NATIONAL RESOURCES and RELATED WEBSITES
AgMRC (Agricultural Marketing Resource Center) - Iowa State University - http://www.agmrc.org/agmrc/default.html
An electronic, national resource for producers interested in value-added
agriculture; a collaboration of university research and outreach specialists
focused on collecting and interpreting information and creating new research to
support value-added agricultural activities.
AgMRC Pork Niche/Ethnic Information Page - http://www.agmrc.org/agmrc/commodity/livestock/pork/pork%2Bniche.htm
This site supplies links with industry profiles, marketing, production,
processing, and business information on pork.
Agricultural Alternatives-Penn State Extension - http://agalternatives.aers.psu.edu/
Publications on a wide variety of agriculture alternatives
AgriSeek Ag Marketplace - http://www.agriseek.com/
Online marketplace for equipment, livestock, real estate, jobs, farm-related
products and services. This marketplace helps agricultural and rural-based
businesses to expand market share through an on-line trading community.
America Farmland Trust - http://www.farmland.org
Committed to protecting the nation's best farm and ranch land and improving the
economic viability of agriculture.
Approaching Food Service Establishments with Locally Grown Products - http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/fpcreports/1/
This report, prepared for the North Central Initiative for Small Farm
Profitability by the UNL Food Processing Center, helps producers market their
products to the foodservice industry and examines the opportunities and
obstacles producers may encounter when approaching a restaurant or institution
with locally grown products.
Center for Ecoliteracy - http://www.ecoliteracy.org/
Dedicated to education for sustainable living. The Center is a pioneer in providing tools, ideas, and support for combining
hands-on experience in the natural world with curricular innovation in K�12
education. It administers a grant program and donor-advised funds, publishes
extensively online and in print, and offers resources, seminars, and technical
assistance in support of systemic change.
Climate and Farming - http://www.climateandfarming.org/
This website provides a unique, comprehensive set of resource materials to help
farmers make practical and profitable responses to climate changes, with
subjects including: Greenhouse Gases & Climate Change, including and overview
of climate science and indicators of climate change in the Northeast; Climate Change
Impacts on Agriculture, including effects on crops, livestock, weeds, pests
and pathogens; Energy, Greenhouse Gases & Farming, including
cost-effective strategies for farmers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
enter the renewable energy marketplace.
Community Alliance with Family Farmers - http://www.caff.org
Building a movement of rural and urban people to foster family-scale agriculture
that cares for the land, sustains local economies and promotes social justice.
Community Food Security Coalition - http://www.foodsecurity.org
The
Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3),
North American organization dedicated to building strong, sustainable,
local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable,
nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all
times. Learn more about grants, conferences, and marketing for
sustainable agriculture and feeding programs.
Farm to
College - http://www.farmtocollege.org
Bring local food to
college dining halls.
Farm to School - http://www.farmtoschool.org
Bring local food to local cafeterias.
Eat Well Guide - http://www.eatwellguide.org
EliteFarmer.com - http://www.elitefarmer.com
The
EliteFarmer.com Resource Center is a comprehensive listing of
agricultural and related documents from North America and worldwide. It
was created to bring the benefits of the Internet to all people
presently engaged in the constructive conservation, development, and
promotion of the agriculture industry.
Food Industry MarketMaker - National Network - http://national.marketmaker.uiuc.edu
Food Routes - http://www.foodroutes.org
Take action with a "Buy Local" campaign, download marketing materials, and more.
FoodMAP (Food Marketing and Processing) - http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/foodmap/
FoodMAP (Food Marketing and Processing) is a comprehensive clearinghouse of
marketing and processing information on identifying new markets, learning about
alternative agriculture opportunities, locating processing equipment, and
understanding processing requirements and ingredients.
FoodRoutes - http://www.foodroutes.org
FoodRoutes is a national non-profit dedicated to reintroducing Americans to their food
the seeds it grows from, the farmers who produce it, and the routes
that carry it from the fields to our tables.
ForFarmers.com - http://www.forfarmers.com
ForFarmers.com is a marketplace for buying and selling new and used farm
machinery, equipment, seeds, crops, food, livestock and a wide range of services
including job opportunities. It combines a worldwide news service
with an interactive business directory and international online job market
focusing on agriculture and related fields.
Local Harvest - http://www.localharvest.org
Find CSA programs and local farmers nationwide.
National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs - http://www.nafmnp.org/index.aspx
A national organization that cultivates opportunities for consumers to buy fresh
produce from local growers.
National Farmers Union - http://www.nfu.org
To protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family
farmers and ranchers and their rural communities.
National GAP Program - http://www.gaps.cornell.edu/index.html
Food safety through Good Agricultural Practice.
National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service - http://www.attra.org/
Offers in-depth publications on production practices, alternative crop and
livestock enterprises, innovative marketing, organic certification, and
highlights of local, regional, USDA and federal sustainable
ag activities.
Organic
Farming-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service-ATTRA
- http://attra.ncat.org/organic.html
Organic farming addresses fruits,
vegetables, agronomic crops, livestock, soils, certification, marketing, pest
control, value-added enterprises, post-harvest handling, and greenhouse
production. Written largely in response to questions from farmers, the ATTRA
publications in this section cover specific issues among the most widely
produced organic crops.
Growing Your Range Poultry Business: An Entreprenuer's Toolbox
- http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/poultrytoolbox.pdf
This
Toolbox is written for anyone who desires to make a profit from range poultry
production, whether by direct-marketing "pastured poultry," building a
processing plant, or working cooperatively with other producers.
Marketing, Business and Risk Management-National Sustainable
Agriculture Information Service-ATTRA -
http://attra.ncat.org/marketing.html
These resources can guide agricultural
business planning and help farmers manage the amount of risk in their
enterprises. In addition, some of these resources offer advice on diversifying,
developing new markets and adding value to farm products to increase income.
Niche Pork - http://www.nichepork.org/
Niche Pork's mission is to enhance pork consumption by meeting customer demands
for value-added pork and pork products while helping increase the opportunity
for niche producer profitability.
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group - http://www.nesawg.org/
NESAWG is a regional network of member organizations and individuals working
together to create a more sustainable and secure regional food system -- one
that is economically viable, environmentally sound and socially just and
produces safe and healthful food. We work at local, state, regional and national
levels to redirect public policy, foster market-based innovation and generate an
informed and active citizenry.
Organic Farming Research Foundation - http://www.ofrf.org
Organic
Farming Research Foundation fosters the improvement and widespread
adoption of organic farming systems through sponsorship, research and
education.
President's Food Safety Working Group - http://www.foodsafetyworkinggroup.gov/
The
working group will advise President Obama on how to upgrade our food
safety laws for the 21st century, foster coordination throughout
government, and ensure that the laws will keep the American people safe.
Produce Marketing Association - http://www.pma.com
The Produce Marketing Association is a global trade association
serving the entire produce and floral supply chains by enhancing the marketing
of produce, floral, and related products and services worldwide.
Slow Food - http://www.slowfoodusa.org
Slow Food USA envisions a world in which all people can eat food that is good
for them, good for the people who grow it and good for the planet.
Society for Nutrition Education - http://www.sne.org/
The Society for
Nutrition Education (SNE) represents the unique professional interests of
nutrition educators in the United States and worldwide.
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group - http://www.ssawg.org
They strive to empower and inspire farmers,
individuals, and communities in the South to create an agricultural system that
is ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just, and humane.
Starting a Food Business - http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/foodbiz.html
On this "Starting a Food Business" web site, FDA offers information on food safety
guidelines and regulations it has established that are required for informative
labeling and the safe preparation, manufacture, and distribution of food
products.
Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education - http://www.sare.org/
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program helps
advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for
communities through a nationwide research and education grants program.
The New Farm - Farmer-to-Farmer Know-How from The Rodale Institute - http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/new_farm
The NewFarm.org is operated by The Rodale Institute� and the Institute's web
site reaches a global community of food producers to exchange valuable
"farmer-to-farmer know-how." NewFarm.org presents expert resources for crop and
livestock production, direct marketing, local food systems, policy campaigns and
community-building collaborations.
The Rodale Institute - http://www.rodaleinstitute.org
Rodale Institute provides farmers with the know-how, tools and
techniques they need to succeed; policy-makers the information they need to best
support our farmers; and consumers with the resources they need to make informed
decisions about the food they buy and eat.
The Rural Coalition - http://www.ruralco.org
The
Rural Coalition is an alliance of regionally and culturally diverse
organizations working to build a more just and sustainable food system
which 1.) brings fair returns to minority and other small farmers and
rural communities, 2.) ensures just and fair working conditions for
farmworkers, 3.) protects the environment and 4.) delivers safe and
healthy food to consumer.
The
SuperMarket Coop (part of Rural Coalition) -
http://www.supermarketcoop.com
A collaborative effort of rural,
community-based agricultural cooperatives to employ technology in the
preservation of their communities, cultures and farming
professions.
TheFoodTimes - All Consuming News - http://www.thefoodtimes.com/
thefoodtimes is a public service project that seeks to transform
our understanding of the modern food system. By gathering and distilling existing food
news and information, it links the dinner on our plates to our bodies, our
communities, our wallets, and the health of the world we leave to our
children.
U.S. Census Bureau American FactFinder - http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en
This site provides indepth information on census data in the U.S. that includes
maps, tables and data sets.
U.S. Department of Labor-Bureau of Labor Statistics-Freedom of Information Act Requests -
The Freedom of Information Act provides any person the right to request access
to records held by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This site provides the
procedures necessary to access these records.
University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program - http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/
This site provides research and information to help strengthen connections
between farmers, consumers and communities.
USDA - http://www.usda.gov
Alternative Farming
Systems Information Center - http://afsic.nal.usda.gov
Website
identifying resources about sustainable food systems and practices to help
ensure a sustainable future for agriculture and farmers
worldwide.
How to Direct Market Farm Products on the Internet-U.S. Department
of Agriculture -
http://www.ams.usda.gov/directmarketing/internetmarketingf.pdf
Supplies
information on why to direct market on the Internet, developing a marketing
plan, researching the market, and setting up and marketing on the Internet. This
is a PDF file. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view
this.
National Organic Program -
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm
This site contains certifying agents,
consumer information, NOP regulations and policies; producers, handlers and
processors; and state information.
USDA Community Support Agriculture -
http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml
This site contains multiple resources on Community Supported Agriculture
ERS �
http://www.ers.usda.gov
Amber
Waves: The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources & Rural America �
ERS/USDA - http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/
A USDA
publication 5 times a year, available in print or Internet
format
Food Availability Data System-ERS-Economic Research Service-U.S.
Department of Agriculture -
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/foodconsumption/
This site enables you to create
a table and/or graph using per capita food consumption data.
FoodReview: Consumer Driven Agriculture-ERS-Economic Research
Service-U.S. Department of Agriculture -
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/FoodReview/May2002/
This issue of
FoodReview projects U.S. food consumption and spending to 2020 with articles on
how farmers, processors, retailers, and foodservice operators respond to
changing demand for food. Articles include a look at food assistance
expenditures and household food security.
Consumer Demand For Fruit and Vegetables: The U.S. Example-U.S.
Department of Agriculture -
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/wrs011/wrs011h.pdf
This site discusses
how the factors such as income, age of population, market promotion, and
consumer awareness of the importance of produce, contribute to increased fruit
and vegetable consumption.
Organic Agriculture-ERS/USDA Briefing Room -
http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/Organic
This site contains multiple resources related to organic farming..
World Crops - http://www.worldcrops.org/
A joint project of the Extension Programs of Rutgers (NJ), Cornell (NY) and
UMass, this site provides information on crops that can be grown in the
Northeastern US with an emphasis on crops popular among ethnic groups living in
the region and can be grown there (vegetables and herbs to some fruit). The
site is organized according to the countries in the world. Each crop listed
includes production, seed sourcing, nutrition info and documentation in English
and Spanish.
