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“Strengthening our Food and Agricultural Economy”

You can help build a Montana-based food system

Organizations can become a Grow Montana ally

Individuals can sign-up for the Montana Food and Agriculture listserv to stay posted on ways to be involved in developing Montana’s food system.


Contact

To find out more about
Grow Montana, contact:
Nancy Matheson
Project Director
406.227.0389
nancym@ncat.org

Other Links

ATTRA

NRCS

New West Weekly Local Food Column by Kisha Lewellyn Schlegel

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Resources


Montana Food System Research Now Available
  • Drs. Fraser Mcleay and Nicola Barron analyzed Montana's public institutional food service markets, and Montana's food and agricultural producers' capacity to serve those markets. Their final report, Unlocking the Food Buying Potential of Montana's Public Institutions Towards a Montana-based Food Economy, calls Montana public institutions an important stepping stone for Montana food producers to tap into the broader food service market. It also describes the need for investment in food system infrastructure to meet the needs of these markets. The Executive Summary of the report is available here. [PDF / 71KB]


  • Dr. Neva Hassanein, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, and 10 graduate students, followed the food chain of the program's purchases of local and regional food for campus dining halls and retail outlets. In Tracing the Chain: An In-Depth Look at the University of Montana's Farm to College Program, the research team looked at the social, economic, and transportation-related benefits and challenges associated with supporting local agricultural economic development. Download the Executive Summary here. [PDF / 345K]


PDF Icon Moving Boxes Closer to Home: The Role of Sysco Corporation in Food System Localization Masters Thesis by David Scott Kennedy. [PDF / 369KB]

PDF Icon Building a Better Local Food System: A Case Study of Western Montana Growers Cooperative, Summary of Masters Thesis by Beth Neely, The University of Montana's Environmental Studies Program. [PDF / 449KB]

PDF Icon New Study!
"Mobile Processing: Appropriate Technology for Pastured Poultry Producers"
This professional paper by UM environmental studies graduate student and poultry producer Sarah Stokes explores the ins and outs of small-scale poultry processing in Montana, including regulatory requirements. In particular, she studies the potential of a mobile processing unit, including case-examples from other states. The paper is available in PDF format here. [PDF / 1 MB]

PPT Icon Grow Montana
Strengthening our Food and Agricultural Economy
A PowerPoint presenation outlining what Grow Montana has been learning about the exciting potential of a Montana-based food system, and about what kinds of things we’re finding needs to happen to build on that potential.
[PPT / 1.83 MB]


PDF Icon Headwaters RC&D and Beaverhead Economic Development Corporation explore the feasibility of local beef processing.
[PDF / 284 KB]


PDF Icon Brian Halweil's Food Democracy, from the Heifer International publication, reveals the increasingly negligible power and influence of every-day eaters in a globalized food system, and provides hopeful glimpses into communities creating an alternative model that is more inclusive of all people--a food democracy--through locally-based food systems.
[PDF / 116KB]


PDF IconMarcia Herrin's and Joan Dye Gussow's Designing a Sustainable Regional Diet: A Montana Model, describes the potential of our state to be nearly self-sufficient with a nutritious diet year-round. Long-forgotten historical food and agriculture data supports their thesis and provides fuel for the current debate about Montana's food system. [PDF / 602 KB]


PDF IconBrian Halweil's Food Democracy, from the Heifer International publication, reveals the increasingly negligible power and influence of every-day eaters in a globalized food system, and provides hopeful glimpses into communities creating an alternative model that is more inclusive of all people--a food democracy--through locally-based food systems.
[PDF / 116KB]


For more information on federal-level policy work promoting community-based food systems, explore the "Farm and Food Policy Project: A collaboration to promote a more fair, progressive farm bill."

PDF IconFor more facts about Montana's food system — from food production to rates of hunger, download this Grow Montana fact sheet, complete with footnoted sources.
[PDF / 64KB]

Lappe on HomeGround Radio
During her recent visit to Montana for Missoula Community Food and Agriculture Coalition's Harvest Fest, Anna Lappe spoke about local food, economics, national and international policies, and the relationship between all three with Brian Kahn for Home Ground Radio. You can also hear it online for several weeks after the broadcast.

More information on Anna Lappe.

2006-2008 National Center for Appropriate Technology

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