Mahoning Valley Food Coalition Hosts Local Food Local Places Workshop

Monday, April 27, 2015

On Thursday, April 23th and Friday, April 24th, the Mahoning Valley Food Coalition hosted a two day local food planning workshop with the support of the federal Local Food Local Places initiative.

This initiative is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Delta Regional Authority (DRA), and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The workshop will result in a report and $20,000 will be available for work that supports the goals of the local food community.

The workshop refined and supported the following draft goals:

  • Shift 5% or more of food purchases in Youngstown to local growers and producers, and increasing supply to meet the higher demand.
  • Making sure that all people at all income levels and of all races and ethnicities in youngstown feel a connection to local foods, see the benefits, and find local products they desire.
  • Work to make sure that YSU, schools, hospitals, and other anchor institutions are purchasing a share of their food needs from local producers.
  • Make sure that the food cluster in Wick Park is connected to Youngstown State, downtown, the park and surrounding residential neighborhoods through safer and more welcoming pedestrian paths with features that distinguish the area.

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