Food Systems Archives - Pasa Sustainable Agriculture https://pasafarming.org/topic_area/food-systems/ Mon, 08 May 2023 22:09:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Circular Success Story: How Philly Restaurants Won the Right to Reuse https://pasafarming.org/resources/circular-success-story-how-philly-restaurants-won-the-right-to-reuse/ Tue, 25 Oct 2022 14:33:59 +0000 https://pasafarming.org/?post_type=resources&p=16989 Learn how a circular economy advocacy group, a zero-waste design firm, and a local restaurant teamed up to convince the City of Philadelphia that takeout customers deserve an alternative to single-use to-go containers.

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About this listening session:

Learn how a circular economy advocacy group, a zero-waste design firm, and a local restaurant teamed up to convince the City of Philadelphia that takeout customers deserve an alternative to single-use to-go containers. At the height of the pandemic, many people were ordering takeout to support their favorite local restaurants, but to-go containers were stacking up.

Find out how these groups worked together to change minds—and policy—in just a few short months!

Recorded October 14, 2022


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Digging into the Science of Nutrient Density https://pasafarming.org/resources/digging-into-the-science-of-nutrient-density/ Tue, 16 Aug 2022 19:26:35 +0000 https://pasafarming.org/?post_type=resources&p=15850 The concept of nutrient-dense food has been growing in popularity for decades, but how do we actually define and quantify it?

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About this webinar:

Whether you grow food, sell it, cook it, or just eat it—we all have a stake in gaining a deeper understanding of the links between soil health, plant health, and human health.

The concept of nutrient-dense food has been growing in popularity for decades, but how do we actually define and quantify it? During this webinar, we explore the science behind on crop nutrient density, including how it can be measured, what new research is uncovering, and what we still need to learn. We examine how factors like growing climate, management practices, and variety have the potential to broadly impact nutrient density.

The Bionutrient Food Association founder and life-long farmer Dan Kittredge and co-founder of OurSci Dan TerAvest have been studying samples from farms across the country to help us better understand connections between the way food is grown and its nutrient content. Pasa partners with The Bionutrient Institute and OurSci to measure the nutrient content of crops grown by several farmers participating in our Soil Health Benchmark Study. Farmer Steve Groff of Cedar Meadow Farm shares insights he’s gained from participating in this study.

Recorded July 27, 2022


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Listening Session: How Can We Help Schools Address Food Insecurity? https://pasafarming.org/resources/listening-session-how-can-we-help-schools-address-food-insecurity/ Tue, 14 Jun 2022 18:13:42 +0000 https://pasafarming.org/?post_type=resources&p=15170 One out of every six children in Pennsylvania faces hunger. USDA child nutrition waivers are expiring. How can we protect and support vital school and community meal programs today?

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About this listening session:

One out of every six children in Pennsylvania faces hunger. USDA child nutrition waivers are expiring. How can we protect and support vital school and community meal programs today?

Tune in for this important conversation with a panel of representatives from Feeding PA, School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Farm to School Network, and the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture and Education. We discuss how we might improve and expand on existing programs, as well as what potential new solutions could help address food insecurity through the school system.

We also discuss the crucial role that farms play in supporting school nutrition programs, and what can be done to reduce the obstacles to getting fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to kids in our communities.

Recorded June 10, 2022


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Agriculture and Local Food Economies in the Appalachian Region https://pasafarming.org/resources/agriculture-and-local-food-economies-in-the-appalachian-region/ Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:04:45 +0000 https://pasafarming.org/?post_type=resources&p=14036 A new report from the Appalachian Regional Commission examines recent agricultural and food systems trends and emerging opportunities in the region, including Pasa's apprenticeship programs.

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A new report from the Appalachian Regional Commission examines agricultural activity and local food systems throughout the region. Based largely on data from the Census of Agriculture, it provides a quantitative overview of activity taking place within Appalachia—how it compares to the United States as a whole, as well as the variation with the region. This research also includes overviews and case studies related to seven emerging opportunities in the sector, including Pasa’s apprenticeship programs, information that will prove useful to those who are interested in strengthening the region’s local food systems.

 

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Impact of COVID-19 on Pennsylvania farm revenue https://pasafarming.org/resources/impact-of-covid-19-on-pennsylvania-farm-revenue/ Mon, 14 Mar 2022 17:24:53 +0000 https://pasafarming.org/?post_type=resources&p=13639 Looking back at the 2020 season with the help of 300 farmers.

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Initial forecasts predicted severe financial losses for small and midsized farmers as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted usual market channels nationwide. Early reports both confirmed and challenged these fears, as some farmers could not find new markets while others established or expanded their direct-to-consumer sales to replace their lost outlets. To understand the impact of the pandemic on Pennsylvania farmers across the entire 2020 growing season, we partnered with Chatham University to survey farmers and performed interviews with a subset of these farmers.

Over 300 farmers were surveyed. Just under half the farmers (42%) reported a loss of revenue, while over half (58%) reported either no change or an increase in revenue in 2020. Findings from the study were published in the Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development.

Download the article for a breakdown of the numbers and an analysis of the data. 

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Can Direct-Market Vegetable Farmers Make a Middle-Class Income? https://pasafarming.org/resources/can-direct-market-vegetable-farmers-make-a-middle-class-income/ Mon, 18 Oct 2021 19:01:03 +0000 https://pasafarming.org/?post_type=resources&p=12185 We review top findings from our new report, Financial Benchmarks for Direct-Market Vegetable Farms, and share three strategies farms can use to boost financial success.

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About this webinar:

Vegetable farms that sell their produce through farmers markets, CSA programs, on-farm stores, and other direct-market channels are the foundation of local food movements everywhere. Yet there is surprisingly little information available to help answer a basic question: Can farmers make a middle-class income selling vegetables through direct-market outlets? We launched an ongoing study in 2017 to help fill this critical gap in information and offer insights that could help vegetable farmers start and grow their businesses. Our new report, Financial Benchmarks for Direct-Market Vegetable Farms, offers the most comprehensive review of direct-market vegetable farm businesses to date, sharing detailed financial benchmarks from 39 farms collected over three years.

During this webinar, we review our findings and answer your questions. We also share three strategies farms can use to boost financial success and explain how direct-market vegetable farmers can participate in this vital ongoing project.

Recorded October 5, 2021


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