Local agriculture supplies a safe, secure and reliable regional food system.

The second annual Local Food Connection took place at Lane Community College on February 4th. This direct marketing event provides opportunities for rural farmers and fishermen to connect with urban food buyers both large and small. The event was very successful and over 163 people attended — that is a 55% increase in participants compared to last year. The third annual Local Food Connection will take place on February 2, 2009.

Direct marketing depends upon relationships, and that theme was reiterated throughout the day during the keynote address, at lunch, and during workshop discussions. David Yudkin, Co-owner of HOTLIPS Pizza in Portland delivered the keynote address. He highlighted the importance of incorporating sustainability into one’s business practices. Then a panel of farmers and chefs discussed how to create successful relationships. Lunch featured an incredible buffet featuring vegetables, meats, and fish provided by local farmers and fishers. In the afternoon, the workshops were host to lively conversations and the workshop notes can be found by clicking on the this link for the proceedings.

The dating game is another popular feature of the Local Food Connection. This exercise allows buyers and sellers to discuss potential business opportunities with one another. After the dating game ends, the farmers and buyers provide information that allows us to measure the impact of direct market sales. At the Local Food Connection, twenty- four out of twenty-five farms stated that they discussed potential sales with an average of 4 buyers. Every farmer met at least two potential buyers, and one farmer met seven. Thirty-two out of thirty-three buyers met an average of six farmers and fishers at the event. One buyer didn’t meet any vegetable producers; however, this person connected with four fishers. In addition, fourteen buyers made contacts with the four fishers who attended the Local Food Connection.

We appreciate the organizations that sponsored the second annual Local Food Connection: Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation and Development, Eugene Water & Electric Board, Lane Community College, Oregon Tilth, Oregon State University Extension—Small Farms Program, USDA/CSREES, and Western Center for Risk Management Education.