Glossary

Agrihood –  A neighborhood with a working farm integrated into its urban or suburban surroundings that provides or sells its crops and other agricultural products to neighborhood residents and the surrounding community. (Source: Task Force on Farmland Preservation)

Commodity Foods – Refers to crops—primarily corn and soybeans in Dane County—grown for national and global feed, fuel, and processing markets rather than for direct human consumption in the region where they’re grown. 

Community Gardens – An area of land or space managed and maintained by a group of individuals to grow and harvest food crops and/or non-food, ornamental crops, such as flowers, for personal or group use, consumption or donation. Community gardens may be divided into separate plots for cultivation by one or more individuals or may be farmed collectively by members of the group and may include common areas maintained and used by group members. 

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) – A model of direct consumer sales where customers purchase an up-front share in a farm’s annual production and then receive distributions of products as they are harvested throughout the season. This provides much-needed financial flexibility to farm operators. 

Direct-to-Consumer – A retail model where products are sold directly to the end user, bypassing retailers.

Farm Bill – The main federal legislation that dictates U.S. agricultural policy which is traditionally reauthorized every five years. This includes subsidies, US Department of Agricultural funding, and nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

Farm Stand – An open air stand for the seasonal sale of agricultural produce produced on the same Property.

Farmers’ Market – An indoor or outdoor establishment involving sale of farm products, personally prepared food and handcrafted goods.

Farmland Preservation – A land use term typically encountered in rural areas, where programs offer tax credits to incentivize keeping farmland in production and protected from development.

Food Insecurity – The condition that occurs when at least one person in the household experiences insufficient or uncertain access to food at some point in the year.

Food Security – Access to sufficient food for a healthy and active life for all household members at all times.

Food Systems –  The individuals, businesses, processes, and infrastructure involved in feeding people. Food systems operate at multiple levels of society and connect and intersect based on geographic, economic, and cultural dimensions. 

• Local food systems – Food sold to consumers in the same county or multi-county area that it was grown, raised, and produced. Farmers’ markets, CSAs, farm stands, or direct sales to locally owned restaurants and retailers comprise local sales. 
• Regional food systems – Food grown and distributed within a single or multi-state area through small and mid-scale wholesale channels to grocery stores, institutions, restaurants, and food businesses that need consistent volume. 
• National and international food systems – The large-scale supply chains that move products from across the country and world into local grocery stores and restaurants regardless of where it was produced. Foods from other regions or countries that are imported into Wisconsin represent these national and international systems. 

Gleaning – Gathering food that would otherwise be wasted from farms, retailers, and businesses for the purposes of getting it to people who can use it. 

Land Banking – A strategy to acquire land for future development.

Last Mile Distribution – The final segment of a supply chain, moving products from an storage or aggregation facility to the end user. 

Market Garden – An area of land managed and maintained by an individual or group of individuals to grow and harvest food crops and/or non-food, ornamental crops, such as flowers, to be sold for profit. (Source: Farmland Preservation Task Force)

Missing Middle Infrastructure – A lack of mid-scale infrastructure for connecting regional growers and consumers. This could include storage, distribution, or retail space. 

Supply Chains – The network of people, activities, and infrastructure needed to produce and distribute a product. 

Sustainable Agriculture – An integrated system of farming practices that meet current food and production goals without sacrificing the future environment, soil quality, public health, or economic viability. 

Systemically-Excluded – Groups of people with a common identity who have not typically participated in civic decision-making processes commensurate with the proportion of the population they comprise. These groups have often experienced discrimination or marginalization. (Source: Farmland Preservation Task Force)

Urban Agriculture – The production of food for personal consumption, market sale, donation, or educational purposes within cities and suburbs. This could be through growing plants in community gardens, market gardens, edible landscapes, and more or keeping animals like chickens or bees.

Value-Added – Additions or changes made to a product that can increase its value to the end consumer and therefore merit a higher sale price. With agricultural products this can refer to combining multiple raw ingredients, preserving, or adding flavor to increase shelf life, divert waste, and increase sales potential.