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Community Food & Agriculture Coalition |
Hours: Call Anytime Phone: 406-880-0543
Fax: N/A Street: 127 N. Higgins Avenue Suite 305
City: Missoula
State: Montana
Zip Code: 59802 Contact: Bonnie Buckingham Website: www.missoulacfac.org Email:
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|  | About Community Food and Agriculture Coalition:
CFAC’s mission is to strengthen our local/regional food system in a comprehensive and creative way.
Our initiatives aim to:
1) increase access to fresh, affordable, local food;
2) expand markets for local food;
3) help beginning farmers access agricultural land; and
4) Increase community food security by protecting farm and ranchlands from sprawl.
Our strategies emphasize creative, collaborative problem-solving and proactive policy advocacy. Sustainable Practices, Products, & Services:
CFAC works to create a sustainable food and agriculture system here in Missoula County. We promote local food purchasing and help develop larger markets for food grown locally. Our Buy Fresh Buy Local collaborative links local farmers and producers with chefs and restaurant owners.
Important Dates & Facts:
March 2005 - City and County passed a joint resolution recognizing the importance of our local food and agricultural heritage and gave their support for the coalition.
October 2005 - Organized the first CFAC Harvest Fest, celebrating local food, farms and community. Buy Fresh Buy Local Restaurant collaborative was launched. Farmland Protection and Economic Viability of Agriculture: - Secured a new definition of agriculture for both the Missoula City and County subdivision regulations. The new definition includes agricultural soils and clarifies a proposed development’s impacts to agriculture so that it can be more carefully reviewed and mitigated.
Fall 2008 - Land Link Montana is initiated to help link local land owners with would-be farmers. July 2006 - Set up Montana’s first Electronic Benefits Transfer (food stamps) at Missoula’s two farmers’ markets, resulting in $5,000+ in sales of fresh, local food to low-income families in 2007.
August 2006 - Partnered with Missoula County Public Schools (K-12) to establish the Farm to School Program, serving over 12,000 pounds of food in 2007. The National Association of Counties (NACO) featured our school meal program as a “best practice example” in a major report.
Fall 2007 - Conducted policy research for the Missoula City Council regarding urban chicken-keeping and helped draft an ordinance which legalized raising hens within the city limits. - Conducted participatory research on food and nutrition policies focused on meeting the needs of low-income people. The report, Food Insecurity in Missoula County: Barriers, Opportunities, & Solutions, described the next steps to promote community food security and policy change, and was disseminated to local service providers and public officials in 2007.
Outreach and Education: Fall 2005 and 2006 - Organized Harvest Festival, an educational and celebratory event featuring speakers (Anna Lappe, Michael Ableman). Awards & Achievements:
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