Interest in local and regional foods has escalated, resulting in development of a variety of local food projects focuses on new production, marketing, research, policies, events, and impacts in communities throughout Ohio.

• Get an overview of local food systems and what's happening in Ohio.
• Quickly find resources to plan, develop, finance, market, evaluate local food movements.
• Connect with local, state and national networks.
• Listen to success stories, watch video clips & read case studies.
• Link to various Ohio organizations and to Ohio MarketMaker, an interactive Web site connecting producers, buyers and others throughout the food chain.

Overview of local/regional food systems & what’s happening in Ohio

Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland signed an executive order creating the Ohio Food Policy Advisory Council, which is meant to establish a comprehensive, commonsense approach to the state’s food policy. The Ohio Food Policy Advisory Council brings together representatives from government, the food and agriculture industry, and various regions of the state. The Council is charged with analyzing food production, processing and consumption in Ohio, linking producers and consumers in local food systems and ensuring that citizens in need have greater access to fresh and nutritious food. In addition, the Council will work to encourage the growth of Ohio food products and assist farmers and businesses in effectively marketing their products.

Ohio Farmers' Market Managers formed a new network in 2009.

Local Food Systems focuses on networking local food systems throughout the state and neighboring communities.

Ohio's Food Systems - Farms at the Heart of it All (pdf)

Resources to plan, develop, finance, market, evaluate local food movements

Assess Local Food systems

• OSU Social Responsibility Initiative (SRI)
• Community Food Security Assessment Toolkit
• Cincinnati Community Food Assessment Research Project 2005-2006
• Moving Food Along the Value Chain: Innovations in Regional Food Distribution

Promote local food

• Add your free profile to Ohio MarketMaker
• Ohio Department of Agriculture attracted a record number of partners through an updated Ohio Proud campaign. View promo
• Ohio Farm Bureau promotes local foods through an Our Ohio magazine, television show, and website.
• OEFFA (organic)

Develop value-added foods

• OSU Food Industries, Central Ohio
• ACEnet, Southeast, Ohio
• Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT), Northwest Ohio

Develop local food systems and local food policies

• Community Food Security (guide book for local food system)
• Example of county food shed report

Link local food & culinary tourism - coming soon

Measure impacts of local food programs (economic, social, environmental) - coming soon

Connect with local, state and national networks

If you are a consumer interested in buying local food or learning to grow, raise, and preserve local food, visit:

• Our Ohio (Farm Bureau)
• Ohio Proud (ODA)
• OSU Extension

If you are a business interested in buying local food, visit Ohio MarketMaker to find local food sources:

• Convenience & Grocery Stores (small/large)
• Caterers & Restaurants
• Government Agencies, Schools & Institutions
• Distributors
• Food Banks, cooperatives, etc.

If you are a producer interested in selling local food:

• Marketing Local Food
• Distribution Supply Chain Basics: The Dynamics of Change in the U.S. Food Marketing Environment
• Financing Growing Opportunity
• Guide to Farm Bill Funding

If you are a community leader interested in advancing local food:

• Local economic developers
• Social justice supporters
• Environmental interest organizations
• Others special interest groups
• Leopold Center
• On-line course about how to frame the work of promoting local food systems.
• Wallace Center, Winrock International
• Sustainable Development
• Sustainable Ag. & Food System Funders

If you are an educator or researcher interested in local food:

• National Events (proceedings, presentations, ect.)
• National Ag. Law Center

Listen to local food stories, watch video clips & read case studies

Benefits of developing a local food system include:

• consumer satisfaction with nutritious and delicious food
• business profitability & viability
• local community & economic development
• environmental impacts from reduced transportation costs
• social benefits encouraged through building local relationships

Stories form all of these perspectives coming soon

Learn from the Experts:

Podcasts:

• Local and Regional Food, Julie Fox, Direct Marketing Specialist, OSU

Videos:

• Responding to the Growth of Local Foods, Lisa Schacht, Schacht Farm Market

Other:

• Lorain, Medina and Wayne County CVBs have formed "Fresh Ohio" to promote local food and more. "Fresh Ohio" debuted at the 2009 Heartland Travel Showcase.
• Cleveland, OH - City Fresh & Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition
• Our Ohio, farm fresh food stories from Ohio Farm Bureau
• Ohio Proud Connections Newsletter launched in spring 2012

Volume 1, Issue 1

Link to Ohio Organizations and Programs

Ohio MarketMaker is a web-based resource for all businesses in the food supply chain. The program is part of a national network that connects food producers with food buyers - retailers, grocery stores, processors, caterers, chefs, and other food supply chain contacts.

Various Ohio organizations promote local food and beverages including:

• Ohio Wine
• Ohio Signature Beef
• Ohio Food Shed
• Green Living (includes Community Supported Agriculture listings)