Sessions
March 22-23, 2007
Red Lion Colonial Inn
Helena, MT
The following topics illustrate the types of issues and discussions that small groups will have the opportunity to explore during Working Group Session 1 at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, March 23, the second day of the Governor’s Food and Agriculture Summit.
With the help of facilitators, each group will work to identify three to five actions that lead to strategies for developing Montana’s food system.
Food Production
- Research
- Training
- Financial security
- Incentives
Food Processing
- Sustainability
- High-quality product supply
- Support for small producers
- Job creating and training
Food Distribution
- Coordination of resources
- Transport incentives
Institutional Food Markets
- Consistent supply
- Packaging
- Pricing
Barriers to Affordability of Food
- Changing policies and systems that have led to the depletion of family income
Public Food Programs
- Maximizing participation to increase access to food, reduce hunger and food insecurity, and benefit agricultural programs
Retail and Wholesale
- Product quality and consistency
- Affordable transport
- Pricing
- In-state and out-of-state demand
- Integration with local production and processing
Private-Public Partnerships
- Roles in improving the Montana food supply
Rural Access to Montana-Grown Food
- Unique aspects and barriers of rural-distribution
- Cost and affordability of locally grown food for low-income populations
Public Health and the Montana Food System
- Obesity and nutrition related chronic disease – how are enhanced access to local foods part of the solution?
- Link between food insecurity and obesity?
