Local Flavor

Mississippi State University Extension has a long history of educating farmers, citizens, and public officials on strategies to improve the local food supply. Local Flavor is a new Extension initiative that brings Extension faculty and agents together to support the development of Mississippi’s local foods industry.

Local foods development is complex and requires expertise in multiple agricultural, community, and economic development arenas. Local Flavor connects those searching for information about food safety, agricultural production, business development, economics, and policy with resources across the state.

Local Flavor celebrates Mississippi’s culture, agricultural resources, and entrepreneurial spirit, while striving to provide Mississippians with improved access to healthful, locally grown food.

Welcome to Local Flavor! Choose your area of interest, and let’s get started celebrating Mississippi’s local foods and farms.

Publications

Publication Number: P3245

Engaging Your Social Media Audience

Publication Number: M2027

Farmers' Markets: Good for You and Your Community (brochure)

Publication Number: P3157

Local Food System Economies: How Selected Specialty Crops Contribute to Mississippi’s Economy

Publication Number: P3126

Local Food System Development in Mississippi: How Local Governments Can Support Farmers’ Markets

Publication Number: P2959

Growing Your Brand: Developing a Marketing Plan Workbook

These early stage blueberries are green with a pink center.

Blueberry crop quality, markets side with growers

June 15, 2018 - Filed Under: Fruit, Local Flavor, Specialty Crop Production, Farmers Markets

Blueberry growers in Mississippi are having a successful season thanks to good harvesting conditions, crop quality and market prices.

Strawberries in various stages of ripening sit on top of black weed barrier matting.

Cool spring limits strawberry growth

April 27, 2018 - Filed Under: Crops, Fruit, Specialty Crop Production, Farmers Markets

MACON, Miss. -- Myron Unruh has no complaints about the quality of his farm’s strawberries. He just wishes more of them would grow.

“We picked some strawberries earlier this week, and they were gorgeous, but we’re getting less than half of what we should be getting,” said Unruh, who owns Lazy U Farms in Macon. “It’s pretty tough right now.”

Shoppers can be seen browsing in the background of a farmers market sign.

Fresh, healthy farm tour set for May 22

April 26, 2018 - Filed Under: Local Food System Economies, Farmers Markets, Thad Cochran Agricultural Leadership Program TCALP

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The value and healthfulness of farm-fresh foods will be on display May 22 for a group of 15 adults who attend a Mississippi State University Extension Service daylong tour.

Financial workshops helps agri-businesses

January 29, 2018 - Filed Under: Local Flavor, City and County Government

COLUMBUS, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University Extension Service is offering a financial workshop to entrepreneurs and community leaders working with food or food-related initiatives.

A group of ripening tomatoes are shown in a close-up.

Get Ahead of Vegetable Diseases

January 27, 2018 - Filed Under: Specialty Crop Production, Vegetable Diseases, Vegetable Gardens

Bone-chilling temps have you stuck inside dreaming of that first home-grown tomato sandwich? Well, this is a great time to prepare for a healthy crop. (Photo by Alan Henn)

Five people, three men and two women, stand in front of a Farmers Market Building sign

Where You Are

Farmers Markets
Volume 3 Number 4

Ruby D. Rankin spent 33 years leading, serving, and working hand in hand with the people of Kemper County. Her position with the Mississippi State University Extension Service linked her to the community and made her unforgettable to the people who knew her.