Publications | NESAWG
Regionalist Approaches to Farm and Food System Policy: A Focus on the Northeast
NESAWG Publication, Policy & Advocacy
Allen Hance, Kathy Ruhf and Alan Hunt
This paper explores why agriculture and food system policy needs to pay more attention to regions. Regionalism, which urges a move from sector-based to place-based policymaking, has emerged as a powerful principle in public policy. The focus of this paper is on federal policy, and the goal is to promote the integration of regionalism into farm and food policy deliberations at all levels, from local to national.
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Are We Being Served? A Tool for Food and Farm Policy Evaluation
Local and Regional Food Systems, NESAWG Publication, Policy & Advocacy
The purpose of this checklist is to assess how a policy serves the northeast – or any – region. It can be used to evaluate policy proposals as well as existing policies – statutes, bills, programs, rules, regulations and directives. Regionalism has emerged as a powerful principle in public policy. It was developed as part of Northeast Ag Works! was a region-wide project to propose, promote and support public policies that sustain and foster our region’s agriculture and food system. The project gave greater voice to regional issues and needs to help build more equitable and responsive state and federal policies and programs.
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Are We Being Served? A Regional Framework for U.S. Food and Farm Policy
NESAWG Publication, Policy & Advocacy
“Are We Being Served? A Regional Framework for U.S. Food and Farm Policy” offers a vision for policy work that identifies and responds to regional characteristics and needs; and encourages regional approaches and solutions. This framework was developed by NESAWG and its partners in NORTHEAST AG WORKS! Regional Strategies for Farm and Food Policy Innovation, a project funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and hosted by the New England Small Farm Institute. These partners include American Farmland Trust Northeast/New England, Conservation Law Foundation, Northeast Midwest Institute and Northeast States Assoc. for Agricultural Stewardship.
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Building Advocacy Capacity: Developing A Policy Advocacy Program For Your Organization
NESAWG Publication, Policy & Advocacy
Kathy Lawrence and Kathryn Ruhf
Does your organization want to get more involved in public policy advocacy? Would you like to have a greater policy impact at the local, state or national level? Would your board and staff like to get clearer on your policy priorities and activity options? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this Handbook is for you. This Handbook will help your organization become more effective in your policy advocacy work. It gives you information and a process for your group to make decisions about policy advocacy activities.
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Regional Value Chains in the Northeast: Findings from a Survey
NESAWG Publication, Food Systems, Marketing, Processing, Production, Retail, Supply Chains
Kathryn Ruhf and Kate Clancy
This publication was developed by the Northeast Regional Lead Team Project, which investigated a variety of value chain initiatives in the Northeast region. They wanted to understand the location and reach of these chains, and to learn their histories, structure, market relationships, support networks, challenges and needs from the perspective of the “driver.” Between December 2008 and May 2009, the team interviewed the key principle in each of 35 regional value chains. This publication provides a descriptive analysis of that information.
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It Takes a Region… Exploring a Regional Food Systems Approach
NESAWG Publication, Food Systems, Land Use, Production, Supply Chains
Kathryn Ruhf and Kate Clancy
This working paper was developed by NESAWG in 2010 to elaborate a clearer understanding of regionalism and of regional food systems, including terminology and definitions and to present a mix of vision and practicality through: a) engendering a healthy debate on “local” and “regional”; b) bringing to the forefront the research that needs to be done to describe the present reality and likelihood of success of different models; and (c) proposing the development of transition scenarios toward a “re-regionalized” food system.
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“Good Food for All” Summary Report
NESAWG Publication, Food Access
Margaret Christie, CISA and Kathy Ruhf, NESAWG,
“Good Food for All in Southern New England” is a planning and assessment project that allowed Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), NESAWG and partner organizations to review the current status of healthy, regionally grown food with respect to increasing the market share of this food, and simultaneously improving access to this food for low income residents of our region through large-scale market outlets.
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Regionalizing the Food System for Public Health & Sustainability
NESAWG Publication, Farming, Food Security, Land Use, Mapping, Supply Chains
Michael Conrad and Kubi Ackerman, Urban Design Lab
This presentation by The Urban Design Lab, part of Columbia University’s Earth Institute, makes a case for regionalizing the food system to effect positive change on our public health. The presentation was made at NESAWG’s 2010 It Takes a Region Conference.
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Vermont Meat Processing Inventory – 2010 Findings
Food Safety, Food Systems, Livestock, NESAWG Publication, Supply Chains, Sustainable Agriculture
Sam Fuller, NOFA Vermont and NESAWG Processing Infrastructure Workgroup
This report represents outcomes of the Processing Infrastructure Workgroup formed at NESAWG’s November 2009 It Takes a Region Conference and reflects the group’s meat production and processing research and planning efforts at two scales: the Northeast region and the state of Vermont.
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