Filling in the Gaps: Eight Things to Recognize about Farm-Direct Marketing

Local Food, Organic Food, Market Channels, Niche Meat, Community Supported Agriculture, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Marketing,

ACTING COLLECTIVELY TO DEVELOP MIDSCALE FOOD VALUE CHAINS IN THE U. S.

N° ISBN - 978-2-7380-1284-5International audienceMotivated by Lyson s concept of civic agriculture , this paper examines case studies of four innovative U. S. mid-scale food value chains to provide models of how mid-sized farms and ranches and associated processing, distribution, and retail businesses can prosper by acting collectively to construct -food system. Specifically we consider the importance of acting collectively functions at three distinct levels horizontally among producers, vertically within food value chains and horizontally across food value chains. These mid-scale food value chains represent strategic alliances among mid-sized farms and other agri-food enterprises that operate at regional levels, handle significant volumes of high-quality, differentiated food products, and distribute profit margins equitably among the strategic partners. Historically mediumbackbone of the U. S. agricultural sector. In recent decades, these farms have been severely challenged as they are often too small individually to compete successfully in international agricultural commodity markets and too large and/or poorly positioned to directly market food to local consumers. Yet they remain important for many reasons including their environmental stewardship, contributions to community vitality, and the role they play in maintaining a diverse, resilient, and more sustainable structure of agriculture. From a market perspective, the key advantage of these food value chains is their ability to provide high quality, differentiated products not available through the mainstream commodity market

More Change Than You Think: Tracking Oregon Farmers’ Markets and Their Managers 1998-2005

Marketing,

UNITED STATES AGRICULTURAL TRADE: WHERE ARE THE GAINS?: COMMENT

International Relations/Trade,

Participatory Workshops: A Book Review

Participatory Workshops: A Sourcebook of 21 Sets of Ideas & Activities, by Robert Chambers, is a superb sourcebook for ideas and activities that can be used to enliven workshops and meetings. The book is organized like a cookbook and can be used in a similar fashion because it is easy to find specific activities, techniques, or ideas through both the table of contents and the index. Chambers presents 441 suggestions (21 lists of 21 items each) that range from the odd to the outrageous to the ingenious. It is reference book that will be used

Participatory Workshops: A Book Review

Participatory Workshops: A Sourcebook of 21 Sets of Ideas & Activities, by Robert Chambers, is a superb sourcebook for ideas and activities that can be used to enliven workshops and meetings. The book is organized like a cookbook and can be used in a similar fashion because it is easy to find specific activities, techniques, or ideas through both the table of contents and the index. Chambers presents 441 suggestions (21 lists of 21 items each) that range from the odd to the outrageous to the ingenious. It is reference book that will be used

Using Speed Dating Techniques to Enliven and Improve Conferences and Workshops

Most Extension educators seek new ideas for organizing more exciting and animated workshops and conferences. This article describes structured networking activities (also know as speed dating ) that succeed in enlivening meetings, strengthening networking, and improving learning. A speed mentoring approach was successful in sharing knowledge among farmers\u27 market managers with different levels of experience. Farmers and chefs used a more classic speed dating approach to forge new relationships and make deals

Using Speed Dating Techniques to Enliven and Improve Conferences and Workshops

Most Extension educators seek new ideas for organizing more exciting and animated workshops and conferences. This article describes structured networking activities (also know as speed dating ) that succeed in enlivening meetings, strengthening networking, and improving learning. A speed mentoring approach was successful in sharing knowledge among farmers\u27 market managers with different levels of experience. Farmers and chefs used a more classic speed dating approach to forge new relationships and make deals

Leave Home! International Sabbaticals as Unfreezing Experiences

International sabbaticals provide exceptional opportunities for Extension educators to unfreeze and transform themselves personally and professionally. But relatively few ever take this type of sabbatical because of the numerous obstacles that must be overcome. This paper discusses why international sabbaticals are so valuable and provides tips and additional resources for the sabbatical planning process. The leave home message is that the gains will far exceed the costs