ASSESSMENT OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION IN SELECT PORTIONS OF CENTRAL APPALACHIA:

COMMITMENT, CAPACITY AND INVOLVEMENT IN BUILDING HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS

Submitted by: SCALE, Inc to the Central Appalachian Network (CAN)

Final Report, December 18th, 2010

Introduction

During the months of August — December, 2010 SCALE, Inc President, Anthony Flaccavento undertook an assessment of the commitment, capacity and involvement of Cooperative Extension in helping to build healthy local food systems in the Central Appalachian regions of three states: Tennessee, Virginia and Ohio. The assessments also looked at emerging trends in this area, and the challenges and opportunities for collaboration going forward.

Two broad categories or topical areas were considered: Organic, sustainable and grass-based farming practices; and local foods efforts, from farm to market, involving various innovations, ranging from season extension to choice of crop, product or market.

Because each state operates its own Extension service, closely tied to its land grant universities, each state was examined individually. To the degree possible, focus was placed upon the Appalachian area of the states, although some relevant resources and personnel outside of the region were included.