"Growing New Farmers" Is First Special Topic

This inaugural issue is on the timely topic of “Growing New Farmers,” with five articles focusing on the opportunities and challenges of assisting the next generation of farmers. Additional articles address a wide range of food systems and community development topics:

• A study of the experience of 19 adult volunteers on a one-month 100 mile diet
• How to apply activity system mapping to a farmers’ market to see how it might improve strategic planning
• Legal experts identify the dormant Commerce Clause doctrine as a potential legal barrier to local food purchasing — and a work-around for it
• Columns and book reviews round out this first issue. The second issue on the topic of URBAN AGRICULTURE is COMING SOON!

Benefits for USDA and other Agency Professionals:

• Keep up with the state of the art in agriculture and food systems–based community development
• Get background on emerging issues
• Learn best practices in developing local and regional food systems
• Share your own views and experiences
• Contribute to the emerging field of food systems