Farm to Institution Midwest Summit

The Farm to Institution Midwest Summit will take place February 28 – March 2, 2022, featuring online sessions and in-person events to highlight how institutional investment in local food procurement strengthens communities. Registration is free and all are encouraged to join these highly relevant conversations about the importance of robust regional food systems. Sessions will be of particular interest to students, local community, government, and higher education leaders, and food producers. Register online: bit.ly/registerF2iM

Summit sessions will feature presentations and discussions about campus farms, how to inspire future generations through school gardens, local food and community resilience, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Presenters include experts from Ohio University, Butler University, Federal Hocking School District, Prescott College, and Midwest Food Connection in Minnesota. Please visit the Farm to Institution Midwest Summit webpage for registration, presenter biographies, and session descriptions: bit.ly/F2iOHIO.

The summit is a project of the Farm to OHIO Working Group (FOWG), which has been working to strengthen our regional food systems through institutional procurement of locally grown food, engaging community partners, and developing our regional food network since launching the Initiative for Appalachian Food and Culture in 2016. Through close collaboration between Ohio University, Rural Action, and Community Food Initiatives, the FOWG has reduced many barriers to institutional purchasing of locally grown produce and has increased equitable access to local food on campus.

Institutional investment in local food is a critical part of building community resilience for many reasons, one key reason being the number of individuals an institution serves. Institutions have the power to offer considerable financial support for local food producers, potentially inspiring future farmers while simultaneously influencing future consumers of local food, ultimately creating systems-level change for our community. When we choose local food, we choose to support systems that are equitable and just for all community members, good for our planet, and supportive of local businesses and jobs.

All are encouraged to attend. Please register online before February 28: https://bit.ly/registerF2iM
Email [email protected] with any questions.