State Budget Provision Boosts Health, Economy

Thursday, August 2, 2007 11:56 AM CDT

Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Program Supports Regional Food Initiatives

Wisconsin is poised to be a leader in increasing consumer access to healthy, locally produced food through a proposed Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program. The proposed legislation, designed to help Wisconsin consumers and farmers, is under consideration in the state’s budget deliberations.

“Consumers are justifiably concerned about access to healthy food,” said Tracey Mofle, farmer and member of the Northwest Wisconsin Regional Food Network. “The Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program will increase consumer access to locally produced food found in school cafeterias, grocery stores, restaurants and more.”

Wisconsinites are increasingly concerned about the quality of their food at a time of increasing food-related health issues - from obesity and diabetes to food contamination scares. Fortunately, Wisconsin’s diverse agricultural economy is well poised to provide the kind of healthy, regionally produced food that Wisconsin consumers seek.

“Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin makes good sense for our health and our economy,” said Mike Carter, executive director of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association. “It will shorten the distance from farm to consumer and increase markets for Wisconsin farmers.”

Over the course of many months, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) convened meetings with farm leaders, food businesses, and non profit groups to discuss barriers to bringing locally produced food to regional food markets in the state. The Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program emerged out of the discussions and has since received broad support from the state’s farmers, community organizations, local business leaders, health care professionals and others.

The Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program will:

* Develop, expand and enhance regional food markets for Wisconsin farmers and processors

* Meet the increasing consumer demand for high quality, locally produced foods

* Expand regional agricultural tourism in Wisconsin

* Shift 10 percent of Wisconsin’s $20 billion annual food expenditures to regionally produced food

Through the program, DATCP will offer a competitive grants program and technical assistance to farmers, community organizations, nonprofits and businesses to develop regional food markets and food and culture tourism trails.

The Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program is supported by a diverse coalition of organizations, including: Braise on the Go Traveling Culinary School, Crystal Infusion LLC, Growing Power, Heart of Wisconsin Business Alliance, Just Local Food, The Kitchen Table Project, Local Choice Marketing LLC, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Midwest Food Processors Association, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service, Northwest Wisconsin Regional Food Network, REAP Food Group, Renaissance Farm Inc., SHARE of Wisconsin, Slow Food Wisconsin Southeast, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association, Wisconsin Apple Growers Association, Wisconsin Berry Growers Association, Wisconsin Farmer Chef Connection, Wisconsin Farmers Union, Wisconsin Fresh Market Vegetable Association, Wisconsin Grocers Association, Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, Wisconsin Rural Challenge, and Wisconsin Rural Partners.

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