Sustainable Food Systems

The Sustainable Food Systems Initiative is a partnership committee formed under Sustainable Sarasota. Representatives from county government, cooperative extension, local farms and distributors meet to develop a healthy and equitable community food system.

The major goals that have been identified are:

• Secure land for sustainable agriculture in Sarasota County.
• Develop a local labor force to support a larger agricultural system.
• Develop direct marketing opportunities for local produce, such as "green" restaurants.
• Educate the community of the nutritional, environmental and economic benefits of local  
  foods.
• Investigate opportunities for incorporating sustainable agriculture into new developments
   under the 2050 Plan and the county's Conservation Easements

The program addresses a four-county area including Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte Counties.

To learn more about this initiative, please contact Laura Morton of the USDA Florida West Coast Research and Conservation Development Council.