Bill Vorley at Iowa State Leopold Center (wtvorley@iastate.edu) has designed
a project to investigate just what you are after. I'm not sure if his
project is funded and ongoing. Good luck: you're on an important path.
Hal
At 09:46 AM 1/22/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Discussions on this list often focus on negative conditions in the ecosystem
>and in our culture. And, certainly, there are many of those situations to
>discuss. I would like to focus on strategies for building community food
>systems that support local and regional growers, strengthen rural economies,
>and, probably most importantly, provide urban residents access to fresh,
>minimally processed food. Although, local processing and packaging is an
>important consideration in building community food systems.
>
>These goals are an important part of our strategy to build sustainable
>systems in Indiana. We are always looking for more information on what
>others are doing and what literature sources are available. We would like to
>build more market infrastructure (increase the effectiveness of farmers'
>markets, establish wholesale markets and marketing pools, etc.) in our quest
>to boost the sustainability of family style farming. Another facet of our
>strategy is to involve cooperative extension in this process.
>
>Any contributions (real examples and literature citations) would be
>appreciated. I'll accept philosophical considerations only if you will agree
>to receive two shovelfuls or each one you toss.
>Regards,
>
>
>Steve Bonney, President
>Indiana Sustainable Agriculture Association
>100 Georgton Ct.
>W. Lafayette IN 47906
>(317) 463-9366, fax (317) 497-0164
>email sbonney@holli.com
>
>
>