2008 Essay Contest:
The Value of Locally Grown Food
Read the Winning Essays
Read more

Summer Newsletter
The summer edition of the Kerr Center newsletter, Field Notes, is now online. Check out info on upcoming events and updates on sustainable food and farming from around the state.
Read more

SARE 20/20: Celebrating Our First 20 Years, Envisioning the Next
Check out SARE's newest publication, SARE 20/20: Celebrating Our First 20 Years, Envisioning the Next. This special 20th anniversary edition chronicles 20 years of agricultural innovation – from SARE's beginning in 1988 to present-day stories of farmers, ranchers, researchers and educators working across America to develop and implement sustainable marketing and production practices. The publication is available free online, and print copies can be ordered from SARE.
More information

Interview with Farm to School Coordinator Chris Kirby
The Daily Oklahoman recently published a question-and-answer session with Chris Kirby, the Farm to School Coordinator at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.

Educational Resources for Teachers and Students
Learn about sustainably-grown local foods in Oklahoma— who is growing them, where to get them, why they are good for the environment.
Read more

Producer Nominations Sought for Southern SARE Administrative Council
The Administrative Council of the Southern Region SARE Program is seeking nominations for one producer representative. Self nominations are welcome. Nominees must be familiar with sustainable agriculture and its impact on the environment and rural communities. Nominees representing women in agriculture, minorities and farm laborers are
especially welcome.
For more information, contact Paige Patton.

Buy Fresh Buy Local - Green Country Farmers' Market Guide Now Available
The 2008 Buy Fresh Buy Local - Green Country Farmers' Market Guide is now available for download! The Green Country Farmers' Market Guide lists farmers' markets in the 18 counties that make up northeastern Oklahoma. Markets in the cities of Tulsa, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Collinsville, Owasso, Bartlesville, Sperry, Wagoner, Jenks, Stilwell, Tahlequah, Haskell and Claremore are represented. Each listing includes market start dates, times, and contacts.

Get your Green Country
Farmers' Market Guide now! (pdf)

"Hunger is Not OK" - Oklahoma Task Force on Hunger Report Now Available
"...with adequate political will and a focus on best practices, the state of Oklahoma and its diverse set of both public and private organizations can substantially reduce the state's level of food insecurity in the future. The findings of the Oklahoma Task Force on Hunger, detailed in this report, intend to offer sound direction for policymakers, agency officials, and representatives of the charitable community who aim to address Oklahoma's growing hunger problem."
Download report

Cooking with Kids Wins Innovation in Prevention Award
Cooking with Kids, a hands-on food and nutrition education program led by Kerr Center Trustee Lynn Walters, was chosen for an Innovation in Prevention Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The award recognizes Cooking with Kids' success in nurturing healthier eating habits among elementary school children from low-income families.

More information, including curriculum materials and free tasting lessons, are available on the Cooking with Kids website.
Press release Press release Press release

Oklahoma Farm-to-School Initiative Wins State and National Honors
The Farm-to-School Initiative of the Kerr Center and the Oklahoma Food Policy Council received the 2007 "Champion of Children's Health" award Oct. 8 at an awards banquet in Oklahoma City.
Read Press Release Read Newsletter Story

Assessing Organic Compliance for Small Farms and Markets
Small farmers, as well as the managers of the markets at which they sell, may find the USDA organic standards complicated and confusing. This new Kerr Center publication simplifies the process of determining whether an organic farming operation is in compliance with the USDA standards.
Assessing Organic Compliance (PDF)
In addition, check out these recently updated Kerr Center fact sheets for the latest on what's behind the organic label on food products.Organic Foods FAQ (PDF) Organic Production in Oklahoma (PDF)

New Report Available!
Closer to Home: Healthier Food, Farms and Families in Oklahoma
Closer to Home is a look at Oklahoma’s food system from farm to table; information on nutrition, health and food access along with information about agricultural production and marketing.

Read report

USDA Funds Oklahoma Local Foods Project
The USDA’s Community Food Projects program has awarded a three-year, $300,000 grant to “Cultivating Good Food for Good Health in Green Country.” This is a new project that will help to ensure that Oklahomans have convenient access to healthy and affordable Oklahoma-produced foods.
More information

Kerr Center to Lead Regional Farm-to-School Effort
Because of its success in establishing a farm-to-school program in Oklahoma, the Kerr Center has been chosen to be the lead agency for the Midwest (Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, North and South Dakota) in the new National Farm-to-School Network.
More information

Kerr Center RMA Projects: 2007 in Review
Check out the wide range of events and programming that the Kerr Center hosted this year in partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency.
More information

Oklahoma Flunking in Health—Can Farmers Help the State Make the Grade?
According to a major national health organization, Oklahoma gets an 'F' for its residents' obesity rates and poor diet and nutrition. But the state's own farms can supply more of the healthy foods that Oklahomans' diets are lacking.
Read more

Oklahoma Food Connection 2006 Online
The updated Oklahoma Food Connection: A Directory of Agricultural Producers, Crops and Institutional Buyers is online. In this directory, consumers can find locally grown foods and farmers can find institutions such as schools interested in buying locally.

More Information

New Edible School Garden Planning Guide Available Online
More info

Why is Farm-to-School Good for Oklahoma Farmers?
Oklahoma farmers could benefit from expanding the state's new farm-to-school program.

Read flyer (pdf)

Rx for an Ailing Food System: Community Food Security
"What's needed are ways to move the food system from its current code-blue status towards a state where everyone – young and old, rich and poor, city and country – has a ready, steady supply of wholesome food, grown and raised by fellow Oklahomans at an economic and ecological profit."

Read the essay

Field Day & Workshop: Organic Growers' Field Day and Soil Building Workshop
July 10 (preregistration required by July 7)

This free event at the Lane Ag Center is for new and established organic growers, as well as those contemplating a venture. A workshop covering soil building techniques, including organic conversion and composting, will be followed by a field day addressing certification, production, and irrigation. Preregistration is required to reserve a meal.
More information

Future Farms 2008:
Planning for Change
August 5-6, 2008
(Register by July 21)

Oklahoma farmers and ranchers are branching out - trying new crops and marketing options. The best of these innovative farm enterprises will be featured during the Future Farms 2008: Planning for Change conference at the Bricktown Convention Center, August 5 and 6 in Oklahoma City. The two day conference will offer one day of farm and ranch tours and one day of indoor presentations.
More information

Workshop: Season Extension & Hoop Houses
September 14

Join Tod and Jamie Hanley at Trebuchet Gardens to see how they built a 25' x 96' hoop house for under $1000 and grow produce in it year round.
More information

Workshop: Growing for Local Markets
September 20

At this all-day workshop, successful market gardeners will cover all aspects of their operation, including both production and marketing. The afternoon will offer basic skills sessions, covering transplants, drip irrigation, cover crops, and hoop houses.
More information

OK-Grown
Check out this new online resource to help track down the nearest sources of fresh Oklahoma-grown food.

Sustainable Agriculture Grants
The USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program gives grants to researchers, students, ag professionals, producers and communities. Click here for more information.

Oklahoma Agritourism Map
Farms, ranches, wineries, and farmer's markets across the state are opening their gates, barn doors and fences, issuing a heartfelt invitation to sample the abundant bounty and natural beauty found in Oklahoma's growing adventure. The Oklahoma Agritourism Map features over 300 destinations across the state with a synopsis of each place and phone number. Some descriptions also have addresses, directions or web site addresses. Since most agritourism destinations have seasonal operations, hours and days, please call before traveling for their particular operation times and exact locations. Free copies of the map are available online.

New Oklahoma Sustainable Agriculture Website
OSU and Langston University are collaborating on a new website that acts as a central clearing point for resources on all aspects of sustainable agriculture in Oklahoma. Sections include news and events, producer's corner, training opportunities, projects and research, and opportunities for funding.

The Oklahoma Sustainable Agriculture Program closely cooperates with several broad-based sustainable agriculture programs such as the Southern Region and National Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) programs funded by the USDA and EPA, related programs of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
Visit site

Talking to Kids About Farming
Learn about Oklahoma agriculture from Oklahoma farmers! The Oklahoma Farmer Speakers' Bureau is a list of farmers who are available to speak to school classes and/or host tours of their farms.

See the list

Strong and Healthy Oklahoma
Strong and Healthy Oklahoma is a statewide effort to improve the health of all Oklahomans by sharing quick and simple ways to make healthy choices everyday where we live, work, and learn.

More information

Training for Food Entrepreneurs
Every third Thursday of each month (excluding December) the OSU Food and Agriculture Products Center located in Stillwater, OK, holds a “Basic Training” workshop for food business entrepreneurs. Topics covered include planning your business, health regulations, product evaluation and marketing, labeling, processing and co-packing, legalities, assistance available to entrepreneurs. Call (405) 744-6071 for more information, or go to www.fapc.okstate.edu/ PAGES/workshop.htm.

Check out the Kerr Center's Community Foods pages
We invite you to explore these pages and learn about the Kerr Center’s community foods initiatives.
Community food security is a relatively new concept that encompasses three broad areas of concern: adequate food and nutrition for all income levels; sustainable agricultural production; and closer farmer-consumer connections through local markets.
Find out more

The Oklahoma Food Co-op
is a non-profit group bringing together Oklahoma food producers and consumers.

More

Localharvest.org
Is the most popular directory and comprehensive directory of small farms on the Internet Free listing and other services.

Go to site