Open Call For Papers - The Essential Principles of Small- and Mid-Scale Food Value Chain Development

The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development announces
Two SPECIAL TOPIC Calls for Papers

The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development is the only international, online, peer-reviewed journal focused on the practice and applied research interests of agriculture and food systems development professionals and scholars. For details about JAFSCD (ISSN 2152-0801 online, quarterly) and author guidelines, visit www.AgDevJournal.com/submissions. Use our query form to submit a paper or concept for a paper.

The Journal welcomes articles at any time on any subject related to the development aspects of agriculture and food systems. Content can focus on:
• conservation and farmland protection
• value-adding
• cooperative marketing
• value chains
• distribution
• farm labor
• market research
• consumer decision‐making drivers, or
• other topics.

Upcoming calls for manuscripts:

The Essential Principles of Small- and Mid-Scale Food Value Chain
Development

Manuscripts are due
February 15, 2011

Food value chains (FVCs) are a hot topic among agriculture and food systems development professionals. In FVCs, farmers and ranchers are treated as strategic partners, not as interchangeable — and exploitable — input suppliers. Values-based food supply chains (value chains) are strategic alliances between farms, ranches, and other supply-chain partners who distribute rewards equitably across the supply chain. They can include farm-to-institutions (schools, hospitals, prisons), multiproducer processors and wholesalers, multifarm CSAs, food hubs, food webs and networks, and the like. All partners in these business alliances recognize that creating maximum value for the product depends on significant interdependence, collaboration, and mutual support. [1]

Papers can explore specific components within a chain (a farmer co-op or association), interactions of two or more links in a chain (farmers, wholesalers, processors, retailers, and eaters), or an entire chain. Examples include:
• Case studies of successful or failed FVC programs
• Research and education strategies that help build resilient FVCs
• How are FVCs playing a role in rural development?
• The role of FVCs in increasingly multifunctional rural landscapes
• Systematic analyses of key differences between FVCs and traditional food supply chains
• Local and global FVCs: influence of globalization on FVCs; should these be accepted or mediated?
• Overview analysis of the values chain sector (comparisons or outcomes across many cases)
• Implications of new food safety legislation on values chains
• Storage and transportation logistics
• Branding and geographical identity
• Performance and impact analysis
• Scaling up
• Building trust and transparency
• Business planning and/or record-keeping
[1] Adapted with permission from Stevenson, G. W., & Pirog, R. (2008). Values-based supply chains: Strategies for agrifood enterprises of the middle. In T. Lyson, G. W. Stevenson, & R. Welsh (Eds.), Food and the mid-level farm: Renewing an agriculture of the middle. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

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Food System Planning Theory and Practice

Manuscripts are due
April 20, 2011

Food Systems Planning is a nascent field in the planning profession. Until recently, planners have largely ignored the food production, distribution, and consumption sectors, considering them to be issues of the free market. However, bolstered by growing societal concerns about the equity and environmental sustainability of the global food system, planners are becoming increasingly engaged in local efforts to analyze and address food system challenges and opportunities.

In additional to planning professionals, food system planning is increasingly practiced by architects, landscape architects, and a growing number of nongovernmental organizations and public agencies. In this special topic focus, we encourage practicing planners and other professionals who are engaged in food system planning, as well as planning scholars and students, to submit applied research–based papers such as case studies, surveys, focus groups and the like as well as commentary and reflective essays on a wide range of topics.

Examples of topics include food deserts, swamps, and oases; siting of community gardens and public, farmers' and mobile markets,; development of food oases; innovations in emergency food assistance; retail access; regional planning and economic development related to farm and agribusiness retention and expansion; mapping of food distribution systems; farmland protection; metropolitan agriculture; food policy councils; or integrating food policy into state and federal agencies. As there is little attention paid to their work in the literature, rural planners are especially encouraged to submit manuscripts.

Vote Bloomington to win Tom's of Maine Grant!

The Bloomington Community Orchard won the Edy's grant, and we're at it again!

We now have a chance at a $20,000 grant from Tom’s of Maine to hire an intern, build an eco-friendly shed, create wheelchair-accessible pathways, buy tools, and plant lots more fruit trees.

Please vote for the Orchard once per day from Aug. 3 to Sept. 10 at http://www.tomsofmaine.com/community-involvement/living-well/finalists-overview/poll?id *Please note that if multiple people are voting from a single computer, you will need to vote from different browsers.*

Also, people can vote for us from anywhere in the world, so please spread this message far and wide!

Here's to fruit for all!

For other information about the Bloomington Community Orchard, contact Amy Countryman, 812-679-8261; or visit the website at www.bloomingtoncommunityorchard.org

Free Discussion on Organic Gardening with Daniel Atlas

Free Discussion on Organic Gardening with IU Alumni Daniel Atlas

On Monday, April 27, 2009, Daniel Atlas will be discussing the importance of organic gardening and local agriculture. The format is a meet and greet and will be at Finch's Brasserie, 514 E Kirkwood Ave, 5:30pm-8pm. The discussion will include the release of his debut book titled Gardening with SPROUTS: A How-To Guide to Organic Gardening and Design. The book is an 83 page, full-color instructional guide detailing information ranging from setting up a garden and planting seeds to harvesting crops, to treating and preventing common garden pests and diseases. The book is essentially gardening through the eyes of SPROUTS (Students PRoducing organics Under The Sun), a student organization and organic garden at the corner of 8th Street and Fess Ave on the Indiana University campus.

Daniel is a 2008 IU alumni who received degrees in an IMP titled "Sustainability, Awareness, and Community Development," and a second major in Religious Studies. He is a cofounder of the SPROUTS garden which was established in 2005.

Come celebrate this joyous occasion with Daniel and learn how to start your own garden too! There will be food, drinks, a raffle drawing, and a gift for those who purchase a book.
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For more information, please contact sprouts@indiana.edu. SPROUTS (Students Producing Organics Under The Sun) is a student organization and student garden at Indiana University. Their mission is to promote sustainably and locally grown produce and food literacy. *SPROUTS is looking for volunteers for the summer too.

If interested please email the contact above or come to one of our workdays which are every Saturday 11am-3pm.* Come learn how to garden with us!!
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Bale Out the Gardeners!

Yes, it would be quite fine if bale out monies would be given to communities instead of banks and car companies to establish community gardens and educational programs!

Local Food News Update

Local Food News - http://www.greendove.net/foodnews.htm, has been updated along with the list of Farmer's Markets listings for CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture). Our sister site, Indiana Holistic Health Network - http://www.indianaholistichealth.net has updated its food and gardening related pages.