Why Local Governments Should be Thinking About Local Food Systems

<p>Last month I hosted a webinar here at the School of Government, in partnership with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (or CEFS for short),  on the topic of local foods and local government. I was fortunate enough to have with me a who’s who of local foods experts to talk about different aspects of the local foods movement as a way of introducing the topic to local government officials, and perhaps more importantly, serve as a springboard for local conversations between local officials and local food system stakeholders as to how local government can be a catalyst in growing and nurturing vibrant local/regional food systems.</p> <p></p> <p>The dream team of local food experts sharing their insights in the webinar consisted of:</p> Nancy Creamer, Professor and Director of Center for Environmental Farming Systems, N.C. State University; Christy Shi, Program Coordinator Center for Environmental Farming Systems, N.C. State University; Alice Ammerman, Professor,  Gillings School of Global Public Health Director, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Charlie Jackson, Executive Director, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project; John Day, Program Coordinator Center for Environmental Farming Systems, N.C. State University and former Cabarrus County Manager. <p>Christy Shi kicked off the presentation with an explanation of what a local food system is and how it involves producing, delivering, processing, marketing, purchasing, consuming, and disposing. When one considers the scope of the whole system it becomes clear that it is an issue that touches everyone in the community and has a far-reaching impact beyond simply consuming locally-produced [...]</p>