Initiative in Wisconsin, Minnesota aims to get local buyers to purchase 20% of food from local farmers

Nineteen businesses in 15 counties across northwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Minnesota have committed to buying 20 percent of their food locally by 2020 under the Superior Compact, Danielle Kaeding reports for Wisconsin Public Radio. To help farmers meet demand from local buyers, an initiative called the AgriBusiness Academy has been created.

Andrea Huggenvik, of the Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, told Kaeding, "They’re really looking to purchase food from local farmers and are sometimes struggling to have enough farmers to produce enough food that they need." Huggenvik said the academy will cover business plans, contracts and what foods local buyers want. (Google map: Businesses that have agreed to buy 20 percent of their food locally)