FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Cure me: A NY chef ponders prosciutto

 

NEWS:

MD: feeling the bite of lesson on hunger

MA: A sweet comeback for a very bitter berry

VT dairy farmers to get help by the end of December

NY dairy farms fall victim to high costs, low profits

CT goat farmers fill niche for milk and cheese

NH: Mount Washington weather station sees record highs for November

National: A Growing Trend: Small, Local and Organic

 

EVENTS:

12/11-13: Vegetable production from Greenhouse to Market, Saratoga Springs, NY

1/13: NOFA Vermont Direct Marketing Conference South Royalton, VT

1/18-20: New York State Farmers’ Direct Marketing Conference, Oswego, NY

1/20: Vermont Grazing Conference, Randolph Center, VT

1/20: NOFA Massachusetts Winter Conference, Worcester, MA

1/23: Tri-State Conservation Tillage Conference, West Middlesex, PA

1/25: Inquiry, Impact, and Action: The 2007 Farm Bill, New York, NY

1/26-28: NOFA New York Annual Conference, Syracuse/Liverpool, NY

2/1-3: Farming for the Future, State College, PA

2/10: NOFA Vermont Annual Winter Conference, Randolph Center, VT

2/14-15: Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Syracuse, NY

2/14-16: Understanding Organics: Livestock Management and Health, Alfred, NY

2/21-24: Mid-Atlantic Direct Marketing Conference, Solomons, MD

2/28-3/1: New England Farmers' Direct Marketing Conference and Trade Show, Sturbridge, MA

 

OPPORTUNITIES:

Chief Executive Officer, Rodale Institute, Kutztown, PA

Program Associate, Farm to Table, Earth Pledge, New York, NY

Greenmarket Program Director, Council on the Environment of New York City, NY, NY

Administrative Manager, Sustainability Institute, Hartland, VT

Development Director, Farm & Wilderness Foundation, Plymouth, VT

Managing Editor, Web, Oxfam America, Boston, MA

Multiple Job Openings, The Food Trust, Philadelphia, PA

Multiple Job Openings, The Food Project, MA

Multiple Job Openings, Community Food Resource Center, New York, NY

Northeast SARE Farmer Grants

Northeastern IPM Center Partnership Grants

New Hampshire Agricultural Promotion Mini-Grant Program

National Research Initiative—Agricultural Prosperity for Small and Medium-Sized Farms

 

 

 

*******************

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

*******************

Cure me: A NY chef ponders prosciutto

(NYT) - If I really am dedicated to cooking by the seasons and supporting local agriculture, I thought, now would be the obvious time to buy a whole pig. Ideally, I would break it down into primal cuts, put the hams in salt for the next month, and then hang them at room temperature for two years, allowing them to slowly dry into prosciutto. And why not grind up the dark, fatty shoulders with salt, pepper and juniper, stuff the mixture into casings, and then leave the sausages in a cool room for six weeks to naturally ferment, developing delicious, tangy porcine flavors?  I can't, because the United States Department of Agriculture and the local health departments do not allow commercial processing of meat without refrigeration. This is astonishing, because since Neolithic times, people have safely cured and preserved meats without refrigeration. Europeans have turned curing into an art, and the best processors are revered craftsmen who earn national medals of honor. Salt, time and a good dose of fresh air are the only additions needed to produce salsicce, culatello and 24-month-old prosciutto or serrano -- foods that Americans smuggle home from Europe in their luggage. Full article available here: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9906E0DB123EF931A15752C1A9609C8B63

 

 

*******************

 NEWS

*******************

MD: Feeling The Bite Of Lesson On Hunger

(Washington Post) - As he watched classmate Elizabeth Mason take a sip from a glass goblet, Ian Glasgow could stand it no longer. "There are three empty spots with salads just sitting there," Glasgow moaned, staring at the plastic cup of rice on his lap. "There is so much food over there, and we're getting almost nothing." Consigned to the floor as one of the poor, St. Mary's College junior Jeff Faith sees fellow students, including Elizabeth Mason, left, dine richly at a linen-draped table as representatives of a wealthy group. Inequity was the theme of the unusual dinner party on the campus of St. Mary's College of Maryland on Wednesday evening. At the campus in Southern Maryland, Mason and four other students, randomly selected from the participants as high-income guests, ate a three-course meal at a linen-covered table. Full article available here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/30/AR2006113001332.html

 

MA: A Sweet Comeback for a Very Bitter Berry

(Washington Post) - The cranberry, a Thanksgiving icon in the New World, is bouncing back from a market slump thanks to the Old World. Four centuries after the bitter berry was embraced by hungry immigrants who left Europe seeking a better life, the cranberry is getting a boost from new markets in Germany, France and yes, Britain, where those first expatriates set sail. "It's been phenomenal," said David Farrimond, general manager of the Cranberry Marketing Committee, a quasi-public agency in Wareham, Mass., under the U.S. Agriculture Department. "You go into a little neighborhood store in Germany now and they have cranberries. In some places they have our Thanksgiving, too." Full article available here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/22/AR2006112201824.html

 

Vermont farmers to get help by the end of December

(AP) - Vermont dairy farmers could receive $2.2 million in emergency aid by the of December, officials said. The money will be the last installment of $8.6 million set aside last summer by Gov. James Douglas and lawmakers to help farmers trying to recover from a wet spring, high fuel prices and low milk prices. "The intent was to get the money out the door by the end of December," said House Agriculture Chairman David Zuckerman, P-Burlington. "Farmers are still deeply in the hole." Full article available here: http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2006/11/30/vermont_farmers_to_get_help_by_the_end_of_december/

 

NY Dairy Farms fall victim to high costs, low profits

(Troy Record- NY) "It's pretty bad - I expect by spring there's going to be a lot of people quitting." These are the words of John Trzcinski, the latest generation of a family that has run a dairy farm on Carroll's Grove Road since 1923 and, as things appear today, is probably the last, considering how fate and the markets have continued to drive small family dairy farmers out of business. Over the last few years, reports of how dairy farms have continued to run in the red as the price farmers get for milk falls short of the cost of producing that milk have increased. This continues, despite individual and collective efforts, and occasional government action, to keep farmers in business. Judging from the evidence, it isn't working. Full article available here: http://www.troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17513996&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=7021&rfi=6

 

CT Goat farmers fill niche for milk and cheese

(AP) - Short on farm help and unable to do chores alone, Joan Lamothe sold her 250 dairy cows in Falls Village 11 years ago and moved to her grandfather's farm on Canaan Mountain with a small herd of goats. The white Sanaans, a breed that is to goats what Holsteins are to cows, adapted well to the 270 hilly acres. So did Lamothe, who has been milking twice daily and making cheese three times a week ever since. In the beginning, it was more likely for a new customer to show up on a doctor's order to find a naturally homogenized, easy-to-digest alternative to cow's milk than to fill gourmet orders for soft and hard goat cheese. Full article available here: http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2006/11/30/goat_farmers_fill_niche_for_milk_and_cheese/

 

NH: Mount Washington weather station sees record highs for November

(AP) - National Weather Service Meteorologist Art Lester said November also broke the record for high average temperature in the state. At 42-point-eight degrees, temperatures were five degrees above normal, breaking the previous average high of 42-point-six degrees set in 1931. Full article available here: http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2006/12/01/warm_temps_coming_to_an_end/

 

A Growing Trend: Small, Local and Organic

(Washington Post) - This is where Michael Pappas farms: not in the great wide fields of Iowa or in California's industrial salad bowl, but in Lanham. He is eight miles from the Washington Monument, three or four turns from the Beltway, at the end of a long road in a residential neighborhood. He's growing crops on 2 1/2 acres with 2 1/2 employees. Full article available here:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/05/AR2006110500887.html

 

 

*******************

EVENTS

******************* 

12/11-13

Vegetable Production: From Greenhouse to Market, Saratoga Springs, NY

This event is a three-day Farmer-to-Farmer Workshop for vegetable farmers, presented by by the Sustainable Farmers Network with assistance from Washington County Cooperative Extension. The workshop will focus on all aspects of greenhouse production, crop varieties, field production (including soil management, tillage, cultivation,& rotations), insect & disease management, recordkeeping for profitability, harvesting techniques, post-harvest handling/storage, and marketing. The presentations will consist of detailed, valuable information with PowerPoint pictures. This workshop is designed for all levels of farmers with any size farm and any type system. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to receive a registration form, contact Sandy at [email protected] or 518-638-6501.

 

1/13

NOFA Vermont Direct Marketing Conference South Royalton, VT

Join NOFA-VT for a full day of direct marketing workshops for farmers' market, CSA, farm stand, and alternative direct marketing farmers and those who support them. Keynote speaker will be Vance Corum, co-author of The New Farmers' Market: Farm Fresh Ideas for Producers, Managers, & Communities.  For more info, see: http://www.nofavt.org/event.php?e_id=621

 

1/18-20

New York State Farmers’ Direct Marketing Conference, Oswego, NY

"The Food Less Traveled: How Local Food Contributes to Healthy People and Healthy Communities" will focus on the links between local agriculture and the health and well being of citizens and communities. Pre-conference workshops will feature topics important to farm direct marketers. Professional farmers' market manager training is also offered. Workshops on health, food nutrients and marketing are scheduled during the conference. For more info, see: http://nofany.org/events/foodlesstraveled.htm

 

1/20

Vermont Grazing Conference, Randolph Center, VT

At this 11th annual conference keynote speaker Mark MacAfee, from Organic Pastures Dairy Company, will share his experience producing and marketing certified organic, grass fed, raw milk directly to consumers, using mobile milking equipment. Six workshop tracks will include additional information for dairy, beef, small ruminant, diversified, technical, and business interests. Contact Jenn Colby, [email protected] or (802) 656-0858.

 

1/20

NOFA Massachusetts Winter Conference, Worcester, MA

NOFA/MASS is holding its 20th Annual Winter Conference & Annual Meeting. This one day event will feature 30 workshops, a keynote speech with Vern Grubinger, a potluck lunch, the NOFA/Mass annual meeting, a children’s program, a farmer’s market, exhibits and a raffle. For more info, see: http://www.nofamass.org/conferences/w2007/index.php

 

1/23

Tri-State Conservation Tillage Conference, West Middlesex, PA

The Tri-State Tillage Conference is a collaborative effort to promote the benefits of No Till Farming in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York State. Penn Soil RC&D administers and hosts the annual conference in cooperation with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Cooperative Extension Service personnel in all three states, as well as agricultural industry representatives, commercial sponsors, and practicing farmers. For more info, see: http://www.pennsoilrcd.org/tillage/tillage.htm

 

1/25

Inquiry, Impact, and Action: The 2007 Farm Bill, New York, NY

The Farm Bill isn't just about farming. It is our most important piece of agricultural legislation, covering issues of conservation, food stamps, and school lunches and has international implications for poor people in developing countries. On Thursday, January 25, 2007, the Hunger & Environmental Nutrition Special Interest Group of the Greater New York Dietetic Association (GNYHEN), is sponsoring a full-day, Northeast Regional educational forum and networking event on the 2007 Farm Bill. Co-sponsors of the event include Oxfam America, Hunter College of the City University of New York, Just Food, and the New York City Nutrition Education Network (NYCNEN). How to register and more details to follow via NEFOOD.

 

1/26-28

NOFA New York Annual Conference, Syracuse/Liverpool, NY

"Building the Farm Economy Around Local Foods" is the theme for this conference that features more than 55 workshops for adults, teens, and children. Keynote speakers include Joel Salatin and Rich Pirog. Workshops cover everything from CSA management to business planning to organic dairy, and include some full-day intensive sessions. For more info, see: http://nofany.org/events/2007conference/nofanyconference07.htm

 

2/1-3

Farming for the Future, State College, PA

The annual Farming for the Future conference is PASA's signature event and their main vehicle for community building. Widely regarded as the best of its kind in the East, this diverse event brings together an audience of over 1,400 farmers, processors, consumers, students, environmentalists, and business and community leaders annually. Typical conference workshops focus on such practical topics as poultry production, cheese making, riparian buffers, organic certification and raw milk marketing. For more info, see: http://www.pasafarming.org/farmingForTheFuture.html

 

2/10

NOFA Vermont Annual Winter Conference, Randolph Center, VT

This one-day event brings together over several hundred organic farmers, gardeners, consumers and teachers for over 30 workshops, a keynote address, farmers' market, live music, silent auction, children's conference and the largest pot-luck lunch in New England. For more info, see: http://www.nofavt.org/annual-events/winter-conference.php

 

2/14-15

Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Syracuse, NY

This annual event is sponsored by the NYS Vegetable Growers Association, the Empire State Potato Growers, the NYS Horticultural Society and the NYS Berry Growers and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Sessions on specific fruit and vegetable crops are offered, as well as a trade show. For more info, see: http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/expo/

 

2/14-16

Understanding Organics: Livestock Management and Health, Alfred, NY

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), in partnership with Quality Milk Production Service of Cornell University, is pleased to announce a 3-day conference on Organic Livestock Health and Management designed to provide continuing education to extension agents, veterinarians, and other professionals working with Northeast organic or transitioning producers. This conference, and one that follows March 6-8 in Durham, NH, will focus on the comprehensive nuts and bolts of organic livestock production. For more info, see: http://www.qmps.vet.cornell.edu/nofa/nofa.html

 

2/21-24

Mid-Atlantic Direct Marketing Conference, Solomons, MD

The conference theme is "Lighting the Way," and the agenda includes a trade show, workshops, seminars & farm market tours in Southern Maryland. For more info, see: http://www.madmc.com/

 

2/28-3/1

New England Farmers' Direct Marketing Conference and Trade Show, Sturbridge, MA

"Successful Strategies for Growing Your Farm Business" is the theme for this unique marketing conference that targets New England farmers interested in learning new marketing ideas or fine-tuning strategies for business success. Over the course of two days, there will be over 20 workshops with a wide range of marketing and business planning topics to be covered, as well as a trade show. For more info, see: http://www.harvestnewengland.org/conference2007.htm

 

 

*******************

OPPORTUNITIES

*******************

Chief Executive Officer, Rodale Institute, Kutztown, PA

The board of The Rodale Institute is conducting a global search for a Chief Executive Officer. The Institute is housed on a 333-acre farm near Kutztown, PA, home to the longest-running, side-by-side comparison trials of organic and conventional crop systems in the US and of the no-till roller/crimper one-pass planting system. It publishes NewFarm.org and KidsRegen.org, conducts on-site and cooperative multi-site search in organic farming systems, and works with other groups worldwide to further the impact regenerative agriculture. Last day to apply: December 15, 2006  For more info, see: http://www.newfarm.org/features/2006/1106/tri/ceo.shtml

 

Program Associate, Farm to Table, Earth Pledge, New York, NY

Earth Pledge’s Farm to Table Initiative educates consumers and food professionals in order to create demand for sustainable and local products, to provide growers with information about innovative, practical sustainable agriculture techniques and technologies, and to provide multiple marketing and information channels connecting these groups. Our efforts began in New York in 1995 and are now expanding throughout the United States. We seek an individual with a flair for marketing and promotion, a passion for food, and a background in agriculture to lead the expansion of our Farm to Table program

Last day to apply: January 29, 2007 For more info, see: http://www.idealist.org/en/job/201472-203  

 

Greenmarket Program Director, Council on the Environment of New York City, NY, NY

The full time position of Greenmarket Program Director requires solid experience in fiscal and staff management, the ability to deal with varied constituents and knowledge in agriculture and the retail marketing of food. The ideal candidate will be flexible and undaunted by multiple demands on time. A sense of humor, world class diplomacy and a passion for supporting sustainable, local agriculture are all needed. Last day to apply: December 20th 2006. For more info, see: http://www.idealist.org/en/job/201130-55

 

Administrative Manager, Sustainability Institute, Hartland, VT

Sustainability Institute, a non-profit research and consulting organization in Hartland VT, seeks candidates to fill a new full-time position of Administrative Manager. The Administrative Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day administrative operations of the Institute. These include providing support to the staff of eleven, management and maintenance of the physical office and office systems, IT and website maintenance and handling other administrative matters as requested. Last day to apply: December 20, 2006 For more info, see: http://www.idealist.org/en/job/197668-227

 

Development Director, Farm & Wilderness Foundation, Plymouth, VT

Set on a beautiful 500 acre campus in the Green Mountains of Vermont, the Farm & Wilderness Foundation (F&W) is a non-profit, educational organization operated by a board of trustees which, since 1973. As a member of the senior management team working closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors, the Development Director has primary responsibility for the creation and implementation of an integrated program of fundraising that supports and enhances the mission of the Farm & Wilderness Foundation. Last day to apply: December 11, 2006 For more info, see: http://www.idealist.org/en/job/196193-41 

 

Managing Editor, Web, Oxfam America, Boston, MA

ROXfam seeks a web editor responsible for strategic and editorial oversight of Oxfam America’s portfolio of web sites. The selected candidate will oversee the production and coordination of all Web material for Oxfam America. This includes: establishing and maintaining the editorial calendar; editing and publishing content within the Plone content management system.  Last day to apply: December 15, 2006 For more info, see: http://www.idealist.org/en/job/198234-119

 

MULTIPLE JOB OPENINGS, THE FOOD TRUST, PHILADELPHIA, PA

The Food Trust is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization improving the supply of affordable food and good nutrition in the mid-Atlantic region. The mission of The Food Trust is to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, nutritious food. For more info, see: http://www.thefoodtrust.org/php/about/jobs.php

 

MULTIPLE JOB OPENINGS, THE FOOD PROJECT, MA

The Food Project operating from Lincoln and Roxbury Massachusetts is seeking to fill several full-time positions including “Major Gifts Officer”.  For more info, see: http://www.thefoodproject.org/about/internal1.asp?ID=151

 

MULTIPLE JOB OPENINGS, FOODCHANGE, NEW YORK, NY

FoodChange (formerly known as the Community Food Resource Center) is dedicated to helping low-income New Yorkers gain and maintain access to nutritious food, income support and decent housing. For more info, see: http://www.foodchange.org/employment/employment.html

 

Northeast SARE Farmer Grants

The goal of the Farmer grant program is to develop, refine, and demonstrate new sustainable techniques and to explore innovative ideas developed by farmers across the region. To apply, you must be a farmer in the Northeast SARE region. The region is made up of Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Due date: December 22, 2006 For more info, see: http://www.uvm.edu/%7Enesare/FGinfo.html

 

Northeastern IPM Center Partnership Grants

The Northeastern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center is pleased to announce the availability of funding through its IPM Partnership Grants Program for 2007. Approximately $465,000 is available to support projects that will address or develop regional IPM priorities and will further the mission of the Northeastern IPM Center. The Center is seeking applications for six project types: (1) IPM Working Groups (2) IPM Priorities (3) Regional IPM Publications (4) IPM Planning and Assessment Documents (Tactics Surveys, Crop Profiles, Pest Management Strategic Plans [PMSPs], and IPM Guidelines) (5) State Network Projects (6) IPM Minigrants. Due date: December 15, 2006  http://northeastipm.org/abou_fund.cfm

 

New Hampshire Agricultural Promotion Mini-Grant Program

The Agricultural Promotion Mini-Grant Program offers matching grants of up to $1,000 to organizations that wish to conduct a project focused on promoting New Hampshire agriculture. Organizations or commodity groups involved in production, marketing or promotion of New Hampshire agricultural products are eligible to apply. Due date: January 15, 2007  For more info, see:  http://www.nh.gov/agric/programs/index.htm

 

National Research Initiative—Agricultural Prosperity for Small and Medium-Sized Farms

The purpose of this program is to foster interdisciplinary studies to improve our understanding of the interactions between the economic and environmental components important to the long-term viability, competitiveness and efficiency of small and medium-sized farms. Institutions of higher education, local governments, and nonprofits are among those eligible to apply. Total program funding is $5 million, with awards up to $500,000 possible. Due date: February 14, 2007 For more info, see: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1200

 

 

+*~*+~*~!~+*~+*~+*~+~++*~*+~*~!~+*~+*~+*~+~++*~*+~*~!~+*~+*~+*~+~++*~*+~

 

Potluck is a monthly e-newsletter sponsored by the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG) and is supported in part by the Lawson Valentine Foundation and the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation.  It is distributed via NEFOOD-L, the listserv for sustainable food systems in the Northeast generously hosted by Tufts University.  In case you know of someone who you think would be interested in receiving Potluck, please invite them to subscribe to NEFOOD-L by going here: https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/info/nefood