Through two participatory planning events (Local Food Forum, 2/28/07 and Strategic Planning for Local Foods 4/2/07), two committee meetings (Education Committee 5/14/07, Capacity Building Committee 5/21/07), and numerous weekly planning meetings, Central Rivers Farmshed has identified the following priority areas as fundamental to strengthening the local food economy in Central Wisconsin:

Food System Education: To make wise consumer choices that support local food economies and sustain the rural landscape, the general public needs to understand the food system and perceive related issues as important to their live.

Local Eating: To support a local food economy, we need the skills, resources, and motivation to grow, preserve, prepare, and appreciate local foods.

Farmer Capacity Building:  In exchange for locally-produced, sustainable, and nutritious food, farmers deserve a living wage and a supportive community. This, along with education and training, will attract the skilled, motivated workforce that healthy rural communities and landscapes require.

Local Food Networks:  Traditional local food networks have been replaced by a highly consolidated international system of food processing and distribution. By rebuilding the networks between local producers and consumers, consumers can gain access to local food and producers can gain a fair price for their products.

Public Markets:  Public places that facilitate interaction with local farmers, discussion of local foods, learning about food preparation and preservation, meeting other community members, and sharing in community events are fundamental assets that inspire local food economies and build food cultures.

Nutrition for Learning and Health:  To learn and grow healthy, schoolchildren need access to nutritious food. Good food is at the center of good health. Facilitating healthy nutrition should be a primary goal of our health care providers. Schools and health care facilities could catalyze and sustain a local food economy and receive great benefit in doing so.

We are currently developing and moving forward with initiatives in the priority areas. This requires planning, action, and above all, collaboration. We need your involvement. If you want to know more and get involved, contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .