Project Summary:

The purpose of this project is to nurture and expand the emerging community-based agriculture and food system in Missouri by coordinating a network of farmers, processors, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants and consumers in Kansas City, Mid-Missouri and St. Louis. The project addresses the three key aspects of marketing that make or break sustainable businesses: place, product and promotion. Project staff also consider policy to be a crucial aspect. Therefore, there are four major outcomes toward which progress is being made.

This website has been constructed by the project evaluation team to share progress towards outcomes. Evaluative updates are presented using the four programmatic themes product, place, promotion and policy (click the links in the header above). Last year a series of focus groups were conducted arranged into three panels. These reports summarize the nature of the relationships the program has established. An outgrowth of the panel discussions, this year three case studies were conducted to describe qualitatively the impact of the program.

Intended outcomes of the project:

• Locally produced food is available in greater volume and variety throughout Missouri because thriving, entrepreneurial businesses, including processors, distributors, grocers, chefs and food services, feature locally produced food products.
• Farmers have increased the economic viability and diversity of their farming operations and understand that the development of local food systems represents an economic opportunity for the future of their operation.
• Demand for sustainably produced local food in Kansas City, St. Louis and Mid-Missouri has risen because there is increased knowledge of the benefits of locally produced food among the general public as well as increased access for limited resource eaters.
• There is state and federal financial support for and policies that encourage local food systems development, planning and capacity building because Missouri citizens and policy-makers understand the benefits of locally produced foods.

Logic Models (PDF format)