Food Alliance is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable agriculture by recognizing and rewarding farmers who produce food in environmentally friendly and socially responsible ways, and by educating consumers and other stakeholders in the food system about the benefits of sustainable agriculture. By looking for the Food Alliance certification seal, consumers can choose and purchase foods from farms that are regional, environmentally friendly and socially responsible. Food Alliance is the only certification that combines these elements into one certification program.

Food Alliance Midwest (FAM) is a nonprofit program of the Land Stewardship Project and Cooperative Development Services, and is a regional affiliate of Food Alliance. Together, the two Food Alliance programs operate the most comprehensive third-party certification program in North America for sustainably produced food.

Food Alliance Midwest started in 2000 with 12 certified farms, 10 retail partners, and four certified foods. Today, FAM certifies more than 60 growers throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan and the Dakotas, with over 100 certified foods, including fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products. Food Alliance Midwest has many retail partners, including the majority of Twin Cities area co-op grocers, and works with major Midwestern distributors, including Bix Produce, H. Brooks and Co., Co-op Partners and Ron-Mar Foods.

Food Alliance Midwest is also collaborating with Sodexho USA to bring local, Food Alliance-certified foods to college campuses throughout the Midwest, from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to Carleton College. If you're a student or the parent of a college student, ask your college cafeteria to serve Food Alliance- certified foods.

Additional information can also be found on the Food Alliance Midwest website.

Help promote Sustainable Farming at the Minnesota State Fair Volunteer at the Food Alliance Midwest Information Booth! Food Alliance Midwest, a program of Land Stewardship Project and Cooperative Development Services, is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to staff an information booth in the Farmers Union building at the Minnesota State Fair. Your presence at the Food Alliance information booth is a very direct and interactive form of consumer education. By helping people identify and connect to farmers who use the Food Alliance certification seal, you help to promote their fine products, their environmental stewardship, and educate people about the benefits of sustainable agricultural practices. All volunteers will receive one free entry pass to the fair, an information packet about Food Alliance Midwest, and a map of the fairgrounds. While Food Alliance Midwest can cover the cost of your admission to the fair, you will be on your own for transportation to and from the fair (and for parking should you decide to drive). Contact Jill McLaughlin at 651-209-3382 or jill@foodalliance.org to let her know if you are available to help out.

What you can do:

·Have your farm certified. For more information on getting certified: http://www.foodalliance.org/certification/index.html or contact Bob Olson.

· Ask your grocer, local restaurants, or local institutions (hospitals, school, etc.) to carry Food Alliance Midwest certified foods. Alternately, ask them to carry or serve local, sustainably raised foods.

· Contact LSP's Metro office for a copy of the LSP's Stewardship Food Network list to identify sustainable farmers in your area.

· For further reading, see MWFA's Guiding Principles that all farmers share and Frequently Asked Questions.

 

Updates on the Food Alliance Midwest can also be found in the Land Stewardship Letter. See the following issues:

July/Aug/Sept 2004 - Food Alliance Midwest certified foods now available at a college near you (pdf document)

April/May/June 2004 - Food Alliance at work (pdf document)

Jan/Feb/Mar 2004 - Food Alliance: Helping tell the farmer's story; Food Alliance Midwest looking for more producers; Food Alliance Midwest marketplace partners (pdf document)

Dec 2003 - Bringing home the gold (pdf document)

January 2004 - Food Alliance Midwest Annual Meeting (press release)

Oct/Nov 2003 - Sodexho USA Partners with MWFA (pdf document)

July/Aug/Sept 2003 - Taste of Tuesday at the State Fair, It's certification time (pdf document)

April/May/June 2003 - MWFA partners with distributor, food service firm; Keynote speaker: Don't let MWFA become commodified (pdf document)

July/Aug/Sept 2002 - Great foods - great stewardship, easier than ever to find (pdf document)

March/April 2002 - MWFA holds 1st annual meeting

Jan/Feb 2002 - Food Alliance Midwest

Nov/Dec 2001 - What you see is what you get

Sept/Oct 2001 - Educating consumers one person at a time

July/August 2001 - Food Alliance Midwest blooms

January/February/March 2001 - Food Alliance Midwest label looking for sustainable farmers

December 2000 - Sustainable Seal of approval is looking for more farmers

November 2000 - Thanks to our MWFA grocery store volunteers

September/October 2000 - Food Alliance Midwest label launched in Minnesota

July/August 2000 - Sustainable food label inspection/certification system developed

April/May/June 2000 - It's fresh, but is it sustainable - commentary on frozen meats

For more information contact Bob Olson, Business Development Manager for Food Alliance Midwest, at bob@foodalliance.org or 651-265-3682.