US administration announces communities to develop local food systems

Six federal agencies in the US have teamed-up on behalf of the White House Rural Council and announced 26 communities to participate in the Local Foods, Local Places federal initiative to provide technical support for local food systems for integrating with community economic action plans.

The initiative is a partnership between US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Department of Transportation (DoT), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Under the project, communities will work directly with a team of agricultural, transportation, environmental, public health and regional economic experts to develop specifically identified local food projects.

Repurposing vacant land into local food production, developing year-round retail markets for local food products, and establishing food hubs to increase local food supply chains will be a part of the project proposals.

Delta Regional Authority Federal co-chairman Christopher Masingill announced seven communities in four states that will be receiving Local Foods, Local Places technical support in the Delta region. Some of the projects in these communities will include efforts to create a local food network, establishment of a regional food innovation centre and development of job training efforts around local food entrepreneurship.

The 26 Local Foods, Local Places communities were chosen out of 316 applicants. The initiative is jointly funded with $800,000.

USDA’s deputy under secretary Doug O’Brien said: "The Local Foods, Local Places initiative illustrates that communities are thinking about creative ways to integrate local food in their community economic development plans. The projects developed via Local Foods, Local Places will revitalize rural Main Streets and urban downtown areas, and create market opportunities for food producers and entrepreneurs."

US DoT undersecretary Peter Rogoff said: "The Local Foods, Local Places Initiative recognizes the relationship between available transportation and the health and well-being of our communities. This collaboration provides local communities an opportunity to transform vacant spaces into vibrant spaces, which will provide better food options and better mobility for their residents."