Course: SAT 220 Designing Food Production Systems in Urban Landscapes

Reading and Multimedia Assignments

Reading Assignments
Reading Assignments

Farm to table (also called farm to fork) is a movement to utilize local foods directly from the farm, eliminating the middle men and much of the transportation of food.  It is part of what is known as the “locavore” movement which concentrates on consuming food grown generally within 100 miles.

The stated benefits of farm to table or the locavore movement include reduced transportation resulting in a lower carbon footprint for the food and all the other associated benefits including less air pollution, less traffic, less noise.  Additional benefits include procuring foods at the height of freshness, taste and nutritional value; supporting local (and usually smaller scale) farmers and creating a relationship between consumers and food producers.

Establishing a farm to table system can be done from either end of the chain, the farm or the table (restaurant, school or home) and can also be influenced by consumers expressing a desire for fresh local food and voting for it with their wallets.  This unit will discuss the idea of farm to table, why it is a good idea and how such systems can be fostered.

As you read the reading assignments and view the multimedia assignments keep the following list of things in mind and try to see how the assignment might address, sometime indirectly, the creation of farm to table systems.

Points to Ponder

1. Who can originate a farm to table system?
2. What might be the best place to start such a system: individual consumers, restaurants or schools?
3. What long-term benefits might come from such systems?  Think in terms of environment, health and the economy.
4. If you were to try to establish a farm to table system in your local school(s), what are some of the objections likely to be raised and what arguments might be used to overcome those objections?

Readings

The Minnesota Toolkit for School Foodservice provides details on how to establish farm-to-school systems. Read each of the six main links on the page: Getting Started, Get Staff Onboard, Ask for Help, Assemble a Team, Determine Your Goals, and Meet the Challenges.
University of Minnesota Extension © Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Virginia Farm to Table is an additional resource explaining the collaborative programs in Virgina.
Virginia Cooperative Extension © VirginiaTech and Virginia State University