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The West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition is a statewide network of people involved in building West Virginia's food and farm sectors. Our interconnected goals are to improve access to healthy, locally-produced food for all West Virginians while helping viable food and farm businesses to grow. The Coalition was launched in 2010 by the West Virginia Community Development Hub, but is on its way to becoming an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to food and agriculture issues.
We believe that as West Virginia farmers and food producers become more directly connected to West Virginia consumers, the results include healthier people, greater business opportunities, stronger communities, and a unique economy reflecting our state's proud heritage of self-sufficient food production.
Read more on our website.
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This newsletter provides a biweekly selection of news, events, resources, and ideas that are helpful to farms and food access projects in West Virginia. Whether you are a producer, consumer, nonprofit organization, educator, agency or food-related business, there may be something here to help you with your work. The information in this newsletter is compiled by the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition, which is an initiative of the West Virginia Community Development Hub. In addition to this newsletter, we also offer updates on specific food and farm topics. To subscribe to special updates, go here and enter your email address.
WVFFC News
WVFFC offering up to $10,000 for the creation or expansion of a mobile market in West Virginia
The West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition's Food Access Working Group is pleased to announce a grant opportunity to support the creation or expansion of mobile markets to increase access to healthy, local food for West Virginia residents living in limited access areas. The workgroup has $10,000 in funds available to support 1-2 projects that combine innovation, collaboration and education with a mobile market to directly serve limited resource families in at least one community in the state. Letters of intent are due February 14th. For additional deadlines, a full proposal description and eligibility requirements, click here.
WVFFC holds third-annual "Roadmap for the Food Economy" Conference in Charleston
On January 28th, over 80 people gathered at The Embassy Suites Hotel in Charleston WV to hear presentations on the momentum of the local food movement in the state as well as meet with WVFFC Working Groups to discuss projects. Presenters included Cheryl Miller of WVU, Bekki Leigh of the Office of Child Nutrition, Jamie Jeffrey of CAMC, Gail Patton of Unlimited Futures, Inc., Patti Miller of Panorama at The Peak, Mary Hunt of the Benedum Foundation, and Commissioner Walt Helmick of the WV Department of Agriculture. News coverage for the event can be found here and here. Many thanks to our sponsors: BB&T, Blue Moon Fund, Benedum Foundation, Appalachian Foodshed Projects, One Foundation, Farm Credit Country Mortgages, Highmark, and the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems. WVFFC Publishes Roadmap for the Food Economy: 2014 Progress Update
The 2014 Progress Report seeks to celebrate progress, highlight stories "from the field," measure changes in the food economy, and indicate where the biggest opportunities lie. It also includes an updated "Food Economy Scorecard" that measures collective progress toward the four big-picture goals. To find out more and to download the report, click here.
Call For Social Media Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to help us document and share the stories of West Virginia's local food movement. Are you technology savvy and willing to donate time to help build momentum? Email foodandfarm@wvhub.org with the subject 'social media,' and please include your location and how you are involved in local food.
West Virginia Food News
Bill to increase on-farm poultry processing makes progress through the legislature
In news impacting small poultry farmers of West Virginia, the Senate Ag Committee unanimously passed the 20k poultry exemption rule on January 1st! Thanks to the efforts of the WV Food and Farm Coalition's Meat Processing Working group over the past six months, small farmers who want to process more birds on-farm will be able to do so. The rule was amended to limit the flock size to 5,000 birds at each harvest, which satisfied the concerns of some stakeholders in the state. While nothing is final yet, the bill has cleared cleared what the Coalition believes may have been the biggest hurdle in the process. The bill must now go through the Senate Judiciary Committee, then to the Senate floor. The House Ag Committee passed an unamended version last week, so the bill will go to conference committee as some point to reach consensus.
Charleston Restaurant Week hopes to mitigate economic impact of chemical spill
While the economic impact on food businesses affected by the Elk River chemical spill is unknown, Charleston's first annual restaurant week will provide diners the opportunity to support those businesses directly affected. Each of the participating restaurants will offer Each establishment will offer a special three-course dinner: a starter, an entrée and a dessert for $30. Find out who is participating and read more here.
Huntington's Wild Ramp adds over $340,000 to local economy
From June 2012 to December 2013, The Wild Ramp paid $345,710 back to 121 local producers. This represents 90% of their total sales. You can read more here.
Wheeling Jesuit University developing hydroponic education
After receiving a $5,000 grant from The Innovative Transfer Consortium, Wheeling Jesuit University is hoping to have a preliminary curriculum for hydroponic growing systems developed by June 1st. Laurie Ruberg, creator of Wheeling-based PLANTS LLC, said "This project will result in an educational product that provides teachers with professional development support to help them integrate plant growth, development and ecosystem activities into their inter-disciplinary curriculum." Read more about this project here.
National Food News
House passes Farm Bill
After two years of negotiations, The House of Representatives has passed 2014 Farm Bill that was the result of compromises by the House and Senate. The Farm Bill will cut the SNAP (food stamp) program by $8 billion, less than what the House passed in June 2013. We will continue to update you on the details of the bill as it becomes a law. Read more here.
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Upcoming Events in and near West Virginia
Do you have events that you want included in our newsletter?
Please contact us !
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West Virginia Annie's Project Dates for 2014
Jan-June, 2014
Annie's Project provides training, resources and networking opportunities to help West Virginia women build viable, efficient and sustainable farm businesses. The first courses cover everything from business planning, finances and marketing to food safety and insurance. The second level teaches business, estate, retirement and succession planning. Both groups can expect meaningful networking opportunities that extend well beyond the course. You can learn more about Annie's Project and about financial aid for attending at www.anr.ext.wvu.edu/ag-women, or by contacting dosingh-knights@mail.wvu.edu at 304-293-7606.
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PASA Farming for the Future Conference
Feb 7-8, 2014
State College, PA
The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel
Join the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture for the 23rd-annual Farming for the Future Conference. This year's theme is "Letting Nature Lead" and features a keynote by Daphne Miller, MD, a family physician, writer, and Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of California San Francisco. In 2000 she founded WholefamilyMD , San Francisco's first integrative primary care practice. To learn more and register, click here.
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Webinar: Selling Products to Larger Buyers
Feb 10, 2014
Free
http://farmcommons.org/webinars/
Now that hospitals, food service operations, and grocery stores have caught on to the merits of local food, farmers are learning how to work with these operations. A good relationship between buyer and seller is key to making these sales worthwhile. Learn how the right sales agreement can help keep everyone happy. Also, learn how to protect the farm business if things go wrong. Register here.
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Season Extension Workshop Presented by The Wild Ramp
Feb 21, 2014
Central City Market
Huntington, WV
Learn how to build-your-own low tunnel as well as other forms of season extension with Lewis Jett, WVU Commercial Horticulture Specialist. This workshop is being organized by The Wild Ramp. Registration is $5, call 304-523-7267 or email info@wildramp.org.
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Webinar: Starting a Farm
Feb 24, 2014
Free
http://farmcommons.org/webinars/
A beginning farmer has to find financing, lease or buy land, coordinate equipment, establish a website, and so much more, all while growing crops or raising livestock. The legal issues abound, but this webinar will help beginning farmers understand the fundamental issues that should demand attention while the farm gets started. Register here.
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CSA Expert Exchange
March 6-7, 2014
Online
http://csafarmconference.com/
The CSA Expert Exchange is an online conference that will focus on issues relevant to beginning farmers and those just getting started in the world of CSA's as well as topics such as marketing and social media, legal issues surrounding CSA's, crop planning and CSA coalitions. The cost is $25 for day one, $55 for day 2, and $70 for both days. Read more and register here.
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National Good Food Network: Food Hub Collaboration, Spring 2014 Conference
March 26-28, Raleigh, NC.
This conference will feature multiple tracks for food hub managers and staff, networking and learning for support organizations, consultants and agencies, food hub and food business tours, opportunities to learn from your peers, network, and feel a part of an incredibly energetic community, and excellent local food from Eastern Carolina Organics, Firsthand Foods, and other local suppliers. For more information or to submit proposals for workshops and intensive trainings, click here.
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Job Opportunities in and near West Virginia
Do you have jobs that you want included in our newsletter?
Please contact us !
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Farm Internship: Round Right Farm
Cranesville, WV
Round Right Farm is a diversified organic vegetable farm located in Preston County. They are looking for full-season apprentices to begin mid-March and continue through November. The farm attends weekly farmer's markets, has a 250 member CSA and also sells to restaurants. The internship will include on-farm housing, staple food, and a $200/bi-weekly stipend. Find more information here.
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Opportunities
(grants, awards, partnership ideas)
* Find a full grants calendar here, on our website! To use this calendar, scroll ahead to see what grant deadlines are coming up. Also look back to see what grants came out last year, so you can anticipate the same grants coming out in the year ahead.
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WVDA accepting nominations for 2014 Agritourism Media Awards
Deadline: Feb 14, 2014
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is seeking entries for the 2014 Agritourism Media Awards. These annual awards celebrate and recognize excellence in advertising and promotion of West Virginia Agritourism destinations and attractions. Deadline for submissions is February 14, 2014. There is no entry fee. Read more here.
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USDA Value Added Producer Grant Business and Cooperative Programs
Deadline: Feb. 24, 2014
The primary objective of the VAPG program is to help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of bio-based value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the end goals of this program. You may receive priority if you are a beginning farmer or rancher, a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, a farmer or rancher cooperative, or are proposing a mid-tier value chain, as defined in the Program Regulation. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis.
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Ben & Jerry's Foundation Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Grant
Deadline: March 21 2014
The foundation will award one-year grants of up to $20,000 to nonprofit, grassroots community-organizing groups in the United States to further social and environmental justice and support sustainable and just-food systems. Grants can be used to support either programming or operations costs.
The foundation will only consider proposals from grassroots, constituent-led organizations that have annual budgets under $500,000 and are using direct action, grassroots, and community-organizing strategies to accomplish their goals. Read more here.
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Food for Thought
(fruitful reading, research & case studies)
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Smart phones & social media as integral tools for Environmental Justice
Yes Magazine reports on the impact of social media in West Virginia following the chemical spill that left over 300,000 West Virginians without easy access to clean water, and the responding citizen organizing and distribution efforts. Read it here.
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This is YOUR space, YOUR newsletter and YOUR Coalition. If you have suggestions, announcements or resources you would like to share please contact us.
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If you received this email from someone else, and would like to subscribe to the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition Newsletter, please visit this link to sign up.
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