Promoting food with a face, a place and a taste in the Chesapeake Bay region RESOURCES FARMERS' MARKETS AND DIRECT MARKETING Austin Farmers' Market Austin Farmers' Market is a project of the Sustainable Food Center, a local 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The market is an important extension of the Sustainable Food Center's mission to improve access to local, healthy and affordable food for children and adults in Central Texas. The Sustainable Food Center has been fulfilling its mission since 1975. Australian Farmers' Markets Association (AFMA) AFMA was convened to form a framework for best-practice market operators to exchange information, coordinate policy and promote grower-centric farmers' markets across Australia. Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA) CUESA was organized in 1994 to educate urban consumers about sustainable agriculture and to create links between urban dwellers and the farmers who practice sustainable agriculture in the Bay Area. CUESA is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation that also has, since 1999, managed the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco. Chicago Green City Market The Chicago Green City Market works to increase the availability of a diverse range of high-quality foods; connect local producers and farmers to chefs, restaurateurs, food organizations and the public; and to support small family farms and promote a healthier society through education and appreciation for local, fresh, sustainably raised produce and products. Council on the Environment New York City's Greenmarket Greenmarket promotes regional agriculture and ensures a continuing supply of fresh, local produce for New Yorkers. The organization has opened and managed open-air farmers markets in NYC since 1976. Greenmarket supports farmers and preserves farmland for the future by providing regional, small-scale family farmers with opportunities to sell their fruits, vegetables and other farm products to New Yorkers. Crescent City Farmers' Market New Orleans Crescent City Farmers' Market initiates and promotes ecologically sound economic development in the Greater New Orleans region. The Market links the region through food (a powerful cultural common denominator in the Greater New Orleans area). Farmers' Market New Zealand The Farmers' Market New Zealand Association aims to facilitate the formation of a network of authentic Farmers' Markets throughout New Zealand; clearly define the concept of an authentic Farmers' Market; facilitate the development of this model in the cities and provinces of New Zealand; support the viable and self-sufficient operation of existing and future farmers' markets by sharing information and providing appropriate resources; protect the brand "farmers' market" (clearly distinguishing the concept of a farmers' market from other markets, both retail and wholesale); and to advocate on behalf of members at a national level. Growing for Market, a Monthly Newsletter (GFM) GFM, a monthly newsletter about small-scale farming, sustainable agriculture and farm direct marketing, is America's most respected source of information about growing and selling vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers and plants. The newsletter covers farmers' markets, farm stands, CSAs and selling locally to restaurants, supermarkets, natural-food stores and florists. GFM covers cut flowers—one of the most profitable crops for local growers—in every issue. Local Harvest Local Harvest maintains a definitive and reliable "living" public directory of small farms, farmers markets and other local food sources throughout the nation. Its search engine helps people find family farms and local sources of sustainably grown food and encourages them to establish direct contact with small farms in their area. Portland Farmers' Market Portland Farmers' Market was founded in 1992 by a small group of community activists who wanted "to bring the best of the country to the heart of the city." Their goal is to create venues where local farmers can connect directly with Portland consumers, to build communities in urban settings and to provide public education on regional farming, gardening and food preparation. Santa Monica Farmers' Market Santa Monica's 4 markets are all Certified Farmers' Markets (CFMs). They are organized and managed by the city for the mutual benefit of all who enjoy them. An estimated 900,000 shoppers visit the markets every year. Collectively, the markets provide customers year-round with a selection of fresh, seasonal produce. Seattle Neighborhood Farmers' Markets Seattle Neighborhood Farmers' Markets ensures that local farmers can continue to farm our precious rural farmland, keeping it economically viable and intact. The in-city markets offer direct-sale opportunities and help provide a living wage for more than 140 farmers. Tacoma Farmers' Market The Tacoma Farmers' Market opened its first market in 1990 with fewer than 30 vendors. Today the market has swelled to include more than 100 of the finest farmers, crafters and processors in Washington State. There is an extensive waiting list of vendors, which allows the market to select only vendors who offer the highest quality products to market customers. Takoma Park Farmers' Market Organized in 1982, the Takoma Park Farmers' Market was the Washington, DC, metro area's first Sunday market and an early pioneer in the producers-only movement. The Takoma Park Market continues to be guided by its founding principles: Everything sold at market is fresh, local and produced by the people who sell it in the expectation that the market will attract the support of urban dwellers who care about the quality of their food supply. North St. Lawrence Market/Farmers' Market (Toronto) The tradition of a Saturday farmers' market in Toronto began in 1803. The market has survived and thrived through many changes, including the Great Fire of 1849 and several reconstructions of the building. Throughout the year, more than 50 Ontario growers and producers bring their seasonal produce to the Saturday market. USDA Food and Nutrition Service: Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program The purpose of the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program is to provide resources, in the form of fresh, nutritious, unprepared and locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from farmers' markets, roadside stands and community-supported agriculture programs, to low-income seniors. USDA Food and Nutrition Service's WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) FMNP is associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The FMNP, established by Congress in 1992, provides fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants, and aims to expand awareness, use and sales of fresh produce at farmers' markets. FARMLAND PRESERVATION AND OPEN SPACE American Farmland Trust (AFT) AFT is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting our nation's strategic agricultural resources by transforming U.S. farm policy, protecting the best land, planning for agriculture and keeping the land healthy. Montgomery Countryside Alliance Montgomery Countryside Alliance is a nonprofit organization committed to the preservation of agricultural lands, rural open space and the rural wedge by promoting sound land use, preservation of open space, protection of air and water quality and enhancement of transportation alternatives. The organization supports and celebrates Montgomery County's historic commitment and to works to maintain recreational opportunities, rural beauty and economic value of the Agricultural Reserve for current and future generations of residents in the Washington Metropolitan area. Project for Public Spaces (PPS) PPS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and sustaining public spaces that build communities. They provide technical assistance, training, research and other services. Smart Growth Network (SGN) In 1996, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency joined with several nonprofit and government organizations to form SGN. SGN was formed in response to increasing concern about the need to grow communities in ways that boost the economy, protect the environment and enhance community vitality. SGN's partners include environmental groups, historic preservation organizations, professional organizations, developers, real estate interests and local and state government entities. SUSTAINABLE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) ATTRA was created by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and is funded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business-Cooperative Service. The service provides information and other technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the U.S. Rodale Institute The Rodale Institute works with people around the world to achieve a regenerative food system that renews environmental and human health. The institute's philosophy is Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People. Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NESARE) and Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (Southern SARE) Since 1988, the SARE program has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities through a nationwide research and education grants program. The program, part of the USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, funds projects and conducts outreach designed to improve agricultural systems. USDA National Organic Program (NOP) NOP developed national organic standards and established an organic-certification program based on recommendations of the 15-member National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Members of the NOSB are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and are representatives from the following categories: farmer/grower; handler/processor; retailer; consumer/public interest; environmentalist; scientist; and certifying agent. The NOP is a marketing program housed within the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. FOOD ACCESSIBILITY, SAFETY AND POLICY Bread for the World Institute Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian movement that seeks justice for the world's hungry people by lobbying our nation's decision makers. Center for Food Safety The Center for Food Safety works to protect human health and the environment by curbing the proliferation of harmful food-production technologies and by promoting organic, and other forms of sustainable, agriculture. Community Food Security Coalition The Community Food Security Coalition is 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. The coalition seeks to develop community self-reliance in obtaining food and to create a system of growing, manufacturing, processing, making available, and selling food that is regionally based and grounded in the principles of justice, democracy and sustainability. Congressional Hunger Center The Congressional Hunger Center is a nonprofit anti-hunger training organization founded by former Rep. Tony Hall and located in Washington, DC. Congresspeople Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and James P. McGovern (D-MA) are the co-chairs of the Board of Directors and exemplify the center's bipartisan approach to ending hunger. Environmental Working Group The Environmental Working Group's team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers pores over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and its own laboratory tests to expose threats to health and the environment and to find solutions. Share Our Strength Since 1984, Share Our Strength has inspired and organized individuals and businesses to share their strengths. Share Our Strength maintains that years of public and private progress have put the goal of ending childhood hunger within our grasp. The program's strategy is to surround every child with nutritious food in the places they live, learn, play and pray. To do this they work with local organizations to help families help themselves in 3 important areas: increasing access to the public and private programs that can provide food to those who need it, strengthening the community infrastructure for getting healthy food to children and teaching families how to get the most nutrition out of a limited budget. World Hunger Year (WHY) WHY is a leading advocate for innovative, community-based solutions to hunger and poverty. WHY challenges society to confront these problems by advancing models that create self-reliance, economic justice and equal access to nutritious and affordable food. FOOD TRADITIONS, PRESERVATION, SYSTEMS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY American Livestock Breeds Conservancy American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is a pioneer organization in the U.S., working to conserve historic breeds and genetic diversity in livestock, including asses, cattle, goats, horses, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. Chef's Collaborative Chef's Collaborative is a national member network of those in the culinary community and beyond, who promote sustainable cuisine by celebrating the joys of local, seasonal, and artisinal cooking. Food Routes Network (FRN) FRN is a national nonprofit organization that provides communications tools, technical support, networking and information resources to organizations nationwide that are working to rebuild local, community-based food systems. FRN is 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 their tables. Heritage Foods USA Heritage Foods is dedicated to saving not only turkeys but also Native American foods, pigs, sheep, bison, cows, reef-net salmon, chickens and all breeds of food livestock. All foods are raised according to strict production protocols and come to buyers with a traceable label that lists all details about the production and processing of the food. Heritage Wheat Conservancy The Heritage Wheat Conservancy works with farmers and gardeners to restore our heritage of wheat, by growing out rare varieties, sharing at seed-exchanges and building a community seed supply. NY Food Museum The NY Food Museum began activities in the fall of 1998, when the Wolfe Institute hosted a panel on "The Food Voice and the NY Food Museum" at Brooklyn College. The NY Food Museum has no permanent home, which allows for flexibility, frees up resources and gives the museum an opportunity to establish cooperative relationships with existing institutions. Renewing America's Food Traditions (RAFT) RAFT is a coalition of 7 prominent nonprofit food, agriculture, conservation, and educational organizations dedicated to rescuing America's diverse foods and food traditions. Rural Coalition The Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural is an alliance of regionally and culturally diverse organizations working to build a more just and sustainable food system that does the following: brings fair returns to minority and other small farmers and rural communities; ensures just and fair working conditions for farm workers; protects the environment; and delivers safe and healthy food to consumers. Slow Food USA Slow Food USA recognizes that the enjoyment of wholesome food is essential to the pursuit of happiness. The educational organization is dedicated to stewardship of the land and ecologically sound food production; to the revival of the kitchen and the table as centers of pleasure, culture and community; to the invigoration and proliferation of regional, seasonal culinary traditions; to the creation of a collaborative, ecologically oriented, and virtuous globalization; and to a slower and more harmonious rhythm of life. Sustainable Table Sustainable Table celebrates the sustainable food movement, educates consumers on food-related issues and works to build community through food. The program is home to the Eat Well Guide, an online directory of sustainable products in the U.S. and Canada, and to the critically acclaimed Meatrix movies. LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES The Accokeek Foundation The Accokeek Foundation stewards 200 acres of Piscataway Park, a national park located in Accokeek, MD, on the shore of the Potomac River directly across from Mount Vernon. The land serves as an outdoor classroom for the foundation's educational programs, research and agricultural and conservation projects. The park is open to the public year-round. Brain Food Brain Food uses food in a fun and creative setting to build life skills in youth. Through culinary-related activities, the organization promotes active learning, self-reliance and healthy living to empower youth in their communities. Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) CAFB is the largest, public nonprofit hunger and nutrition education resource in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Each year CAFB distributes 20 million pounds of food, including 6 million pounds of fresh produce through over 700 member agencies. In addition to food distribution, CAFB has several community-building initiatives including Kids Café, Food for Kids, Face Hunger, The Anacostia Farmers' Market, From the Ground Up, Sister Hook-Up, Produce for People, the Brown Bag Program and others. Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) CBF is the only independent 501(c)3 organization dedicated solely to restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers. The foundation's vision is that the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers, broadly recognized as a national treasure, will become highly productive and be in good health as measured by water clarity, lack of toxic contaminants, and abundance of natural filters in the water and on the land. Future Harvest: A Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture (CASA) Future Harvest-CASA is a network of farmers, agricultural professionals, landowners and consumers living and working in the Chesapeake region. Future Harvest-CASA promotes profitable, environmentally sound and socially acceptable food and farming systems that work to sustain communities. Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future This interdisciplinary center promotes research and develops and communicates information about the complex interrelationships among diet, food production, environment and human health. The center's goals are to advance an ecological perspective in reducing threats to the health of the public and to promote policies that protect health, the global environment and the ability to sustain life for future generations. Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association (MOFFA) MOFFA is a regional network of people, farms and suppliers of sustainable, organic and certified-organic products and food. Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) PASA is a nonprofit organization working to improve the economic and social prosperity of Pennsylvania food and agriculture. The organization works with the farmers that grow food, the consumers that eat the food, and those concerned with the ecological well-being of our environment and natural resources. Tuscarora Organic Growers (TOG) Cooperative TOG took root in 1988 when a group of neighboring organic fruit and vegetable farmers discussed the possibility of joining forces in the marketing of their products. By working together, they could coordinate crop production to complement one another rather than compete. And they could enjoy economies of scale in shipping and selling. The cooperative form of business fit the farmers' needs, allowing ownership and market access to be divided fairly and decisions to be made jointly. Through cooperation, the growers were also able to serve their customers better, by providing a diversity of crops and a level of service that no one grower could provide on his own. Virginia Association for Biological Farming This nonprofit, educational organization is dedicated to the vision of a sustainable food and fiber system that will maintain healthy soil, clean water and thriving ecosystems, while providing quality products for consumers and economic security for farmers and rural communities. Virginia Grown Guide This guide is a comprehensive listing of Virginia producers who market their products directly to consumers. Products include berries, vegetables, herbs, peaches, grapes, honey, apples, pumpkins, meats, poultry, eggs and dairy products. They are offered on a pick-your-own or fresh-picked basis on the farm or through farmers' markets or CSAs. Youth Garden at the Arboretum The Washington Youth Garden sows the seeds of interest in gardening, horticulture and environmental issues during the school year with carefully designed lessons and activities that are delivered in the classrooms of several schools in the Washington, DC area. The children who participate in these activities are in grades 3, 4 and 5. When spring arrives, students who have developed a strong interest in the program begin planting their own small garden plot in the Youth Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES American Institute of Wine and Food The American Institute of Wine & Food is one of the few national organizations with both dedicated wine and food enthusiasts and professionals. Wine and food enthusiasts get to meet and learn from renowned chefs, winemakers, authors, culinary historians and food producers, while industry professionals have the opportunity to know and understand their core consumers. Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) BALLE is an international alliance of 42 independently operated local-business networks with more than 12,000 members dedicated to building local living economies. BALLE envisions a sustainable global economy made up of local living economies that build long-term economic empowerment and prosperity through local-business ownership, economic justice, cultural diversity and environmental stewardship. Environmental Defense: Best and Worst Seafood Choices The Environmental Defense Oceans program works to find constructive solutions to the most critical problems facing the world's marine environments. The Oceans Alive campaign builds on the team's decades of experience and efforts to stem the tide of decline in our seas. Read their Smart Seafood Choices list to see which fish are sustainable and healthy. International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC) ISEC is a nonprofit organization concerned with the protection of both biological and cultural diversity. The organization's emphasis is on education for action: moving beyond single issues to look at the more fundamental influences that shape our lives. Oldways Food Issues Think Tank Oldways carries out aggressive education programs to help consumers make wise choices about eating, drinking, lifestyle and the traditional pleasures of the table. The programs embrace sound principles of nutrition, sustainable farming, balance and managing choices. Widely respected as the nonprofit "food issues think tank," Oldways pioneered in translating the complex details of nutrition science into the familiar language of food. This synthesis converts high-level science into a consumer-friendly health-promotion tool for consumers, health professionals, chefs, farmers, journalists and the food industry. Produce for Better Health Foundation (5 a Day) The Produce for Better Health Foundation has been on a mission for the last decade to improve our nation's health. The foundation has educated Americans, promoted produce and increased consumption levels of fruits and vegetables. They are currently focusing on the power of colorful fruits and vegetables to promote good health and boost produce sales. Save Our Environment Save Our Environment is a collaborative effort of some of the nation's most influential environmental advocacy organizations. The organization uses the Internet to increase public awareness and activism on today's most important environmental issues. The Soil Association The Soil Association was founded in 1946 by a group of farmers, scientists and nutritionists who observed a direct connection between farming practice and plant, animal, human and environmental health. The Soil Association is the UK's leading campaigning and certification organization for organic food and farming. The Union of Concerned Scientists (USC) UCS is a leading science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices and consumer choices. P.O. Box 15691, Washington, DC 20003    tel 202.362.8889    fax 202.244.2131    info@freshfarmmarkets.org