Convener: Eric Benfeldt
Scribe: Tom Domonoske Clementines A 11:45:00
Clementine: Benjamin Craig, Charles Strickler, Zenaida Hall, Tom Domonoske, Eric Benfeldt, Curtis Lambert, Diana Woodall, Jonathan Garber
Everyone introduced theirself and explained why they were interested in this topic.
Eric B then explained the type of work being done by extenstion agents and the importance of agriculture and how to attract farmers to the area- the Shenandoah Valley Local Food and Farm group meets monthly (next meeting Thursday, 25th at 9:00 am at Eric Benfeldt’s Virginia Cooperative Extension office at 2322 Bluestone Hills Drive, Suite 140) and discusses idea like flash freezing and discussed how to get a prototype here.
Curtis talked about BALLE- Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, developed building blocks for various local networks, like green building, and farm to institution processes and is working with the Wallace Foundation that makes funding available for different local food production.
A discussion occurred about local dairy and organic dairy farms and the problem of supporting organic dairy farms beyond the small size.
Jonathan is a ninth generation farmer who used his family’s knowledge to get started on the farming. Now uses Craigs List to distribute products but started doing word of mouth. One of the problems is how to stay organic while scaling up to the size to feed NoVa, and also find ways to break into markets at a lower price point.
Jonathan talked about problems of distributing product to other areas.
Zenaida stated that Tourism just responded to a proposal to bring Jenny Bristow- a North Ireland celebrity regarding buying local and setting up community events about what is being grown locally. She talked about how agriculture creates a sense of place. This effort has pulled in Joshua Wilton House and its committment to buying local.
Talked about how to organize farmers into a market that works both for individual buyers and institutional buyers.
From a tourism aspect, Zenaida talked about having more choices to answer the question “where can I go to eat at a place serving local food”
Jonathan talked about the price being determinative in the market place.
Charlie Strickler pointed out that the way to do that is put the actual price off the carbon footprint into the mechanized production and transportation demands of our current system.
Zaniada: the tourism office can promote agri-tourism
Eric:Try to create more discussion among people who can pull together the different people involved in growing/distributing local agriculture.
Jonathan: Contact local elected officials about the Shenandoah Valley Partnership and to fund it and expand it.
Charlie: Educate self about cap and dividend and support it so that the true cost of products
