Overview of Local Fare

Building a Regional Local Food System

The UW-Platteville Office of Continuing Education's Local Fare project is dedicated to a regional vision for increasing access to Local Foods in Southwest Wisconsin.

By facilitating partnerships between producers, businesses and community leaders; provide educational opportunities for farmers; and bringing producers together to share ideas and create stronger regional networks.

By the Fall of 2007 seven grassroots listening sessions were held throughout the region with over 90 interested individuals participating. Key themes included:

• Getting farm fresh food into our schools
• Working with large retailers to offer local products
• Promote restaurants using locally grown ingredients
• Encourage entrepreneurial opportunities for value added products
• Support and grow farmers markets and community supported agriculture (CSA)
• Expand agricultural tourism opportunities

Regional Local Food Activities

• Coordination of educational forums, workshops and other local events
• Distribution of Local Fare "Hot Sheet" to regularly communicate events and opportunities
• Hosting a Regional Local Foods Summit—Bringing people together to share ideas and form a stronger regional network
• Developing a database of local producers, individuals and organizations throughout southwest Wisconsin
• Strengthening relationships between farmers and their communities
• Advocating for and initiating conversations regarding local food issues
• Partnering with other public agencies to meet the emerging needs of local food producers and entrepreneurs
• Assisting producers to access resources to meet the increasing local demand for their products

Funding

Local Fare is made possible with funding from the University of Wisconsin - Extension, Division of Continuing Education, Outreach and eLearning, through a Continuing EDvantage economic development grant.