Food Processing

This article in the Austin Chronicle (March 8, 2019) highlights the latest players in the burgeoning Austin consumer packaged goods (CPG) world. We want the best of these companies to locate in Elgin where we have land, farms and a strong labor force. At the Texas Center for Local Food, we’re raising funds now to […]

Here is our homespun video describing our process for designing the Elgin Local Food Center. We created this video for the Iowa State University Community Food System Training program. 11 mins long. Look for more updates soon as we work hard to raise funds to build this fabulous new food processing and education center in […]

This article from Urban Food Futures gives a brief overview of the changes happening in our food system. Spoiler alert: high volume buyers make big differences in our food sourcing and eating. We would add the fabulous Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP)! We’re a proud member of the Austin area GFPP team with the City of […]

We’re writing to give you a quick update on our exciting progress!  First we’d like to ask you to become a member today if you’re not already. We hope we’ve earned your support to build a strong Texas local food system.   Now on to the updates:The Elgin Local Food Center (ELF) is gaining momentum.  We’re moving […]

What is the approach taken by the Texas Center for Local Food (TCLF) in Texas?  On July 26, 2018, Sue Beckwith of TCLF joined others to present an introduction to value chain coordination at a webinar conducted by the Wallace Center.  Here’s a link to the webinar recording.  Sue’s part begins at 41:45.  There is […]

When I asked a group today what value they would get from starting a new local food business, I heard “To take care of the world”, “To provide healthy food for our community”, “To support our local farms”, “Because homemade tastes better is is healthier and more tasty”, and “To bring our culture to the […]

Have a great idea for a small food business, but don’t know where to start? Interested in Cottage Food Law and how to sell foods made in your home to the public? Then join the Texas Center for Local Food for an evening of lively discussion with Chris Johnson of Stellar Gourmet Foods, as he helps us navigate […]

What are the real opportunities and gaps in the grass-fed beef industry in Texas?  This report from New York (2015) may inform our work in Texas.  If you have thoughts, please post comments below so we can all hear you. We talk about the need for meat processing facilities, but maybe we need to do […]

This sounds like a fabulous example of community development meets economic development .. Is local food the ticket to stronger communities? From “What’s Next for Pittsburgh?”, written by Emily Stimmel of Pittsburgh, PA.   Chatham’s CRAFT offers (very cool) workshops with local food purveyors for public and students

We had a wonderful and very productive time at the TOFGA conference this year.  Here are links to PDFs of our presentations. Value-Added Production with Jonathan Hogan of Wicked Good – Here’s the link to Jonathan’s PDF presentation slides about Wicked Good and here’s the link to a PDF of our presentation “Finding your Opportunity.”  […]