ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 12, 2009

LOCAL FOODS EXPERT TO ADDRESS CONFERENCE

BISMARCK – A recognized authority on local foods will be the main speaker at the sixth annual membership meeting of the North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association, Feb. 19-20, at the Gladstone Inn and Conference Center in Jamestown.

Ken Meter, president of the Minneapolis-based Crossroads Resources Center, directs the proposal review process for USDA Community Food Projects. His “Finding Food in Farm Country” studies have promoted local food networks in 45 regions in 20 states.

Meter taught economics at the University of Minnesota, and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He also directed the public input and indicators selection process for the city of Minneapolis Sustainability Initiative. His latest publication, “Mapping the Minnesota Food Industry” is available at www.crcworks.org/mnfood.pdf.

Held in conjunction with the second local foods conference, the NDFMGA annual meeting will be two days of workshops, networking and learning opportunities for people interested in growing more, or eating more locally grown vegetables and fruits.

Registration for the conference is $25. For more information about the conference, the NDFMGA annual meeting or to register, please email sssinner@nd.gov or suebalcom@nd.gov or call the North Dakota Department of Agriculture at 800-242-7535. More information is available at www.twitter.com/GoingLocalND. Use #goinglocalnd in all tweets to find relevant posts.

A block of rooms has been reserved for this event. Call the Gladstone Inn at 701-252-0700 or register online at www.gladstoneinn.com.

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MEDIA: For more information, please contact Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov.