Regional Food Business Center Grant Invests in Appalachia with Funding for Food and Farm Businesses

The US government’s largest single investment in the Appalachian food system just hit our region. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invested $42 million in Central Appalachia to support food and farm businesses with market entry and strengthen existing connections with urban markets through increased efficiency in aggregation and distribution, meaning food and farm […]

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Connect with Producers in Central Appalachia

FASWG Processing, Aggregation, and Distribution (PAD) members have launched a Facebook group to connect producers of all skill levels and agricultural interests in the region. The Central Appalachian Producers Group was created by CAN participant Appalachian Sustainable Development and other regional partners to build community, share tips and tricks with their peers, and share what’s […]

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A Fair Food System: Summit 6 Recap

Summit Five March 23, 2023 9:00AM–1:00PM EST Day Six Recording: https://youtu.be/fi5W6vPUm6Q Slides: CAN Summit 6 Slides Links & Additional Resources: USDA RFSP Application Page: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsp/apply USDA RFSP March 29th Webinar: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_LJgr-SU9QTKl8cnxa8qM4A Osteopathic Heritage Foundtions website: https://osteopathicheritage.org/ Recommendations for the Farm Bill: https://action.oeffa.com/farm-bill/ Invest Appalachia Fund: https://mailchi.mp/e82dbc628291/19m-for-invest-appalachia?e=0c7badede0 Speakers We are proud to welcome a litany of […]

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A Fair Food System: Summit 5 Recap

 Summit Five January 26, 2023 9:00AM–1:00PM EST Day Five Recording: https://youtu.be/l3Dsd63S6AA Slides: CAN Summit 5 Slides Links & Additional Resources: “Food as Medicine: Current Efforts and Potential Opportunities” testimony before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research: https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/hearings/food-as-medicine-current-efforts-and-potential-opportunities Appalachian Harvest Food Hub: https://www.asdevelop.org/programs-resources/food-hub/ Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub:  https://www.asdevelop.org/programs-resources/herbhub/ […]

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A Fair Food System: Summit 4 Recap

Summit Four October 27, 2022 9:00AM–1:00PM EST Day Four Recording: https://youtu.be/7oFSRn5E3RU Slides: https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/CAN-Summit-4-Slides.pdf Summit Four Jamboard: https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/CAN-Summit-4-Jamboard.pdf Links & Additional Resources: NIFA Listens Stakeholder Input Opportunity on 11/02: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-listens-2022 GusNIP Program Page: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/hunger-food-security-programs/gus-schumacher-nutrition-incentive-program 2022 GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program RFA: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/gusnip-nutrition-incentive-program 2022 GusNIP Produce Prescription Program RFA: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/gus-schumacher-nutrition-incentive-program-produce-prescription 2022 RFA Webinars: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/gusnip-webinars FAQs: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/gusnip-faqs KP&P Survey for ARC […]

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A Fair Food System: Summit 3 Recap

Summit Three September 22, 2022 9:00AM–1:00PM EST Day Three Recording: https://youtu.be/-hdIahv0CuY Slides: https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/CAN-Summit-3-Slides.pdf https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/CAN-NIFA-Presentation-Slides.pdf https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/USDA-Recovery-Programs.pdf Links & Additional Resources: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/agriculture-food-research-initiative-afri/rapid-response-extreme-weather-events-across-food-agriculture-systems-a1712 Attendee Survey: https://form.jotform.com/222404421097044 Speakers We are proud to welcome a litany of talented food systems experts from across Appalachia. Below, you can read about each speaker slated to present at the second session of A Fair […]

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A Fair Food System: Summit 2 Recap

Summit Two August 25, 2022 9:00AM–1:00PM EST Day Two Recording: https://youtu.be/Dp4f04r7l0A Please note: YouTube copyright doesn’t allow the inclusion of the United Shades of America episode we viewed during the summit and has been removed, our apologies. Slides: https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/CAN-Summit-2-Slides.pdf Speakers We are proud to welcome a litany of talented food systems experts from across Appalachia. Below, you […]

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A Fair Food System: Summit 1 Recap

Summit One July 28, 2022 9:00AM–1:00PM EST Day One Recording: https://youtu.be/m9naRUBzEsY Day One Slides: https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/A-Fair-Food-System-Day-One-Slides.pdf Speakers We are proud to welcome a litany of talented food systems experts from across Appalachia. Below, you can read about each speaker slated to present at the first session of A Fair Food System: A Summit on Scalable Solutions to Creating […]

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A Fair Food System: Community Food Systems Summit Series in Central Appalachia

A community food system is a complex system in which sustainable food production, processing, distribution and consumption are integrated to enhance the environmental, economic, social and nutritional health of a particular place. Locally grown food is fresher, making it more nutritious. It builds the local economy as money circulates to farmers and businesses in the […]

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The Joys of Ohio’s Winding Road: Reciprocity and a Return to Regional Roots

This post was originally published on Ohio’s Winding Road website. BY GRANT JOY Photos courtesy of Dustin Massengill Historically in Appalachian Ohio, there was an emphasis placed on subsistence farming. Before the timber and coal booms of the 19th century, Ohio’s hill country was dotted with small-scale family farms. Recently, the region has started to […]

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On Farm Energy & REAP Program Information

Last month the Food & Ag System Working Group hosted a learning call to share information on the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The REAP program aids farmers in financing renewable energy sources or making energy efficiency improvements.  Colleagues from our Clean Energy Working Group joined the call to share their expertise on the […]

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