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Minnesota Food Association
1916 2nd Ave. South Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: (612) 872-3298
Fax: (612) 870-0729
E-mail:
odonn011@gold.tc.umn.edu
Contact: Jan O'Donnell, Executive Director
Membership
dues: $25/year
Newsletter: MFA Digest, quarterly.
The
Minnesota Food Association (MFA) is a thirteen-year-old statewide membership
organization. Our mission is to form a coalition of informed, connected and
activated urban and rural people who will work together to build a more
sustainable food system.
Sustainability has many dimensions. In the
arena of food systems work, sustainable describes a food system in which all
people, regardless of income or other variables, have access to safe, quality
food which is grown, processed and distributed in a manner that supports family
farms, viable urban and rural communities, and stewardship of the land and
environment.
In the implementation of its work, MFA has consistently valued the
ability and wisdom of our members and the community. Through study groups,
urban and rural dialogues, supporting the placement of individual members on
policy-making boards and advisory councils, and by providing a bridge between
the various diverse components of the food system, MFA members have the
opportunity to find ways to express their concerns and interests.
MFA Programs (current and under development) include:
- Local Food Systems: As a result of our work over the last 13
years, in particular our role in establishing the Food and Nutrition
Commission, MFA is currently providing staffing and technical support to six
diverse communities around the United States who are actively working on issues
of food security and food system policy. This 36 month project is currently
funded by a major grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Over the last year,
MFA has developed a variety of new programs based on the board direction to
focus on local food systems in MN. In addition to those listed here, other
projects are in the discussion/preconceptual phase.
- Pathways from Poverty: This initiative is developing a pilot
project in two rural communities which will support those communities in
creating solutions to address chronic rural poverty. MFA's interest is in
assuring that food system concerns and perspectives are part of the future of
rural Minnesota.
- Southeast Asian Farm Project: There is much interest in the
Southeast Asian community in Saint Paul to explore the feasibility of
relocating Southeast Asian families to farm collectively in rural Minnesota.
The project is in collaboration with Lao Family Community and others in the
community. It is seen as one vehicle to utilize the work of Future Farmer
project.
- The Next Generation of Future Farmer: Spearheaded by board member
Linda Littrell, MFA is exploring ways in which the outcomes identified through
the Future Farmer project can be utilized by the Extension Service and FFA
groups.
- Feeding the Saints: This developing collaboration with the
Sustainable Farming Association will focus on three colleges and universities
in St. Cloud in an effort to expand purchasing of locally produced food by the
food services providing meals to students. The project also hope to
incorporate issues of sustainability into the curriculum.
- The Food Group: A coalition of food systems organizations gather
to network and develop urban based collaborative projects that intentionally
reflect the integration of the food system, including urban gardening and
marketing, nutrition concerns and education, food policy and regulation, and
access to food.
For more information, please contact the MFA office
at (612) 872-3298.
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