What We Do

“Food Systems are complex networks that include all the inputs and outputs associated with agricultural and food production and consumption.  Food systems can vary substantially from place to place and over time, depending on location specific conditions.”

-United States Department of Agriculture

 

The Food Systems Coordinator supports small, diverse farms and value-added food businesses in Indiana. We are also involved in local food in terms of food safety, economics, and education. The Purdue Food Systems program uses an interdisciplinary approach to collaboratively create educational materials and workshops, while engaging community members to build local economies.

Contact Us

Sarah Hanson

Food Systems Coordinator
sspeedy@purdue.edu

615 W. State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907
765-494-8483

Producer

Producer

Image of a man harvesting carrots.
Producer

Farmers/producers can learn more about community organizations and resources.

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Food Safety

Food Safety

Yegerlehener's On Farm Cheese Production
Food Safety

Learn more about resources related to food safety.

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Consumer

Consumer

Image of a man standing next to a stand of produce.
Consumer

Learn more about organizations and resources to help consumers navigate our food systems.

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Food Business and Entrepreneurship

Food Business and Entrepreneurship

Image of a bottle being filled with Maple Syrup
Food Business and Entrepreneurship

Learn more about resources related to Food Business and Entrepreneurship

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Featured Stories

Cows graze in a field
Learn about pasture ecology above, below the soil at Purdue Extension workshop

Purdue Extension will host a pasture ecology workshop June 18 at the Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center (SIPAC) in collaboration with the Indiana Forage Council and the Indiana Beef Cattle Association. The workshop will examine the complex relationships between the livestock, forage and soil that make up grazing pastures.

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children running in a field
4-H Mini Day Camp

Join us for Mini Day Camp- June 17 & 18! They day will begin at 8am until 3pm at the Lawrence County 4-H Fairgrounds! Youth in grades K-2 are invited to participate and learn about all things 4-H!

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Purdue Extension.
4-H Newsletters

Want information about what is going on in Lawrence County 4-H? Check out the latest newsletter!

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Wells County 4-H Fair T-Shirt Form

Wells County 4-H Fair T-Shirt Form. Order forms due Friday June 13th.

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Capital Comments
The Personal Property Exemption: Not so Minimal Anymore

Sometimes taxes cost more to collect than the revenue they generate. Back in 2015, the Indiana General Assembly recognized one example. Back then, all businesses were required to file forms establishing the value of personal property for property tax payments. Personal property is mostly business equipment, from office furniture to the turbines in electrical power plants. Back then, almost 300,000 Indiana businesses filed forms.

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Krishna Nemali stands near racks of plants growing hydroponically.
Hydroponic crop production workshop will be offered for home and commercial growers

Purdue University’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture will offer a one-day workshop about hydroponic crop production July 12 for home and commercial growers.

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