The Wisconsin Local Food Network (WLFN) has embarked on a new project titled Collaborating to strengthen local and regional food systems in Wisconsin.  This project is building upon current work and strengthening the statewide structure of local food system development by identifying priority topic areas, facilitating working groups, and identifying local/regional projects that WLFN can support with education, information, communication channels and small infusions of funding.  WLFN has received support from a UW-Extension Program Innovation Fund grant and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, that is helping to initiate this project.
 
Using the information gathered in a 2010 Wisconsin survey, the three priority topic areas for local food system development are: 1) Market Development, 2) Producer Development, and 3) Infrastructure. Each of these topics have $2250 designated to it for a statewide project to address hurdles within each topic. Producer Development and Infrastructure projects are already underway. To see a description of these projects please visit the WLFN wiki at http://wisconsinlocalfood.wetpaint.com/page/WLFN+Topic+Working+Groups/
 
Market Development Projects should strengthen economic development and market diversification opportunities for Wisconsin agriculture. Projects can address any demonstrated issue related to the priority topic area, market development. Opportunities and obstacles for this topic area were discussed at the WI Local Food Summit and the summary is available by clicking here.

Applications due April 11, 2011.  The RFA is available by clicking here.

If you have a market development project idea and would like to enlist collaborators, we encourage you to make use of the Wisconsin Local Food Network list serve to accomplish this.  Only subscribers can post to the list serve.  To subscribe go to: https://lists.uwex.edu/mailman/listinfo/wilocalfoodnetwork

For more information, contact:

Jane L. Hansen
Wisconsin Local Food Network Coordinator
Price County UW-Extension
Normal Building, 104 South Eyder Avenue
Phillips, WI  54555
715/339-5345 (voice)  715/339-3824 (fax)
jane.hansen@ces.uwex.edu
http://wisconsinlocalfood.wetpaint.com/