Local Food News
Thanks for a Great Meeting!
Foodservice Gets Local - IFM 7th Annual Meeting
May, 2013
Thank you to all you participated in this meeting! We had a great day of celebrating, problem solving, and networking - all centered around helping Wisconsin foodservice operations getting and using more local food. We will post resources from the meeting to our event page soon.
Thanks for a Great Meeting!
Local Food Means Business - WI Local Food Expo
September, 2012
Restaurants, grocery stores, institutions, local food businesses, farmers, and distributors came to meet each other and start new business connections. IFM and Something Special from Wisconsin™ would like to thank all of our participants for an extremely productive day! Read more about it in this article from the Country Today, and see the event page for more information.
Southern Wisconsin Food Hub Feasibility Study
Read all about it in the feasibility study. Institutional buyers in Wisconsin contributed to this study by responding to a survey about their demand for local food. Stay tuned for more details on the development of this exciting project!
Food service directors are choosing locally grown for many reasons, including:
- Competitive pricing
- Tastier, more nutritious food
- Local sales support WI family farms and rural communities
- Local sourcing helps to reduce air pollution by decreasing the number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) from farm to table
- Buying locally helps develop our local economy. It is estimated that every $100,000 in local food sales results in 2.2 jobs. Buying locally creates a multiplier effect as local growers buy their machinery, seed, feed, insurance, marketing services and more from other local businesses.
Wisconsin Food Hub is "Ready to Roll"
The Wisconsin Food Hub recently announced they will soon be offering local produce, and have hired a new manager! Read more about it in their press release.
Funds Available! Dane County Revolving Loan Fund
Looking at loan options for farm or food business expansion, or a local food initiative? Check out this information about the Dane County Revolving Loan Fund and the Dane County Commercial Revitalization Loan Fund. For questions about these loans, contact Olivia Parry at (608) 266-4270 or parry@countyofdane.com.
Funds Available! Dane County Revolving Loan Fund
Looking at loan options for farm or food business expansion, or a local food initiative? Check out this information about the Dane County Revolving Loan Fund and the Dane County Commercial Revitalization Loan Fund. For questions about these loans, contact Olivia Parry at (608) 266-4270 or parry@countyofdane.com.
Receive the IFM Local Sourcing E-News!
Our updates feature what institutions need to know to source local – upcoming events, new resources, and information about local Wisconsin product offered by local growers, processors, and distributors. To receive our emails (two or three per month), contact the IFM Coordinator at witzling@countyofdane.com or (608) 224-3710.
Find Local Food Here
Institutions can find local food suppliers by looking at profiles of IFM Member produce growers, local food businesses, and distributors. The profiles contain critical information to help institutions find a supplier to meet their needs. Buy Wisconsin local today!
Dane County's Institutional Food Market Coalition provides outreach, education, and technical assistance to buyers, growers, and distributors to increase local food sales. Call (608) 224-3710 for assistance!