his own fully equipped office in one of the states in which Southern SAWG works (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA). Proven success leading multi-faceted projects with tight deadlines and multiple collaborators and contractors is required, including a minimum of three years of experience organizing training events, developing educational materials, and handling event logistics.

Applicants should be organized, detail-oriented, self-starting, and motivated, with the capacity to achieve excellence and to work well with a diversity of people. We are looking for someone with excellent time management skills that can keep project work moving on multiple levels and complete activities on deadline. Qualified applicants will demonstrate excellent writing and electronic communication skills, proficiency in word processing and spreadsheet development, and experience managing project budgets.

The contract is for part-time work to be performed over a period between one and two years, beginning August, 2009. The work load will be variable, but will be heaviest from August 2009 to January 2010. The compensation rate ($25 - $28/hour) and the overall scope of the contract (200 hours - 425 hours) are negotiable depending on qualifications and availability.

Southern SAWG encourages applications from all qualified persons. Our mission is to empower and inspire farmers, individuals, and communities in the South to create an agricultural system that is ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just, and humane. Southern SAWG is committed to including all persons in the South without bias.

To apply, submit qualifications and a letter of no more than three pages detailing specific experience and skills that you would bring to this work. Special emphasis should be given to your work as an independent contractor. Include detailed information and references related to your most recent and current work. In addition, include references of up to three people who can provide verification of the required skills and experience. 

The deadline to apply is July 24, 2009. Send inquiries and applications to Jean Mills.

Emerging Issues in the U.S. Organic Industry New Report from the USDA

In another relevant report published last month by the USDA, Emerging Issues in the U.S. Organic Industry, the Economic Research Service (ERS) provides an overview of trends in the organic industry and issues being faced. The publication discusses the sharp increase in consumer demand for organic products over the last decade, showing that even as new producers have emerged to help meet the demand, "a supply squeeze is constraining growth for both individual firms and the organic sector overall."

The chapter entitled "New Directions in U.S. Organic Policy" outlines new support for organic agriculture under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), including provisions for financial support for farmers to convert to organic production, increased mandated funding for the national certification cost-share program, and increased mandatory organic research funding. The report also contains information on recent economic research on the adoption of organic farming systems, organic production costs and returns, and market conditions.

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