BELMONT – More than 85 local leaders, urban and rural residents, farmers, organizations and community representatives gathered on Earth Day to share information and build efforts to expand the region’s local food markets.

The first ever Southwest Wisconsin Local Food Summit, held April 22 in Belmont, Wis., provided an outstanding opportunity for local residents to provide a voice in building networks for the growing demand for locally-produced food.

The event was sponsored by Local Fare and made possible through UW-Extension’s Continuing EDvantage Grant and was a project of the UW-Platteville Office of Continuing Education.

“We were extremely pleased with the record turnout and diversity of participants,” said Rink DaVee, Local Fare Coordinator.

Keynote speakers and activities included:

·         Ron Doetch, Executive Director of Michael Fields Institute in East Troy, Wis.: "Scaling Up Sustainable Midwest Food and Farming Systems."

·         Dick Cates, Cates Family Farm, Spring Green, Wis.: "Local Food: Cultivating a Circle of Hope."

·         Local Foods Distribution Panel featuring a local grocery store owner, local chef, a representative from a grass-roots institutional buying program, a local farmer involved in community supported agriculture and research presented on selling local food to large grocery stores.

·         World Café interactive afternoon session facilitated by Carol Roth, followed by an opportunity to network with others and complete neighborhood action plans.

For more information, visit http://www.uwplatt.edu/cont_ed/LocalFare/.

Click here for a photo gallery of the event on www.platteville.org.