Spoiler Alert & Healthy Acadia: A Food Donation and Case Study

July 14, 2016Conservation, Consumers, Direct to Consumer, Environment, Farm Economics, Food Hubs, Food Justice, Nutrition, Regional Food Systems

Guest blog post by: Farmers Union member, Spoiler Alert Healthy Acadia is a Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to build healthy communities. In partnership with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Healthy Acadia coordinates gleaning opportunities throughout Hancock and Washington counties, a region characterized by significant levels of poverty and food insecurity. Healthy Acadia connects volunteers … Read More

Food Safety From Farm to Table

May 12, 2016Consumers, Direct to Consumer, Farm Safety, farm-to-school, Farm-to-Table, Farmers, Farmers Markets, Farming Practices, Legal Issues

GUEST BLOG POST By Elanor Starmer  IF you are a farmer interested in selling produce wholesale or direct to a retailer, restaurant or institution, you probably have food safety on the brain. A growing number of buyers require farms to demonstrate compliance with a food safety standard, often through an audit and certification program. That takes … Read More

Spirited Convention Includes Keynotes from Sec. Vilsack, Gen. Clark

March 16, 2016Conservation, Consumers, Country of Origin Labeling, Direct to Consumer, Farming Practices, GMO, Grass Roots Policy, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members, Trade, Transparency in Labeling

Family farmers and ranchers are the best advocates for agriculture, and over the last four days, the National Farmers Union has provided more than 500 members and delegates of the 114th Anniversary Convention with the advocacy tools they need to be better informed about topics important to farm policy and the industry. “We came to … Read More

Direct Marketing is Invaluable for Consumer Education on Agriculture

February 3, 2016Beginning Farmers, Consumers, Direct to Consumer, Farm Bill, farm-to-school, Farmer Leaders, Farmers Markets, Grass Roots Policy, House Agriculture Committee, Meat and Poultry, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members, USDA

GUEST BLOG POST By Katie Fisher, government relations intern, National Farmers Union On Feb. 2, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research held a hearing examining the opportunities and challenges in direct marketing. It provided first-hand accounts from farmers and ranchers involved in direct marketing ventures, such as local farmers markets, direct to restaurant or … Read More

Women’s Conference Informs, Inspires

February 1, 2016Agritourism, Direct to Consumer, Educational Opportunities, Farm Demographics, Farm Tours, Farmers Markets, National Farmers Union, Women Producers

National Farmers Union’s Women in Agriculture conference ended last week, and New England Farmers Union Membership and Administrative Coordinator Emma Sabella reports the event, held in Clearwater, FL, was informative and inspiring. Kriss Marion of Circle M Market Farm in Blanchardville, WI, shared her story about how she built a network of strong women in … Read More

Member Profile: Steve Normanton

December 4, 2015Climate Change, Conservation, Country of Origin Labeling, Direct to Consumer, Diversified Farms, Farmer Leaders, Farmer Profile, Meat and Poultry, NEFU Members, Organic Producers, Trade

Steve Normanton grew up in South Africa, working on a farm that raised antelope, giraffe, rhinoceros, buffalo, and other African game, in addition to cattle, before moving to the states in 2003. Now a New Hampshire resident, he raises pastured beef cattle, pork, lamb, and chickens for meat and eggs, and grows mixed vegetables on … Read More

Convention Paints Strong Picture of Local Agriculture

November 12, 2015Beginning Farmers, Climate Change, Conservation, Consumers, Cooperatives, Country of Origin Labeling, Direct to Consumer, Farm Bill, Farm Bill 2013, Farm Demographics, Farm Economics, Farm Transfer Issues, Farm Workers, farm-to-school, Farm-to-Table, Farmer Leaders, Farmers Markets, Farmland Preservation, Food Hubs, Food Labels, FSA, FSMA, Grass Roots Policy, National Farmers Union, NEFU Members, Regional Food Systems, Regional Policy, SNAP, Trade, USDA

New England Farmers Union’s sixth annual convention, Gearing Up for Success, drew roughly 60 members of the farming community when it met on Nov. 6-8 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH. Attendees heard from national, regional, state, and local agricultural leaders on subjects such as federal agricultural policy, food safety, local and regional … Read More

UNH Research: Granite Staters Will Pay More for Local Produce

October 7, 2015Consumers, Direct to Consumer, Product Marketing, Regional Food Systems

GUEST BLOG POST By Lori Wright, NH Agricultural Experiment Station Granite Staters are willing to pay more for locally grown fruits and vegetables, according to preliminary findings of new research funded by the NH Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of New Hampshire. This is the first study of New Hampshire consumer preferences for locally … Read More