WHAT'S COOKING?

Help could soon be available for those who are interested in connecting with buyers for local homemade food items, ranging from jams to baked goods.

It's the latest step in a far-reaching series of public/private partnerships being developed to support agriculture and a "back to the land" movement.

Supporters envision a community facility where producers can prepare jams and jellies, maple products, cherry butter, herb mixes, baked goods and other food items.

State laws covering packaging, labeling, quality testing, safety, content and processing often discourage local producers from selling their goods.

With the Shared Incubator Kitchen, growers and producers could meet the state regulations while receiving help with promotion.

This could eventually be tied in with opportunities for national and even international marketing of locally produced merchandise.

The Shared Incubator Kitchen is one component of the local "Food Matrix" initiative. The other elements have moved forward: Community Sustained Agriculture (CSA), where consumers partner with local farmers for a season's worth of chemicalfree produce; and the Farmers Market, where products are marketed on weekends at the courthouse square in Coudersport and Galeton.

Among other possible projects: corn mazes, farm tours, demonstration gardens and pilot projects for "green" energy production, wood crafts and other local, landbased businesses.

Several Food Matrix volunteers are also involved in the Buy Fresh, Buy Local agricultural promotion program as well as the Agriculture Heritage Alliance. The latter is a multi-county organization, similar in focus to the Emporium based Lumber Heritage Region.