Food Economies in Arkansas and Appalachia

In March, 2011, Heifer International hosted dozens of organizations from across the state of Arkansas in a day-long symposium focused on the food economy of Arkansas. Ken Meter, a nationally known social justice advocate and food economist, was commissioned by Heifer to help better inform policies surrounding our work within the state and presented his findings and suggestions (PDF) as a part of the symposium.

As Heifer works to end hunger and poverty within the state, the report Mr. Meter created outlining several key issues (PDF) which need to be addressed will be looked at as a starting point in solving the root causes of 35% of Arkansas' population living in poverty.

View Ken Meter's presentation about the food economy of Arkansas to Heifer.

In June 2011, Heifer commissioned another study by Mr. Meter around the food economies of Appalachia, another priority area of intervention. His analysis of the finding was shared with a broad and diverse audience hosted at Appalachia State University.

View the video of the presentation about the food economy of Appalachia below.

Video Coming Soon

The Arkansas Delta and Appalachia are the two current areas of Heifer's intervention through the Seeds of Change Initiative.