Local Food Initiative

Working with Charitable Food Distribution Networks Webinar Series

Reducing Food Waste through Gleaning
The Gleaning Project of South Central PA works with a network of regional farmers and volunteers to rescue unprofitable produce and redistribute it to food insecure individuals throughout the region. Lizzy Cooper and Liz Hills share details about the program in this webinar recorded on October 4, 2019. Thegleaningproject.org

Food Recovery Opportunities to Reduce Farm Waste
This Oct. 11, 2019, webinar features Rob Amsterdam with Feeding America, who discusses how food banks in Pennsylvania can work with farmers to provide cost recovery for produce that would otherwise go to waste. Feedingamerica.org

Marketing Support for Agricultural Producers

2016 Marketing Webinar Series
Marketing & Branding for Small Farm Businesses
   Webinar Recording
       Supplemental materials:
Marketing Plan Template
Touchpoints Worksheet
Branding Top Ten

   Small Farm Business Marketing: Measuring your Return-on-Investment (ROI)
   Webinar Recording
           Supplemental materials:
               ROI Input Worksheet
               ROI Spreadsheet (download for best viewing and for personal use)

Small Farm Opportunities in Small Grains: Opportunities and Challenges of Small Grain Production, Processing, and Marketing
   Webinar Recording

For Consumers

Our goal is to encourage the consumption of locally produced agricultural products by helping consumers identify the many options available to buy local food and support our local farm economy. A consumer's guide for farmer's markets and stands in South Central PA can be found on our website.
Why Buy Locally Grown Food? Did you know that when you buy locally grown food you are helping to protect the environment? Each fresh and delicious apple or tomato you buy at a local farm stand or from a producer at a farmers' market helps to protect the environment in a number of ways. It can save thousands of miles of transportation. Most food available in the average grocery store is extremely resource intensive, traveling an average of 1500-2500 miles from field to plate. Reducing the "food miles" reduces carbon emissions from shipping as well as packaging. Spending your food dollar on locally produced food also helps to make farming more profitable, reducing the incentive for a farmer to sell farmland for development. This provides us all with more open space for water recharge and helps conserve the region's visual beauty. We in the South Central PA region are fortunate to have many nearby farms that retail to consumers and farmer's markets open most days during the season. It couldn't be easier to buy local!

Additional Information

Download the Capital RC&D South Central PA Local Food Guide (PDF)
Capital RC&D South Central PA Local Food Guide on Issuu.com
York County Buy Fresh, Buy Local Lancaster County Buy Fresh, Buy Local
Cumberland Valley Local Food, Farms, and Outdoor Attractions
Adams County Local Food Resource Guide

If you would like the Capital RC&D to consider a community project,
please fill out the attached form and send it to the RC&D office for consideration.
Project Proposal Form
Project FAQ