NESAWG

Publications

Building Advocacy Capacity: Developing a Policy Advocacy Program for Your Organization

Understanding Food Safety Regulations for Farm-Direct Sales: A Study of CT, MA, NY and VT

Special Edition Northeast Policy Newsletters

A Northeast Farm Bill Agenda: Priorities for the 2007 Farm Bill

Northeast Policy Priorities Fact Sheets

Regionalist Approaches to Farm and Food System Policy: A Focus on the Northeast

Northeast Farms to Food: 2006 Update

Northeast Farms to Food: Understanding Our Region’s Food System

Northeast Farms to Food: 2004 Update

Are We Being Served? A Regional Framework for U.S. Farm and Food Policy
Are We Being Served? A Policy Checklist
Supporting Buy Local Campaigns and Farm-to-Institution Projects: A Resource Manual
CSA 2001: An Evolving Platform for Ecological and Economical Agricultural Marketing and Production
Reporting on the Land Grant Stakeholder Rule: A Commentary for the Northeast U.S.
CSA Across the Nation: Findings from the 1999 CSA Survey
Agricultural Policy in the Northeast States: Inventory and Innovation
NESAWG News
NESAWG White Papers

Online Resources

NEFOOD listserv

Potluck News e-newsletter

Publications

Building Advocacy Capacity: Developing a Policy Advocacy Program for Your Organization

What is policy advocacy? How can our organization do a better job of advocacy? How can we determine our policy priorities and actions? This handbook will walk you through the answers, and engage your board and staff to be more familiar (and less nervous) about different approaches to successful advocacy.

  –  Full document available here as a PDF document

Understanding Food Safety Regulations for Farm-Direct Sales: A Study of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont
 This detailed report explains how food safety regulations work at each level of government. Its purpose is to foster market opportunity and facilitate regulatory compliance. The related Powerpoint presentation consists of 50 slides with information about farm-direct sales regulations in CT, MA, NY and VT. An excellent tool for farmers’ market associations and managers, regulators and farm organizations.

  –  Full document available here as a PDF document

  –  Powerpoint presentation

Special Edition Policy Newsletters

These special edition newsletters highlight policy innovations in Northeast states in five topic areas.  Excellent reference for policymakers and advocates working on state-level policy.

  –  Integrating agriculture and economic development
  –  Farmland affordability
  –  Institutional procurement
  –  Food processing and licensing
  –  Dairy (also includes “miscellaneous”)

A Northeast Farm Bill Agenda: Priorities for the 2007 Farm Bill

The Northeast Farm Bill Agenda presents the top 2007 Farm Bill policy priorities for the Northeast and explains why they are important to the region. It lists current bills and proposals that advance these priorities. The purpose of the Agenda is to articulate and promote 10 “must-have” farm and food policy goals that specifically address the characteristics and needs of the Northeast U.S.  (19 pages)

  –  Full document available here as a PDF document

  –  One-page summary available here as a PDF document

Northeast Policy Priorities Fact Sheets

These one-page fact sheets present the Northeast Farm Bill priorities in greater detail. They are available as web pages and pdf documents for printing.

  –  Provide Appropriate Safety Net and Risk Management Tools for Northeast Farmers (pdf) (html)
  –  Foster economic and regional market development (pdf) (html)
  –  Support the Northeast Dairy Industry (pdf) (html)
  –  Provide incentives for regionally appropriate farm energy production and efficiency (pdf) (html)
  –  Significantly increase funding for working lands conservation programs (pdf) (html)
  –  Increase conservation program flexibility and technical assistance (pdf) (html)

  –  Provide healthy foods for all (pdf) (html)

Regionalist Approaches to Farm and Food System Policy: A Focus on the Northeast

Farm and food system policy needs to pay more attention to regional characteristics and needs.  This paper explores regionalism, the Northeast food and farm system, and how to advance policies for the Northeast.  (25 pages)

  –  Available here as a PDF document

Northeast Farms to Food: 2006 Update This publication is the most recent update to Northeast Farms to Food: . It focuses on the federal Farm Bill which is due for reauthorization in 2007. This Update contains some “snapshots” of the Northeast that relate to the role and impact of federal farm policy on our region. For those not familiar with the Farm Bill, we hope this update offers an informative peek into this complex legislation. (35 pages)

Paper copies are available for $5.00.

  –  2006 update available here as a PDF document

Northeast Farms to Food: Understanding Our Region’s Food SystemThis comprehensive, highly informative and user-friendly investigation of the Northeast food and farming system was published 2002 A great introduction and a terrific resource for those who want to learn more and inform others about the issues — such as the loss and cost of farmland; production systems and trends; food transportation miles; food purchasing and dietary patterns, and food access.

  • Lots of easy-to-read charts, graphs and “Farms to Food Facts”, often broken out by state, with regional and national comparisons, with lists of references and resources.
  • A chapter devoted to recommendations and strategies for food systems change.
  • Excellent resource material for classes, workshops, research projects, proposals, public education campaigns, fliers, and more! A must for your reference shelf, display table, office lunchroom!

    Paper copies are available for $10 plus $2 postage per copy. Bulk discounts are available.

    •   –  Original 2002 report available here as a PDF document

    Northeast Farms to Food: 2004 Update

    This Update captures data about the Northeast from the 2002 USDA Census of Agriculture. (20 pages)

    Paper copies are available for $5.00.

      –  2004 update available here as a PDF document

    Are We Being Served? A Regional Framework for U.S. Farm and Food Policy

    A succinct one-page description of regionalism as a framework that identifies and responds to regional characteristics and needs, and encourages regional approaches and solutions.  NESAWG’s Northeast Ag Works! project employs regional approaches to address policy change at state, regional and federal levels. 

      –  Available here as a Word document

    Are We Being Served? A Policy Checklist

    Giving greater voice to regional issues and needs will ensure more equitable and responsive state and federal policies and programs.  This 3-page Policy Checklist is a tool to assess how a policy serves our – or any — region.  Use it to evaluate whether policy proposals (and existing policies) are appropriate, equitable and flexible.   

      –  Available here as a Word document

    Supporting Buy Local Campaigns and Farm-to-Institution Projects: A Resource Manual for Agricultural Professionals

    Chock full of resources and guidance about how to facilitate buy local and farm-to-institution projects.  Sixteen sections, inserts, and a CD make this an indispensable volume for service providers as well as community groups.

      –  Available as a hard copy binder only.  To order, please e-mail us at [email protected]
     

    Reporting on the Land Grant Stakeholder Rule: A Commentary for the Northeast U.S.

    This report is an investigation of the responses of the Northeast’s land grant institutions to their requirement to solicit and consider stakeholder input in the preparation of their Plans of Work. The purpose of the report is to encourage land grant institutions — and stakeholders — to further enhance opportunities for dialogue, responsiveness and accountability. Paper copies are $6 plus $2 postage per copy. Bulk discounts are available.

      –  Available as a hard copy only.  To order, please e-mail us at [email protected]

    CSA 2001: An Evolving Platform for Ecological and Economical Agricultural Marketing and Production
    This research paper analyzes information reported from CSA farms across the Northeast US over four survey years. The research focuses on how various farm and demographic characteristics affect farm viability or “success” (23 pages).

      –  Available here as a PDF document

    CSA Across the Nation: Findings from the 1999 CSA Survey
    This document provides the first comprehensive portrait of the CSA movement in the US. Findings from a 1999 national “census” survey show commonalities and diversity among CSA farms. The study includes fascinating data, analysis, reflections, and suggestions for future research. This study was co-produced by the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (U. Wisconsin), The Department of Resource Economics (U. Massachusetts), the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group and the Robyn Van En Center for CSA Resources (Wilson College, PA), with partial support from the Northeast SARE Program.

      –  Available here as a PDF document

    Agricultural Policy in the Northeast States: Inventory and Innovation
    A comprehensive investigation of state policies and programs in the area of farm viability, market development and promotion, and farmland preservation, land use and conservation in the twelve NE states. This 80 page publication describes and highlights existing policies and programs, and proposes reforms and innovations, based on interviews with over sixty agriculture policy-makers and advocates from Maine to West Virginia. Copies are $6 plus $2 postage per copy. Bulk discounts are available.

      –  Available as a hard copy only.  To order, please e-mail us at [email protected]

    NESAWG News
    A print newsletter for members with special features, member profiles, federal Farm Bill updates, announcements and more. Our latest newsletters can be read online. Archive copies are available through the NESAWG office.

      –  Summer 2008

      –  Fall 2007

      –  Spring 2007

    NESAWG White Papers
    A collection of short, thought-provoking papers written by twenty of the region’s leading food and farm thinkers. All of these papers are available as PDF documents. Please note that some of the authors’ organizational affiliations have changed since 1999 when these papers were produced.

      –   Consumption Issues and Barriers, Joan Dye Gussow, Professor Emeritus, Columbia University

          Teachers College

      –   Farm Profitability vs. Consumer Affordability, Tracy Frisch, Regional Farm & Food Project
      –   Niche vs. Mainstream Markets:  The Role of Industrialization in the Agricultural Production Sector       Stewart Smith, University of Maine

      –   Distribution – the Forgotten P, Michael Rozyne, RedTomato

      –   A Sustainable and Secure Food System, David Holm, Farmer

      –   The Failure of the Food System in Distributing Food to Communities, Duane Perry, Farmer’s

          Market Trust, Philadelphia, PA

      –   Paradise Paved, Julia Freedgood, American Farmland Trust

      –   What Contemporary ‘Metropolitan Agriculture’ Tells Us About the Region’s Food System Potential  

          Mark B. Lapping, University of Southern Maine

      –   On Reaching a Sustainable Food Production System in the Northeast US – A Farmer’s View,

          Shane J. LaBrake, farmer, Accokeek Foundation

      –   Regionalism to Nationalism…and Back?, Kate Clancy, Henry A Wallace Institute for Alternative

          Agriculture

      –   Northeast Food System Analysis, Elizabeth Henderson, farmer, writer

      –   Creating A Sustainable, Regional Food System –What Is Helping Us, What Is Preventing Us?,

          Peter Mann, International Coordinator, World Hunger Year (WHY)

      –   Local Solutions to Economic Globalization: Remaking the Agricultural and Food System in the

          Northeast, Thomas A. Lyson, Farming Alternatives Program, Cornell University

      –   Farmworkers Within the Framework of a Sustainable Agriculture, Richard Mandelbaum, CATA

          organizer and NOFA certified organic grower

      –   Redefining Community Food Security, Hugh M. Joseph, School of Nutrition Science and Policy,

          Tufts University

      –   Digging Deeper: Can we have a sustainable agriculture without a sustainable socio-economic

          system?, Fred Magdoff, University of Vermont

      –   Getting Organized, Kathy Ruhf, NESAWG Coordinator

      –   Consumer Education Vs. Marketing: Which Is the Best Lever for Food System Change, Molly D.

          Anderson, Tufts University

      –   The Human as Small Farmer, Sam Smith, Caretaker Farm
     

    Online Resources

    NEFOOD listserv
    Are you seeking to expand your network of folks working on community food security and sustainable food systems in the Northeast? Do you long for a regional forum to discuss issues and collaborate on projects? Are you looking for a way to broadcast announcements and resources about your work, ask questions and find other people and activities related to food?

    Join a NESAWG-sponsored e-mail forum called NEFOOD-L. NEFOOD-L is an electronic mail list devoted to the topic of food systems in the Northeastern states. Subscribers post messages to one address and have those messages distributed by email to all of the other subscribers on the list. Over 500 people are subscribed. For people involved in farming, sustainable agriculture, community food security, community development, education, urban gardening, anti-hunger, economic development, local food systems, horticulture, direct marketing, culinary arts, conservation, land preservation, public health, nutrition, and related fields.

    To sign up for NEFOOD, please go to the web address below and enter your e-mail address. You will receive a welcome message with basic protocol and command information. You will also begin to receive messages from anyone that posts to nefood-l. You may unsubscribe at any time by returning to weblink above.

      –  To subscribe, please go to the following address: https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/nefood

    Potluck News e-newsletter

    NEFOOD-L subscribers receive “Potluck News”, a monthly e-newsletter chock full of news about happenings in the Northeast food system.  Whether it is breaking news about food and farm policy, food-for-thought commentaries, upcoming events or job and grant opportunities, you will find it all in Potluck News. 

      –  Available via NEFOOD-L.  To subscribe, please go to the following address: https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/nefood