Patty Cantrell of Regional Food Solutions recently shared the webinar stage with natural food entrepreneur Tera Johnson (Tera's Whey nutritional support) in this International Economic Development Council series. Our topic: Cultivating niche food businesses for rural economic development. (See video file below). RFS talks about little towns that … [Read more...]
Neighbors make the local business difference
Ronald Antonini’s smile grows big and grateful as he shows me around his small southwest Missouri farm. His joy is palpable. It lifts me as we walk through the five 30 x 96-ft high tunnels, or passive solar greenhouses, where he grows lettuce, leafy greens, and herbs for local markets.“I make a simple living here at home with my wife, thanks be … [Read more...]
Fishing communities find economic power doing business together
Six port communities on Oregon’s rocky southwestern coast are taking their seafood-rich economy into their own hands.More than 80 percent of the state’s catch travels frozen to places like China for processing before working its way back to Oregon and other dinner plates. The lack of local and regional links in global seafood supply chains is … [Read more...]
Closer look at rural gives Sacramento new economic direction
The little northern California town of Winters (pop. 7,212) is a local-foodie destination on the verge of turning its strategic location and “beautiful produce” into a new crop of non-farming jobs.“Most of our residents commute to urban centers for work,” said Winters’ city manager John Donlevy. “They head out before 6:30 in the morning and … [Read more...]
Louisville, KY: Betting jobs on rural-urban food connections
Mike Higgins had just become president of a national food manufacturing company based in Louisville, KY, when he met Sarah Fritschner from the city’s economic development department.“Sarah asked if I would be willing to try local food in our products if she found the farmers and took care of getting it to me the way I would need it,” he … [Read more...]
Farms Fuel Rural Main Street Mojo
Just four years ago, Main Street in Corbin, Kentucky (pop. 7,300), looked and felt like most downtowns in rural America: Vacant buildings. Empty sidewalks. A few surviving businesses.Today it’s hard to find a parking space on the mile and a half of Corbin’s Main Street.“We have a vibrant 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. economy here now,” said Andy … [Read more...]
Rural town aims to be “the place” for local food firms
Veteran economic developer Todd Valline said it was a light bulb moment last winter when farmer Ellen Walsh-Rosmann walked into his office.Valline is the new chief executive officer at the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry in rural western Iowa. He needs some good reasons for young entrepreneurs to build businesses and lives in … [Read more...]
Grocers test buy-local incentive for low-income shoppers
A popular incentive for low-income shoppers at farmers markets is moving into grocery stores. It's an expansion that promises nourishment for both rural and urban areas.Around 5,000 low-income shoppers used the program from June through August in a trial run at four Kansas City area Price Chopper supermarkets. They spent nearly $30,000 on … [Read more...]
Growing regional food jobs: The Viroqua Story
By Patty Cantrell, Regional Food SolutionsNext to Wal-Mart on the edge of rural Viroqua, Wisconsin, a 100,000-square-foot abandoned industrial building is now bustling with new businesses and jobs from an unconventional source: The local food and farming sector.It’s a turnaround for a small town that lost one of its largest employers and … [Read more...]
Data Dive Explores Financials at Wholesale End of Local Food
By Patty Cantrell, Regional Food SolutionsThe wholesale end of local food is a growing business sector that walks a fine line between profitability and social change, according to a new study from the Wallace Center, home of the National Good Food Network.The COUNTING VALUES: Food Hub Financial Benchmarking Study draws on financial and … [Read more...]
