Local Food Economy

Local Food Economy
For nearly 200 years, agriculture has served as the foundation of Clinton County’s economy. Clinton County with over 800 farms only yet, only handful commercially growing produce, and even fewer distribute produce within Clinton County. National trends suggest a growing demand for locally produced food, driven by an increased understand of health benefits, worries arising from food born diseases, and shifting taste preferences.
The growing demand for locally produced food offers the potential for Clinton County and to not only generate new economic activity in the agricultural sector, but also provide additional revenue to the local economy through resturants, food product producers, and other food related industries. A local food economy also promotes new economic relationships that are critical to sustainable growth across sectors; invest in education and teaching sustainable practices; provide a source of healthy nutritional food to consumers and local food pantries; create additional revenue for local growers, distributors, and grocers; and establish a niche economic resource for Clinton County and Southwest Ohio.
ECC seeks to raise awareness about the economic impact of the local food economy, and to facilitate its development. ECC also seeks to provide support for backyard and community gardening. We believe that promoting backyard and community gardening and empowering people to grow their own food will contribute to the development of virtuous relationships between consumers and their food and increase demand for locally produced food.
What we are doing to promote the local food economy in Clinton County
Denver Park Demonstration Garden
ECC is working with a group of local volunteers to provide a demonstration of an organic backyard garden at Denver Williams Memorial Park. The demonstration garden serves as a way to increase public awareness and provide a valuable educational tool for people of all ages. The goal is to have a place for teachers to bring students or public workshops to be given that provide a hands-on experience throughout various stages of the process.
Building marketing and communication capacity for the Clinton County Farmers’ Markert
In an effort to develop a network between buyers and local producers, ECC is partnering with the Clinton County Farmers’ Market to provide marketing and communication capacity to local growers. ECC has developed a web site and other social networking tools for the Farmers’ Market, and will be working closely with the market throughout the summer to increase its presence and network within the community.
ECC Garden Blog
ECC’s garden blog is an on-line outlet for documenting and sharing our experiences in our home backyard garden and demonstration garden. With the help our expert contributing bloggers, the blog seeks to provide an informative, engaging, and entertaining format for learning and appreciating the process of growing food in Clinton County.

energize your garden

For nearly 200 years, agriculture has served as the foundation of Clinton County’s economy. Clinton County with over 800 farms only yet, only handful commercially growing produce, and even fewer distribute produce within Clinton County. National trends suggest a growing demand for locally produced food, driven by an increased understand of health benefits, worries arising from food born diseases, and shifting taste preferences.

The growing demand for locally produced food offers the potential for Clinton County to not only generate new economic activity in the agricultural sector, but also provide additional revenue to the local economy through resturants, food product producers, and other food related industries. A local food economy also promotes new economic relationships that are critical to sustainable growth across sectors; spurs invests in education and teaching sustainable practices; provides a source of healthy nutritional food to consumers and local food pantries; creates additional revenue for local growers, distributors, and grocers; and establishes a niche economic resource for Clinton County and Southwest Ohio.

ECC seeks to raise awareness about the economic impact of the local food economy, and to facilitate its development. ECC also seeks to provide support for backyard and community gardening. We believe that promoting backyard and community gardening and empowering people to grow their own food will contribute to the development of virtuous relationships between consumers and their food and increase demand for locally produced food.

What we are doing to promote the local food economy in Clinton County:

Denver Park Demonstration Garden

ECC is working with a group of local volunteers to provide a demonstration of an organic backyard garden at Denver Williams Memorial Park. The demonstration garden serves as a way to increase public awareness and provide a valuable educational tool for people of all ages. The goal is to have a place for teachers to bring students or public workshops to be given that provide a hands-on experience throughout various stages of the process.

For more information, download our garden info sheet.

Building capacity for the Clinton County Farmers’ Markert through communications and market development

In an effort to develop a network between buyers and local producers, ECC is partnering with the Clinton County Farmers’ Market to provide marketing and communication capacity to local growers. ECC has developed a web site and other social networking tools for the Farmers’ Market, and will be working closely with the market throughout the summer to increase its presence and network within the community. ECC is also working closely with the Farmers’ Market to perform market research which will quantify its consumer base, provide a greater understanding of market demand potential and increase capacity for future growth.

ECC Garden Blog

ECC’s garden blog is an on-line outlet for documenting and sharing our experiences in our home backyard garden and demonstration garden. With the help our expert contributing bloggers, the blog seeks to provide an informative, engaging, and entertaining format for learning and appreciating the process of growing food in Clinton County.