Wisconsin Farmers invited to join Local Food Directory

Statewide map will assist with local food access for consumers

In partnership with the Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance (WI LFPA) program, the Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU) is introducing a new tool aimed to connect farmers with their communities and make local food systems and supply chains more resilient, thus providing increased access to local foods throughout the state.

The directory allows farmers to create a profile for their farm and list products. In turn, hunger-relief organizations, food and meal programs, institutional and wholesale purchasers, and community members can search for producers in their region.

Michael and Angie Lungren operate Rocky Run Farm in Kendall and participate in the WI LFPA program. They sell fresh vegetables to the program and deliver to the Neighbor for Neighbor, Inc. food pantry in Tomah, where their produce is distributed to the community. The Lungrens expressed excitement about participating in the WI LFPA and the directory, noting “We have a tremendous passion to grow healthy vegetables to provide to others using organic practices. The directory will help us expand our reach.”

For the directory to be a success, WFU is recruiting a robust list of farms to include.

“I hope that people take advantage of this opportunity,” said Forrest Humphrey, WFU Local Foods Organizer and the lead for the directory. “The strength of our rural communities depends on our social networks.”

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service to create and implement the Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance (WI LFPA) program. The WI LFPA program aims to strengthen local food systems, support Wisconsin farmers, and distribute fresh, nutritious foods to underserved communities DATCP is collaborating with producers, distributors, food security organizations, and tribal partners to provide program development, coordinate transportation and logistics, and procure food from local producers through partnerships with Marbleseed, Wisconsin Farmers Union, and Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative. For more information, visit wilocalfood.org.

Learn more about the project and how you can get involved at wilocalfood.org.

If you have questions about the WI-LFPA program or the Local Foods Directory, please contact Forrest Humphrey at fhumphrey@wisconsinfarmersunion.com or 715-450-9179.

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