The Ohio Local Food Systems Collaborative (OLFSC)

This project is a collaboration among the many individuals and organizations involved with producing, processing, distributing, retailing food within localities and regions.  The project was the outcome of the first annual Stinner Summit, a gathering with the goal of choosing one project to which all participants can contribute, one that will build healthy agroecosystems and sustainable communities.

The first step in the project was the Leap into Local Foods workshop was held on February 29^, 2008 at the Ohio Department of Agriculture.   At the workshop, working groups were formed around needed areas for building local food system infrastructure and the OLFSC networking site was launched to keep the working groups together.  Within months following the workshop the number of working groups and subscribers doubled.  The Ohio Food Policy Council and its four task forces have used the site for communications and networking.

A USDA Regional Partnerships for Innovation grant was awarded in September to intensify the networking in Ohio and expand the network to Pennsylvania and Michigan, focusing the networking on pilot projects with collaborators in all three states.  

Contact Casey Hoy, hoy.1@osu.edu, or Steve Bosserman, steve.bosserman@gmail.com for more information.