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Cities Developing Urban Agriculture Codes

Urban agriculture has become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to deal with vacant properties, revitalize neighborhoods, and provide job skills and nutrition to local residents struggling with poverty and a lack of access to fresh produce.

In Austin, Texas, a working group of the Sustainable Food Policy Board is meeting to clarify and update city code related to urban farms, livestock, size of farm, employees and dwellings, according to the Austin Chronicle.

The working group has been holding public sessions to gather input from urban farmers and community members about pending updates to the urban farm ordinance.

In April 2013, the Flint Farmers' Market reported that the Detroit City Council adopted the city's first urban agriculture zoning ordinance recognizing agriculture as a legitimate land use and setting standards for it.

Other cities working to update or create urban agriculture codes include Boston, Massachusetts;
Fort Collins, Colorado; and Portland, Oregon.

For more information, see USDA's National Ag Library webpage on Urban Agriculture.

Local Foods - Food Safety

Home » Markets & Industries » Food » Local Foods - Food Safety

American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) - Representing more than 1,700 small- and medium-sized meat, poultry and food businesses.
Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Program areas, such as biotechnology, food labeling, HACCP and inspections, are listed here.
Federal Inspection Programs, Food Safety and Inspection Services, USDA.
Foodborne Illness Cost Calculator, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA - This calculator provides information on the assumptions behind foodborne illness cost estimates.
Food Labeling Procedures, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA - This site includes procedures, policies, a listing of ingredients, packaging materials and other related links.
Food Protection Plan, U.S. FDA, 2007 - Presented as an integrated strategy for protecting the nation's food supply, this FDA plan seeks to ensure the safety of domestic and imported food.
Food Safety, Briefing Room, ERS, USDA - This portal offers several documents and links related to food safety issues.
Food Safety, National Ag Compliance Assistance Center, U.S. EPA.
Food Safety, National Agricultural Law Center, University of Arkansas, 2009.
The Food Safety Consortium, University of Arkansas - This consortium was established to conduct extensive research into all areas of poultry, beef and pork meat production from the farm to consumer’s table. This site maintains food safety links to government agencies, academic institutions and industrial organizations.
Food Safety Fact Sheets, FSIS, USDA - Information is available on basic food safety topics and on the safe preparation of meat, poultry, eggs and other products.
Food Safety Information Center - This government portal provides links to educational and training, discussion groups and HACCP information.
Food Safety Information for Consumers, Food Marketing Institute (FMI) - The FMI represents retail supermarkets and grocery wholesalers. This site offers several food safety and handling guides aimed at consumers.
Food Security Guidance, U.S. FDA - Guidance provided for industry importers and filers for food security and preventive measures.
Gateway to Government Food Safety Information - Search this site for information on news, safety alerts and foodborne pathogens; information for kids, teens and educators; and much more.
The Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN), University of Maryland - The institute, established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the University of Maryland and later the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, is a multidisciplinary research and education program.
Key Points of Control and Management for Microbial Food Safety: Information for Growers, Packers, and Handlers of Horticultural Products, University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources - Presents principles for prevention of contaminated fruits and vegetables in crop production, postharvest packing, transportation, fresh-cut and value-added processing and storage.
National Center for Food Safety and Technology - This is a research consortium among the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Illinois Institute of Technology and the food industry.
New technology driving U.S. food safety sales, Food Production Daily.com, 2008.
Preserving Food Safely, Michigan State University Extension - This site covers a complete range of food preservation topics and is based on the USDA complete guide to home canning.
The Pressure to Improve Food Safety, Market to Market, Iowa Public Television, 2008 - High-pressure processing could revolutionize food processing, making some foods safer and potentially greatly extending their shelf-life.
Product Liability and Microbial Foodborne Illness, ERS, USDA, 2001 - This 45-page report examines how product liability law treats personal injuries attributed to microbially contaminated foods.
Weighing Incentives for Food Safety in Meat and Poultry, Amber Waves, USDA, 2003 - This article reviews changes in the food safety system and costs associated with keeping food safe.

Links checked November 2009.

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