What We Do
Our work takes a comprehensive approach, focusing on three fundamental, interwoven aspects of a local food system: Education, Access and Engagement.
Partnership and collaboration is central to all of our work. Read more at the bottom about our partnerships and collaborative projects.
Collaborating with schools and neighborhoods to transform urban land into delicious, healthful food.
We’re building the supply of local food closer to where people live, one community at a time.
Empowering positive food choices into adulthood
Our award-winning curriculum focuses on the taste, smell, culture and preparation of healthful, yummy foods.
Providing clients and neighbors with greater access to fresh, local foods.
In addition to delivering bags of delicious produce to partner sites, we supply small neighborhood markets and farm stands.
Our guide to Ohio food opportunities, from farmers to food festivals.
Discover local foods in restaurants, grocers, farmer’s markets, food festivals, CSA's and more.
Partner
The Greener Grocer
Located in the Historic North Market, The Greener Grocer is our connection to Ohio farmers and serves as Local Matters' for-profit partner. This socially-conscious grocery highlights fresh Ohio-grown food from local farmers and food artisans. The Greener Grocer is our partner for the Veggie Van, the Local Food Hub and other projects. A portion of the Greener Grocer's profits supports Local Matters programming. Visit The Greener Grocer »Other Work
EBT Farmers Market Management
In partnership with The Greener Grocer, we help vendors at farmers markets and produce stands accept Electronic Benefits Transfer (food stamps).
Educatering (Lunch and Learn Workshops)
Educatering workshops are professional development sessions for educators and staff at schools and organizations interested in learning more about the benefits of incorporating local food in their organizational culture and personal lives. These interactive workshops include a healthful meal and various lessons on how to easily incorporate fresh foods into our busy lives. Learn how you can have a positive impact on Ohio’s food system—all in a lunch hour.
.jpg)
Eat Local Challenge
The Eat Local Challenge is a series of contests throughout the year that everyone can participate in to learn more about our rich Ohio agriculture, local farms and food resources and why eating local matters. The challenges includes a chance to win fantastic prizes. Take the Eat Local Challenge »
Local Foods Week
Local Foods Week is a week of community-wide events celebrating local food, featuring the Eat Local Challenge. View the 2011 schedule of events.
Workshops for Kids
Drawing upon lessons in our Food Matters curriculum, our staff works with schools, after school programs, and other facilities where kids come together to host fun food workshops for kids. Past workshops have inlcuded "Food Is Art" where kids make sculptures out of fruits and veggies, "Ohio Grown" where students learn about Ohio agricluture, and "The Kids Cookoff Challenge" where kids form teams and cook together using healthy ingredients.
School Gardens
We help schools create garden spaces. Using science, math and other skills, children cultivate a multi-disciplinary understanding of to how food moves from seed to table.
School Cafeteria Consulting
Working with parents, administrators and food service managers, we help schools incorporate more Ohio grown fresh fruits and vegetables into their cafeteria menus.
Partnership Projects
Circle 77 Community Food Cooperative
Local Matters has teamed up with the Circle 77 Food Buying Club to develop a community owned cooperative grocery store on Columbus' Near East Side. Set to open in 2012 the project is in the planning stages with current efforts focused on community engagement and business plan development.
Local Food Hub
The Local Food Hub is a storage, packing, and distribution facility created in partnership with Local Matters in the summer of 2011 to expand the capacity of the Veggie Van project, among other goals in support of a stronger local food system in Central Ohio.
Weinland Park Food Plan
In partnership with the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission, the OSU Knowlton School of Architecture, Community Economic Growth Initiative, Waggonbrenner Development Corporation, OSU Extension, and the OSU Center for Urban Enivronment and Economic Development.
Local Matters staff has supported the development of the neighborhood food plan for Weinland Park; our primary role has been to take the lead on community engagement and food production.
Our focus has been to gather neighborhood input and ensure residents' voices in the development of the Food System Plan. Watch a video about our work in Weinland Park »
Healthy Corner Stores (Fresh Foods Here)
In partnership with the Columbus Health Department, United Way of Central Ohio, and OSU Extension, Local Matters is piloting a project to bring fresh fruits and vegetables at three corner stores in Franklinton in the summer of 2011. Learn More »
Greater Columbus Growing Coalition
The GCGC is a network of growers (communithy gardeners, backyard gardeners, urban farmers, etc.) from across Central Ohio who meet regularly to learn, share resources, and identify areas for collaboration.
Central Ohio Food Forum
Presented in partnership with Wayward Seed Farm and Edible Columbus, the Central Ohio Food Forum is a series of open and honest conversations about our food system. With topics ranging from production to distribution, community gardens to backyard chickens, and everything in between, we invite you to join us on the third Monday of each month. Learn More »
