SUPPORTING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS

2021 Farm to University: Equitable Pathways Webinar

The Farm to University: Equitable Pathways Webinar was held on February 2, 2021. 131 people registered for the event, with over 75 attending in person. Virginia universities are seeking to increase the sustainability of their food supply chain and to broaden their supply chain to Virginia’s farmers, with a specific interest in creating access for Virginia’s Black and Brown farmers. It is understood that this is a long-term proposition and that achieving these systemic changes will require a long-term effort and commitment. The hope for the webinar was to build understanding across silos about the challenges associated with expanding Virginia’s university food supply chain to Virginia farmers. Additionally, the webinar aimed to discuss and identify specific pathways for beginning the long-term process of building a more Virginia-based and diverse university supply chain that also reflects equitable access for Virginia’s Black and Brown farmers.

The written report can be found here.

You can watch a recording of the webinar by visiting this link. If you attended the live webinar or watch the recording, we would greatly appreciate you taking a moment to complete this brief survey about your experience. Share your email address in the survey questions if you would like to be included in the Virginia Farm to University working group meetings.
 

2020 Farm to University Forum
​The Farm to University Forum was held on Friday, January 24, 2020 at the University of Virginia (UVA) Morven Farm in Albemarle County. It was sponsored by the SFC, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and UVA Dining. Virginia Cooperative Extension’s participation was supported by a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Local Food Promotion Program grant to facilitate and enhance value chain connections across Virginia. The Forum was attended by 66 participants representing a range of interests, including university dining services, local food distributors, state agencies, support organizations, university sustainability offices, and university faculty and students.
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Forum Goal: How can Virginia Universities Better Support Virginia’s Food and Agriculture Economy? 

Specific Questions the Forum Addressed: 

• How can we facilitate university procurement of Virginia-produced foods?
• How can we increase procurement of Virginia-produced foods from SWaM-certified businesses?
• How can university dining operations achieve economies of scale?

Read the forum report here.