Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin

1
Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin
Planting Seeds for Our Future Conference March
26, 2007
2
Background

• Grassroots industry working group of over 70
  individuals
• December, 2005 convened a gathering to
• Explore creating a broad-based program to
  encourage consumers/businesses to buy WI
• Better promote WI foods
• Create and instill loyalty among WI consumers.

3
Buy Local Momentum

• Fast growing, economically, socially culturally
  important opportunity.
• Positively impacts farmers, communities, consumer
  nutrition, environment and WIs economy.
• Secure position as top producer of diverse, high
  quality food products.
• Large interest dedication from producers
  grassroots organizations throughout WI.

4
Changing Consumer Behavior

• Consumers want to buy into products and brands
  that foster and support the lifestyle-oriented
  communities they value. Buying local gives them
  the direct link to extend and expand into their
  own community, empowering them and giving them
  the sense of belonging.

Source Hartman Group. Hartman-group.com.
Is buying local the real deal?
5
Increased Food Buyer Interest

• Chefs drive trends
• NRA survey of chefs seek locally grown produce
• WI Grocers Association interest
• Universities/Schools
• Hospitals

Restaurant.org NRA survey of chefs reveals top
food trends heating up restaurant. January 12,
2007.
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Local Food Hurdles

• Limited small or batch processing facilities.
• Limited USDA meat processing facilities.
• Barriers to institutional and state buying
  systems.
• Need for consolidated information on marketing,
  processing, distribution and business start up
  information.
• Need for producer marketing training/assistance.
• Challenges connecting food buyers with producers
  to source local food.
• Limited centralized information that connects
  Wisconsin travelers with agriculturally related
  travel destinations.

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Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin

• Create a comprehensive and systematic approach to
  support the increased availability and demand for
  locally grown foods.

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Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin

1. Food Culture Tourism Trails
2. Regional Food System Development

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Food Culture Trails

• Grass roots creation of eight trails
• Bridge food culture to create new tourism
  experience
• Holistic/authentic experience connection to
  land, producers, product
• New revenue stream for producers
• State frame for development, branding, quality
  control
• -- Tool box -- Grants over three years
• -- Technical support -- Tie-in with Dept of
  Tourism program

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Regional Food System Development

• Support grassroots initiatives that reduce
  marketing, processing and/or distribution
  hurdles.
• Link food assets to strengthen local food
  economies
• Technical Assistance to help producers
  organizations collectively work to overcome local
  food hurdles.
• State policy development implementation
• Competitive grants
• Farmers, local businesses, nonprofits and others
• Projects that expand regional food markets and
  promote Wisconsins agriculture.

11
Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Goals

• Shift 10 of food spending to locally produced
  products
• Retain and re-circulate dollars in Wisconsins
  regional food economies
• Expand food markets and increase profits for
  producers.
• Invest in farming and rural communities to
  address barriers to regional food markets and
  meet consumer demands for fresh, Wisconsin
  produced food.

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Bill Status

• Sen. Lassa Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Bill
  announced Jan 4, 2007 at Local Food Summit.
• Co-sponsors 31, bi-partisan supporters
• Critical Date March, 28th Senate Economic
  Development Committee Hearing
• Next Steps