| About
Mission
Sustainable Farms & Communities
(SF&C) is a non-profit group of citizens based in Columbia, Missouri,
dedicated to educating the community about the benefits of
locally-produced food and supporting the efforts of local farmers and
producers. SF&C was originally chartered in 1998 to lead an initial
effort to design and
build a permanent
home for the
Columbia Farmer's
Market (CFM).
The most recent
iteration of this
goal, the
Farmers Market
Community Center,
has been approved by
the
City of Columbia
and is in the early
stages of planning &
fundraising. SF&C is
also supporting
various events and
initiatives, such as
the
Columbia Localvore
Challenge, that
are aimed at
increasing public
awareness of the
economic, health,
and environmental
benefits of a robust
local food supply.
Core Values
- A Farmers' Market Community Center can provide a public space for
interaction among diverse members of our community—from all classes and
races.
- An equitable food system provides healthy, wholesome food to all
community members and returns a fair price to producers.
- Healthy working relationships with a number of broad-based community
and business groups are essential in fostering a strong, sustainable
community and region.
- Fresh, great-tasting, healthy, nutritious food should be produced and
marketed locally in a way that supports the local economy.
- A strong regional food system is dependent upon a large number of
local, economically viable farms operating in a socially responsible and
environmentally sound manner.
- Providing education and opportunities for beginning and existing
farmers is essential in building a regional food system for the long-term.
Information Cafe
SF&C sponsors
the Information Cafe
booth at the
Columbia Farmers
Market. Located
at the entrance to
the market area, the
volunteer-staffed
Cafe offers visitors
an array of
interesting and
relevant
information, as well
as coffee and baked
goods from Uprise
Bakery (the sale of
which helps support
SF&C's work).
Events
SF&C sponsors
and organizes
several special
events at the CFM
during the summer,
including the
Columbia Localvore
Challenge, Cornfest, Apple Pie
Auction, Melon
Tasting, and Kite
Flying at the Spring
Fling celebration.
These events draw
people to the
farmers market, and
allow SF&C another
platform for its
message. See our
Calendar for
more information. |
The Information Cafe booth at the CFM |
Supporting SF&C
SF&C is a
501(c)3 non-profit
organization that
relies on donations
and community
support for its
activities.
Fundraising efforts
for the FMCC project
are currently still
in development, but
SF&C is always in
need of funds to
support this work
and other everyday
activities. If you
are interested in
donating to SF&C,
there are several
easy ways to do so:
- Make a secure
online donation
through Paypal (no
account needed);
just click the
button at the bottom
of the page. If you
are considering a
large donation,
please contact us
first.
- Send a check to
Sustainable Farms &
Communities, PO Box
1092, Columbia MO
65205
- Email us at
sfcmissouri@gmail.com
if you want to
explore other
possibilities.
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