Yesterday's County Commissioner's meeting was more normal with a three page agenda. The focus of the meeting was a presentation to create the position of Agriculture Coordinator for he county. It was recommended by a group called the Agriculture Coordinator Committee. The position would be filled on a three year trail period with a budget the first year of $120,000. Funding is being sought through state and federal grants.
The new position would be designed to facilitate farmers and the agriculture industry to keep it viable and profitable. The thinking seems to be that with all the open land preservation done in the County we also need to keep farming viable. Farmers have little time or expertise in developing new markets, new concepts and may need to consider new crops.
The Agriculture Coordinator could develop marketing plans, coordinate resources, find niche markets for agricultural products, teach basic marketing concepts, encourage the formation of new farmer's markets or whatever else is needed.
It sounds like a very good idea. Having worked in food marketing myself I appreciate the need for such a position. Farmers need markets for their crops/animals/products and consumers prefer locally grown food. Restaurants are an untapped market and small grocery stores are at the mercy of large wholesalers. A Coordinator might even create a local food distribution center where local farmers can bring their products and local grocers and restaurateurs can purchase them.
The remainder of the meeting dealt with routine, though important funding programs, things like the food bank and the Department of Aging. One item that caught my eye was the appointment of Wachovia Bank as the County's primary bank for general fund and payroll accounts. Berks County has used Sovereign Bank for most of its business in the past.
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