If you follow us on Facebook (and you should!), you know that yesterday I was at the quarterly meeting of the Eastern Kentucky Local Foods Collaborative. It was a great meeting with lots of energy, but you’ll have to check back for a full report. In the meantime, check out this great report from the Floyd County Times about a group of dedicated residents undertaking a local foods assessment.
Group conducting assessment of county’s food supplyby Ralph B. DavisA group of Floyd County volunteers representing agriculture, government and social service interests is working to map out the county’s strengths and weaknesses in feeding itself. The group, initiated by Appalachian Roots with assistance from Community Farm Alliance, has a goal of examining all steps along the food chain, in an effort to identify unmet needs and unrealized potential.Todd Howard, a local farmer who manages the Floyd County Farmer’s Market, says he believes there is a lot of potential for Floyd Countians to provide healthier foods for themselves, as well as to make additional income by selling their harvests. “Really and truthfully, I think that our local markets, our local food markets, are an untapped resource,” Howard said. “It’s got huge potential for growth.”Howard said some small changes could potentially have a big effect on the community. “We know all of this food is coming into Floyd County, but where is it coming from?” Howard said. “What happens if we’re able to replace 5 percent, 10 percent of this food with local produce? What does that do to the local economy?”
