Browsing by Author "Benson, Matthew C."
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- Cultivating Virginia Farm-to-School: Growing from GrassrootsBenson, Matthew C.; Bendfeldt, Eric S. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2010-03-18)A publication that describes the farm to school program which connects schools (K-12)and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local and regional farmers.
- An Evaluation of Program, Training, and Resource Needs of Virginia Beginning Farmers and Ranchers: Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition ProgramBenson, Matthew C.; Niewolny, Kimberly L.; Rudd, Rick D. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2014-04-08)With funding from the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program in fall 2010, the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program aims to meet the expressed needs of Virginia's beginning farmers and support the development of social networks through which they can gain vital skills, information, technical assistance, and business capacity for long-term agricultural viability.
- Surveying agrifood stakeholders to identify priorities as part of a Virginia food system assessmentBenson, Matthew C.; Hightower, Lisa S.; Bendfeldt, Eric S.; Tyler-Mackey, Crystal; Niewolny, Kimberly L.; Groover, Gordon E. (2012)Throughout Virginia there are a multitude of social, environmental, and economic challenges facing farmers and communities. In 2010 and 2011, an interdisciplinary team of faculty, practitioners, and graduate students collaborated to address these challenges through the creation of the Virginia Farm to Table Plan. As part of the plan, the team completed a comprehensive food system assessment. Comprehensive food system assessments use qualitative and quantitative methodologies to analyze the systematic nature of a local, state, or regional food system to address the interactions of food with social, environmental, and economic concerns. The overall purpose of this article is to present the results of an online survey of Virginia agrifood system stakeholders that investigated their priorities for strengthening Virginia's local and regional food systems. A total of 1,134 Virginia respondents completed the online survey. Respondents were asked to rank 34 items in four major categories in terms of their level of importance for strengthening Virginia's food systems. Respondents rated increasing the "understanding by government officials of the economic, environmental, and social issues surrounding local food systems" as the most important priority among all of the items listed. The category with the most highly rated items was "food system planning, management, and policy." This survey provided key information for developing the Virginia Farm to Table Plan.
- Virginia Farm to School Resource Guide: Helping Connect Virginia Foods to Virginia SchoolsBenson, Matthew C.; Niewolny, Kimberly L. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2018-09-06)This document includes information, resources and advice that can help start and/or expand a Farm to School initiative in Virginia communities.
- Virginia Farm to School Resource Guide: Helping Connect Virginia Foods to Virginia SchoolsBenson, Matthew C.; Niewolny, Kimberly L. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2013-08-22)This Virginia Farm to School Resource Guide is designed to help cultivate connections between the many diverse stakeholders that support the Virginia Farm to School Program. This guide is intended to help facilitate locally and regionally-grown Virginia foods to school cafeterias and school-based meal programs. It contains research-based information, resources, and advice that can help start or expand a Farm to School initiative in your community.
- Virginia Farm to Table. Appendix FBenson, Matthew C.; Bendfeldt, Eric S. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2012-10-31)An appendix table that describes what the annual community food dollars generated would be if each household in Virginia spent $10/week of their total food budget on fresh local food and farm-based Virginia products.
- Virginia Farm to Table. Healthy Farms and Healthy Food for the Common Wealth and Common GoodBendfeldt, Eric S.; Tyler-Mackey, Crystal; Benson, Matthew C.; Hightower, Lisa S.; Niewolny, Kimberly L. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2018-08-29)Discusses the importance of identifying issues facing farmers and communities in Virginia, and suggest how these issues can be addressed to strengthen Virginia's overall food system.
- Virginia Farm to Table: Healthy Farms and Healthy Food for the Common Wealth and Common Good(Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2012-02-14)A strategic plan for strengthening Virginia's food system and economic future. The plan's objective is to identify issues facing farmers and communities across the state and to suggest how those can be addressed to strengthen Virginia's overall food system. Recommendations were developed and distilled from research and information gathered over a 15-month period by the Va Farm to Table Team and the Va Food System Council.