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Food Systems

Cherry tomatoes in baskets ready to be sold

Farms Selling Local Foods

Producers who sell food locally are a small and slowly growing share of the U.S. agriculture industry.

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Horticulture newsletter

Sign up for the MU Extension Commercial Horticulture newsletter for information on fruit & vegetable production topics including pest & fertility management, field & high tunnel production, sales & marketing, & more.

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Missouri Ag Intel

Check out Missouri Ag Intel’s five decision tools to discover new crop opportunities and determine whether particular crops would be well-suited for your farm!

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Blessing box or little food pantry

Food safety in blessing boxes

MU Extension State Food Safety Specialist, Londa Nwadike, provides food safety and nutrition guidelines for items donated to outdoor blessing boxes or little free pantries.

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Circular illustration showing processes of food systemsFood systems encompass all the people, processes and infrastructure involved in getting food from the farm to your table. Increasingly, Missourians are seeking information about how their food is produced, harvested, processed, distributed, marketed and accessed so that they can support their local communities. On this website, you — as a farmer or food business owner, consumer or community leader — will find information and resources to help you:

  • Create food systems that provide for profitable, thriving farms and businesses;
  • Steward our natural resources;
  • Ensure a safe and affordable food supply; and
  • Strengthen community relationships in rural and urban Missouri.

  • Introduction to Local Food Systems guide

    This MU Extension guide explores the concept of local food systems and gives an overview of the benefits of creating new opportunities within our community food systems.

  • Sectors of food systems

    The Sectors page provides MU Extension programs and publications and other resources that will help you learn more about and develop different parts of the food system.

  • Partnerships and collaborations

    Learn more about how this is a necessary part of local food systems, including how the MU Extension Food Systems team takes a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach.

 

Publications

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Market Channels for Locally Raised Foods

Publication date: Dec. 1, 2022

Alice RoachSenior Research Associate, Applied Social SciencesJoe ParcellProfessor, Agricultural Economics; Director, Center for Risk Management & Research; Kansas State UniversityFor local food producers, marketing decisions are as important as ...

Adding Value in Agriculture, Food and Forestry

Publication date: Oct. 1, 2022

Mallory RaheAssistant Professor, Agricultural Business and Policy ExtensionAlice RoachSenior Research Associate, Applied Social SciencesRyan MilhollinState Specialist, Agricultural Business and Policy ExtensionFarm businesses can increase income by ...

Introduction to Local Food Systems

Publication date: Sept. 1, 2022

The local production and marketing of food has reached a critical mass in the past decade. Increasingly, people are searching out food that not only is flavorful, healthy, and safe but that also supports their local community. Farmers are working ...

Making and Using Compost

Publication date: July 15, 2022

Reviewed by David TrinkleinHorticulture State Extension SpecialistDivision of Plant Sciences & TechnologyCompost is partially decomposed organic matter. It is dark and easily crumbled and has an earthy aroma. It is created by biological processes in ...

5 Steps to Buying Meat Direct From the Farm

Publication date: May 1, 2022

To access and purchase local meat, consumers have choices. One option is to buy a live animal from a livestock producer and have that animal processed at a custom-exempt, state-inspected or federally inspected facility. Rather than purchase a whole ...

Grass Clippings, Compost and Mulch: Questions and Answers

Publication date: March 18, 2022

Reviewed by Manoj ChhetriMU Extension Horticulture Field SpecialistChris StarbuckDepartment of HorticultureYard waste, such as grass clippings, leaves and branches, was banned from Missouri landfills in 1992. These materials are a valuable landscape ...

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Resources

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Farmer’s Markets Regulations - MO DHSS

Information on retail food safety and regulations at farmers' markets from the Missouri Department of Health & Human Services (MO DHSS).

Missouri Master Gardener program

The Master Gardener program provides in-depth horticultural training to individuals throughout Missouri who then volunteer their time applying what they have learned to help others in their communities to learn about gardening and environmental ...

Urban Agriculture - Best Practices and Possibilities (PDF)

This report provides an overview of urban agriculture and local food system resources and practices across the United States and parts of Canada, with a primary emphasis on providing resources that can encourage and support urban agriculture.

Missouri EATs: Engage-Act-Transform (PDF)

In partnership with communities across the state, Missouri EATs helps connect local stakeholders to build and strengthen their community’s food system. Review flyer for more information about this community development process.

AgriMissouri Farmers Market Handbook

A guide to creating and managing farmers markets and the laws and regulations that govern them. Developed by Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Microbial water testing for produce growers

K-State & MU continue to offer free microbial water testing to all fruit & vegetable growers in KS & MO, even during COVID-19. Free testing provided until grant funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture runs out.

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