Minnesota - 7th District                         http://collinpeterson.house.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2006    CONTACT: Allison Myhre/218-731-1657

 Peterson to sponsor February conference on using Foods from Local Farms as an Economic Development Tool

(WASHINGTON, DC) - In an effort to address and explore how local foods can be an economic development engine for rural communities, Congressman Collin Peterson announced today that he is sponsoring a conference called The Home Grown Economy: Foods from Local Farms as an Economic Development Tool.

"We're seeing a demand for more locally grown foods available in grocery stores, and also for consumption in restaurants, schools and hospitals," Peterson said.  "There are opportunities to keep our local economy strong by using farmers to supply their neighbors with food direct.  Localized supply chains, or new value chains, can provide opportunities for profit for rural entrepreneurs and main street businesses that want to participate in processing and distribution of food.  My goal in sponsoring this conference is to provide an opportunity to learn about and explore how these new value chains can become an economic development engine for our communities."

The conference will be held on February 26, at the University of Minnesota, Morris, and is being held in conjunction with the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Institute of Sustainable Agriculture, Northwest and West Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, U of M Morris, U of M Extension Service, and the West Central Research and Outreach Center.

For more information about the conference, or to register, go to <http://www.regionalpartnerships.umn.edu/>www.regionalpartnerships.umn.edu

Minnesota - 7th District                        http://collinpeterson.house.gov

Peterson's Foods from Local Farms as an Economic Development Tool conference rescheduled

(WASHINGTON, DC) - After winter weather forced postponement, Congressman Collin Peterson announced that The Home Grown Economy: Foods from Local Farms as an Economic Development Tool conference has been rescheduled for Monday, April 2, 2007.

The conference will now be held on April 2, at the University of Minnesota, Morris, and is being held in conjunction with the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Institute of Sustainable Agriculture, Northwest and West Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, U of M Morris, U of M Extension Service, and the West Central Research and Outreach Center.

There is a limited amount of space left, and registrations will be taken online at <http://www.regionalpartnerships.umn.edu/>www.regionalpartnerships.umn.edu .

"We're seeing a demand for more locally grown foods available in grocery stores, and also for consumption in restaurants, schools and hospitals," Peterson said.  "There are opportunities to keep our local economy strong by using farmers to supply their neighbors with food directly.

"Localized supply chains, or new value chains, can provide opportunities for profit for rural entrepreneurs and main street businesses that want to participate in processing and distribution of food.  My goal in sponsoring this conference is to provide an opportunity to learn about and explore how these new value chains can become an economic development engine for our communities."