WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION

For immediate release: July 29, 2008

For More Information Contact:
Adrienne Joseph or Sue Beitlich
715-723-5561/715-379-2712 or 608-769-7625
wfuadriennej@charterinternet.com or wfusueb@charter.net


Farmers Union Industries Foundation awards grants to two ‘Buy Local’ projects

Chippewa Falls, Wis. (July 29, 2008) – Two organizations, Athens School District and Churches’ Center for Land and People, will receive grants from the Farmers Union Industries Foundation through Wisconsin Farmers Union to develop programs that increase production and consumption of local foods.  

The Athens School District will be developing a program that plans to replace one-third of its current produce, which comes from national and international sources, with locally produced foods from Marathon County and Wisconsin.  The program connects the rural school district with local farmers.

Funding will also be granted to the Churches’ Center for Land and People to develop a program that will increase the number of winter farmers markets and benefit meals of local foods in central and southeastern Wisconsin, particularly in areas where residents have limited access to local foods.  The goal is to provide farmers with increased production, sales and marketing opportunities in the winter season while educating consumers about the importance of buying local food products.

“The FUI Foundation grants awarded to these two Wisconsin groups expands on Farmers Union’s commitment to small, local family farmers,” said WFU President Sue Beitlich. “I am excited to work with the Athens School District and Churches’ Center for Land and People, to watch their programs grow and to see the real-life outcomes these programs can produce.”

Both of these organizations applied for Wisconsin’s Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grants and were rejected.  However, WFU felt both projects were worthy of start-up funding.

“Resources are limited for those groups that are attempting to jumpstart a new program,” Beitlich said. “These two particular groups are well-connected to the community and have a real chance of making a difference in rural Wisconsin’s economy.”

The FUI Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the economic and social condition for producers and their rural communities. It was created by Wisconsin Farmers Union along with four other Farmers Union states in the upper Midwest and the Farmers Union Marketing and Processing Association.

The Athens School District and the Churches’ Center for Land and People will each be presented with a check from Wisconsin Farmers Union at the WFU Kamp Kenwood Open House on August 9, 2008 at Kamp Kenwood in Chippewa Falls, Wis. The day begins at 12:00 p.m.  The public and the media are invited to attend.
For more information on the open house, please contact the WFU State Office at 1-800-272-5531.  Kamp Kenwood is located at 19161 79th Avenue, Chippewa Falls, Wis.  Directions to Kamp Kenwood: Highway 29 East in Chippewa Falls to County Road X toward Lake Wissota State Park.  Turn left/north on County Road K.  After steel bridge, turn left on 78th Avenue.  Turn right on 195th Street.  Keep going straight ahead onto 79th Avenue (Kamp Kenwood driveway).  Watch for Kamp Kenwood signs!

For more information on winter farmers markets and CCLP, contact Merry Jorgenson, 419 East Court Street, Janesville, Wis. 53545 or  call 608-754-1877 or visit www.cclpmidwest.org.