For information on local sourcing for large volume buyers and Wisconsin producers

Local Food News

Second Annual Southern Wisconsin Vegetable Workshop
Tues Feb 7, 8 AM to 4 PM
Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI

This workshop features sessions on crop production methods, weed control, safe handling practices and a variety of marketing opportunities, including a session from IFM on selling into institutional markets. Presentations will feature area farmers, UW Extension Vegetable Specialists, DATCP staff, and others.

Registration is $40 for an individual and $20 for each additional person from the same farm and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Register online or contact Carrie Edgar at the Dane County UWEX office at edgar@countyofdane.com or 608-224-3706.

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.

Local Food Means Business! Dane County releases a study siting a new business opportunity for local foods, new jobs!

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!

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!

What’s Cooking? IFM 5th Annual Meeting Materials

Find meeting materials and PowerPoint presentations from our May 17 meeting. Thanks to all the meeting participants, panelists, exhibitors, our keynote speaker Jim Slama and Executive Parisi for making the day so inspirational!

A great turnout of Dane County and other businesses - institutions, local food producers, and distributors - made the day a success!

IFM Member Institutions to Present at Wisconsin Local Food Summit

Mark Hayes, Director of University Dining Services at UW-Stevens Point, and Amy Miller, Nutrition Services Director at Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital, will both present in sessions at the Wisconsin Local Food Summit. They are leading the charge in local sourcing and this is a great opportunity to hear all about it! IFM will be presenting, too. Registration is available online for the Wisconsin Local Food Summit, Jan 26 and 27 at the Lake Lawn Resort in Delevan, and for the Wisconsin Farm to School Summit on Jan 25, also at the Lake Lawn.

IFM Local Food Cooking Class Materials Available

Find simple recipes using seasonal local ingredients, created by Chef Justin Johnson especially for institutions, plus contact information for local producers and pictures here. Thanks to all for a great class – stay tuned for more!

Thanks for a Great Meeting!
Local Food Means Business -
Wisconsin Local Food Expo
Tuesday September 20, 2011

Thanks to all the meeting participants - local food producers, farmers, buyers, and distributors - meeting presenters and our generous contributors for making the day a success. This was a one-of-a-kind opportunity for local food sales networking! See the Local Food Means Businesses event page for exhibitor contact information and more.

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.

Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Created 38 Jobs

The Department of Agriculture's Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin 2008 to 2010 grant recipients, including IFM, created 38 new jobs and retained 25 jobs! Read all about it in their new impact report. An estimated $4.2 million in business sales were generated, and 1,200 Wisconsin producers have benefited from these projects. The competitive grant funding aspect of Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin was recently restored by the joint finance committee.

New Foodservice Journal Takes on Local Food

Download the inaugural issue (for free) of Harvest Foodservice Journal, a national publication that reports on sustainable food issues in the foodservice industry.

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!