A Regional Imperative: The Case for Regional Food Systems

This final report, released September 20, 2022, explores the concepts, practices, challenges, and promise of regional food systems. Authors Kathy Ruhf and Kate Clancy make the case for “thinking regionally,” drawing examples from the Northeast and across the U.S. Eight chapters take a wide perspective on the dimensions and attributes of regional food systems and identify challenges and suggestions for what is needed.

The authors collaborated with a diverse Discussion Team to strengthen the initial report, released in January 2022, around race and equity. The Team process was, in Team members’ words, “meaningful, informative, and worthwhile.” In their foreword to the report, they contend that “the report is a well-researched and reasoned approach to understanding and promoting regional food systems thinking, with a focus on social justice and equity.”

A Regional Imperative: Making the Case for Regional Food Systems is valuable to anyone involved in food systems, and an important contribution to the collective search for food system justice and sustainability.

The executive summary, full report, and the authors' reflection ("What We Learned") are available; click on each cover to download the PDF.

Executive Summary        A Regional Imperative full report       What We Learned

 

To contact the authors:


Kathryn Z. Ruhf
Food systems consultant
413-323-4340 (home office)
347-952-8161 (cell)
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Kate Clancy
Food Systems Consultant
Senior Fellow, MISA
Visiting Scholar, Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Adjunct Professor, Friedman School, Tufts University
301-887-0399
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