A local food system is only as strong as its surrounding communities. The links below provide in-depth information on how to address community needs as you grow a local food system.
Farm Labor

Cheshire Labor and Infrastructure Needs Assessment
Research in Cheshire County, NH to determine how to promote the economic viability of local farmers.Download File (763.26 kB)
Internship Curriculum for Food Farmers in the North Central Region
With support from an NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grant, Betrand Farm developed 24 educational PowerPoint modules that can serve as an internship curriculum for food farmers in the North Central region.Download File (26.78 MB)
Additional Resources
The following resources, which were not funded or produced by SARE, contain valuable information.
Positive Practices in Farm Labor Management (an ATTRA publication)
Local Food and Healthy People
Cooperative Extension Farm to School Resources
Farm to School resources available from ASAP in North Carolina.

Edible Avalon Curriculum
This summer program curriculum teaches youth about local food systems and sustainable agriculture. Download File (349.07 kB)

Farm to Hospital Toolkit
Tools farmers and hospitals can use to increase direct hospital purchases from local producers.Download File (1.43 MB)

Farm to School Training Toolkit
Resources for ag educators and community leaders who are starting a farm to school program.Download File (1.80 MB)
REAP Farm to School Website
The REAP Farm to School program aims to "connect children, farms, and food."

Vermont Food Education Every Day
Includes guides for farmers and food service personnel working to increase local food in schools.
Additional Resources
The following resources, which were not funded or produced by SARE, contain valuable information.
Center for a Livable Future (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)
Underserved and Urban Communities

How-to-Guide for Aspiring Urban Micro-Agricultural Entrepreneurs
Created for city residents who want to increase their access to fresh, healthy and affordable food. Download File (19.80 MB)

Plain Language Guides for New and Under-Served Producers
These plain language guides cover topics such as farm financing, accessing government programs, harvest practices and marketing. The plain language format makes this material accessible to beginning farmers, immigrants and other under-served audiences.

The Baltimore Farm Alliance
Lessons learned while building a farm alliance in Baltimore, MD.Download File (6.19 MB)
Additional Resources
The following resources, which were not funded or produced by SARE, contain valuable information.
Urban Agriculture-Best Practices and Possibilities (University of Missouri Extension)
Urban Agriculture resource database from RUAF (Resource Centers on Urban Agriculture & Food Security)