Minnesota Congressman Peterson Sponsors Home Grown Economy Conference, Emphasizes, Local, Sustainable, Organic Agriculture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 23, 2009   CONTACT: Allison Myhre/202-302-6153 Peterson Sponsoring Third Home Grown Economy Conference (WASHINGTON, DC) – After two successful local foods conferences in 2007 and 2008, Congressman Collin Peterson announced today that he will sponsor another conference on the topic.  The Home Grown Economy 2010 – Equipping You to Build Community Based Food Systems, will be held at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, on February 15^th and 16^th. “My goal in sponsoring this conference again is to continue to explore ways in which local foods can become an economic development engine for farmers, rural communities and development organizations, and how we can all work together to meet growing market demands,” Peterson said.

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In order for constituents to participate across the 35 county Seventh Congressional District, Interactive Video Sessions will be held on Tuesday, February 16^th at the following campuses:  University of Minnesota, Crookston – University of Minnesota, Morris – Bemidji State University and Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls.

USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak has been invited to provide the key-note address.  Ken Meter of Crossroads Research Center will present his insights on how food networks thrive and strengthen local economies.   Panel presenters will provide information about what is happening at the local level and each regional site will be afforded an opportunity to discuss how they can expand upon their local community based food system.     “In my role as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, I’ve emphasized the importance of the growing markets for organic, locally grown and sustainable agriculture as exciting new opportunities in agriculture,” Peterson said.  Watch for further details at Peterson’s website at https://collinpeterson.house.gov

Toni Merdan, Sr. Economic Development Officer Congressman Collin C. Peterson 714 Lakes Avenue, Suite #107 Detroit Lakes, Minnesota   56501 Cell Phone:  218-849-7344 Home Office:  218-998-2055 District Office:  218-847-5056 Fax: 425-732-8260 Email:  Toni.Merdan@mail.house.gov Email:  tmerdan@prtel.com Website:  https://collinpeterson.house.gov House Agriculture Committee:  https://agriculture.house.gov/