Foodshed
The “farm-to-table” movement is focused on producing food locally within a foodshed, and delivering it to local consumers. Direct farm-to-table in the United States tends to comprise only a very minor segment of the food distribution system in terms of size and importance, but is growing in popularity.Nearly 5 percent of all farmers engage in some form of direct food marketing. Estimates of all farm-to-table sales within a foodshed range from roughly $550 million to $2 billion. Many local farms are family-run farms that are successful and do survive through poor economic conditions. Ecologists consider to be more adaptive and more likely to “reproduce” in highly variable and uncertain environments.
Farm Forward
JIFA aims to ensure that those who wish to keep a kosher diet and support higher welfare animal products are given the resources to do so. In November 2016 JIFA partnered with kosher meat distributors to bring the a run of kosher certified heritage breed chickens to market for the first time in approximately 50 years. Unlike conventional poultry, heritage breed chickens and turkeys are able to achieve highest possible welfare outcomes. JIFA also helped bring educational heritage flocks to Jewish educational and production farms, where educators teach about the impacts of factory farming in relation to Jewish values.