Publications: All (A–Z)

Addressing Hunger by Strengthening Local Foods Logistics. By Ken Meter (2013). Metrics in the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 3(3), 9–11.

Allowing Ethnic Heritage To Emerge in Farm and Food Policy. By Ken Meter (2015). Metrics in the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 5(4), 11-13.

An Overview of Mississippi’s Farm & Food Economy. By Ken Meter and Megan Phillips Goldenberg (2013). Produced for the Mississippi Food Policy Council with support from Winrock International.

“Assessing Food Systems as Complex Adaptive Systems: Conceptual Views and US Applications.” Ken Meter (2019). Chapter 4 (pp. 66-90) of Sustainable Food System Assessment: Lessons from Global Practice. Edited by Alison Blay-Palmer, Damien Conaré, Ken Meter, Amanda Di Battista, and Carla Johnston. Routledge Press (UK) (2019).

Auburn’s Agricultural and Resource Protection Zoning (AGRP): Consultant Recommendations. Prepared for the City of Auburn, Maine, by Crossroads Resource Center (2018).

Auburn’s Local Economy: Agriculture, Forestry, and Housing. Prepared for the City of Auburn, Maine, by Crossroads Resource Center (2018).

Breaking Our Chains. By Ken Meter (2011). Metrics in the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 1(4), 23-25.

Building a Framework for Sustainable Livelihoods. By Ken Meter (2012). Metrics in the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 3(1), 13-15.

Building Community Connections Through Community Foods. Prepared for Maricopa County Food Systems Council by Crossroads Resource Center (2018). Also Appendix 3, including updated data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis

Building economic multipliers, rather than measuring them: Community-minded ways to develop economic impacts. By Megan Phillips Goldenberg and Ken Meter, Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, January 23, 2019.

Building Food Security in Alaska. By Ken Meter and Megan Phillips Goldenberg (2014). Statewide study commissioned by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

Building Soil Health in New Mexico. By Ken Meter (2021). Produced for New Mexico Healthy Soil Working Group.

Business Plan for the Hiawatha Fund. A Regional Investment Fund for Southeast Minnesota: “Investments you can drive by” Lead author Ken Meter.

Common Ground Magazine

Community Food System Strategic Plan. By Ken Meter for Sun Valley Institute. Crossroads Resource Center, February 12, 2019.

Co-ops and Collective Impact. By Ken Meter (2014). Metrics in the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 4(3), 11-14.

Critical Analysis of Economic Impact Methodologies. By Meter, K. and Goldenberg, M.P. Section of Lynch, J., et al, Exploring Economic and Health Impacts of Local Food Procurement (pp.111-124). Chicago, IL: Illinois Public Health Institute (2015)

Demand Survey For Community Foods with Strategies for Low-Income Access. By Ken Meter and Megan Phillips Goldenberg (2018). Prepared for the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance as they begin engaging low-income residents in their 10-parish region.

Designing Food to Suit Our Infrastructure?. By Ken Meter (2014). Metrics in the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 4(4), 17–20.

Developing a Vibrant and Sustainable Regional Food System: Suggestions for Community-Based Groups. Pirog, Rich, et al. A regional food planning guidebook produced by the Aldo Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Regional Food System Working Group, Iowa State University. (2006).

Economic Realities of the Region. Ken Meter’s 2007 PowerPoint presentation at Rep. Collin Peterson’s annual forum, “The Home Grown Economy,” incorporating results from “Finding Food in Farm Country” studies.

Economies of Size Considerations for Hiawatha Fund. By Ken Meter for the University of Minnesota—Experiment in Rural Cooperation, Southeast Minnesota Sustainable Finance Initiative (2004). Economies of size are not always as large as is commonly believed.

“Evaluating Farm and Food Systems in the U.S.”. Chapter by Ken Meter in Systems Concepts in Evaluation: An Expert Anthology, Williams, Bob and Iraj Imam, eds. (American Evaluation Association, published by EdgePress of Inverness, 2006), page 141.

Evaluating Your “Buy Fresh Buy Local” Foods Campaign. Published in cooperation with FoodRoutes (2005).

Expanded Golden Triangle (Montana) Potential Community Foods Collaborative. By Ken Meter and Megan Phillips Goldenberg (2017). Produced for Montana Cooperative Development Center, Montana Farmers Union, and Farmers Union International.

Exploring Economic and Health Impacts of Local Food Procurement. By Lynch, J; Meter, K.; Robles-Schrader, G.; Goldenberg, M.P.; Bassler, E.; Chusid, S.; & Austin, C.J.. Chicago, IL: Illinois Public Health Institute (2015)

Fifty-Year Vision and Indicators for a Sustainable Minneapolis. Ken Meter (2004).

Finding Food in Farm Country. The original study that paved the way for bringing economic analysis into local foods work, by Ken Meter and Jon Rosales (2001).

“Finding Food in Farm Country” Studies

Finding Food in Northwest Ohio (104mb). Partner: University of Toledo Urban Affairs Center, Ohio Department of Agriculture (2012).

“Food Production Nodes” Build a Web of Support Around a Food Hub. By Ken Meter (2013).

Food With the Farmer’s Face On It: Emerging Community-Based Food Systems. A media guide introducing readers to this vital movement, produced by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. (2003)

Global Cooperation Requires New Approach by U.S.. How the U.S. can build stronger global partnerships, by Ken Meter, in Community Food Security News (October, 2006)

Green Isle: Feeding the World and Farming for the Banker. By Ken Meter (1983).

Growth in Local Food Economies. Ken’s PowerPoint presentation at the 2008 “The Home Grown Economy,” forum, focussing on successful local foods initiatives around the U.S.

Historical Review of Research Covering Economies of Size. By Ken Meter for the University of Minnesota—Experiment in Rural Cooperation, Southeast Minnesota Sustainable Finance Initiative (2004).

Hoosier Farmer? Emerging Food Systems in Indiana. By Ken Meter (2012).

How Do We Grow New Farmers? By Ken Meter (2012). Metrics from the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 2(2), 3-6.

How Feasible is a Food Hub for Northern Utah? By Ken Meter (2021).
Accompanying data reports:

Northern Utah Farm and Food Economy

Background Data for Wasatch Front Metro Counties of Utah

How Local Economic Analysis Can Help Focus Community Engagement and How one local foods campaign used Crossroads’ analysis (2006).

Kansas City Kansas Healthy Food System Assessment. By Ken Meter and Megan Phillips Goldenberg (2017). Produced for The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas; and Healthy Communities Wyandotte.

Ken Meter’s testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee presenting the results of Finding Food in Farm Country (Stewartville, Minnesota, 2001).

Learning How to Multiply. By Ken Meter (2010). Metrics in the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 1(2), 9-12.

Learning Together. By Ken Meter (2011). Metrics in the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Developmen, 2(3).

Letting Food Systems Emerge. By Ken Meter (2010) Metrics in the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 1(1).

“Linked Indicators of Sustainability Build Bridges of Trust.” Chapter by Ken Meter in Maida, Carl A., ed. Sustainability and Communities of Place, Volume 5, Studies in Environmental Anthropology and Ethnobiology, published by Berghahn Books (UK) (2007).

Local Data Is Endangered. By Ken Meter (2014). Metrics in the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 4(2), 7-8.

Local Food as Community Economic Development Ken Meter (2008)

Local Food Systems: Building Health & Wealth in Metro Denver. Prepared for the Metro Denver Health & Wellness Commission by Ken Meter and Angie Tagtow (2008).

Making Small Farms into Big Business (South Carolina) by Ken Meter and Megan Phillips Goldenberg (2013).

Mapping the Minnesota Food Industry documents the Minnesota food economy (2009).

Money With Roots by Ken Meter (1990).

Neighborhood Balance Sheets Assess Local Economies (summary of studies completed to date). Individual summaries may be requested from Crossroads.

Neighborhood Commercial Development for the Long Term, showing that building strong neighborhood commercial districts involves building wealth for local residents.

Neighborhood Sustainability Indicators Guidebook. How to Create Neighborhood Sustainability Indicators in Your Neighborhood. Produced for the Urban Ecology Coalition (Minneapolis) by Crossroads Resource Center (1999).

New Hampshire Farm, Fish, & Food Economy. . By Ken Meter (2019). Compiled for National Family Farm Coalition for its presidential candidate forum, November 5, 2019.

Nimi’ipuu (Nez Perce Tribe) Food Sovereignty Assessment. By Ken Meter (2018). Produced for Nez Perce Tribe Economic Development.

Ohio’s Food Systems — Farms at the Heart of It All. By Ken Meter (2011). Produced for the University of Toledo Urban Affairs Center, with funds from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Potential Infrastructure Investments for Alaska-Grown Food. By Ken Meter and Megan Phillips Goldenberg (2018). Prepared for the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and the Alaska Food Policy Council for implementing our 2014 Alaska food system assessment.

Proposals for Census of Agriculture 2012. Ken Meter (2009).

Proposed Indicators for a Sustainable Food System. Project Manager: Gail Feenstra, UCSAREP. Principal investigators: Carolina Jaramillo, Steven McGrath, Ken Meter and Analisa Gunnell. Prepared by Katy Mamen, consultant. (2005)

Seventeen Reasons to Do Food System Assessments. By Ken Meter (2011). Metrics in the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 2(1), 7-9.

Sicangu Lakota Oyate Nation Farm & Food Economy.. By Ken Meter (2019). Produced for Rosebud Economic Development Corporation.

Small Firms and Big Markets. This comprehensive paper looks at industry clusters in Italy and shows why regional economies are important in a globalized world. By Joshua Whitford (1997).

“Sustainable Food System Assessment: Lessons from Global Practice.” Alison Blay-Palmer, Damien Conaré, Ken Meter, and Amanda Di Battista. Introductory Chapter (pp. 1-15) to Sustainable Food System Assessment: Lessons from Global Practice. Edited by Alison Blay-Palmer, Damien Conaré, Ken Meter, Amanda Di Battista, and Carla Johnston. Routledge Press (UK) (2019).

Sustainable Food System Assessment: Lessons from Global Practice. Edited by Alison Blay-Palmer, Damien Conaré, Ken Meter, Amanda Di Battista, and Carla Johnston. Routledge Press (UK) (2019).

The End of Local? Book Review: Shuman’s “Local Dollars, Local Sense” By Ken Meter (2012). Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 2(3), 211-213.

The Potential for Urban Agriculture. Ken Meter (2009).

The Real Deal: How Do We Define “Local” in a Meaningful and Measurable Way? Goldenberg, MP; Meter, K; Snyder, B; Miller, S; Amsterdam, R; and Smith, L (2014). Produced by Crossroads Resource Center for Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture in collaboration with FoodRoutes Network and Farmers Market Coalition.

“The View from Here: a Critical Consideration of Sustainable Food System Assessments.” Alison Blay-Palmer, Damien Conaré, Ken Meter, and Amanda Di Battista (2019). Concluding chapter (pp. 234-251) of Sustainable Food System Assessment: Lessons from Global Practice. Edited by Alison Blay-Palmer, Damien Conaré, Ken Meter, Amanda Di Battista, and Carla Johnston. Routledge Press (UK) (2019).

Three Potential Value-Added Opportunities for the San Luis Valley. Prepared for the Adams State University Value-Added Committee Alamosa, Colorado (2018).

Two New Tools for Measuring Economic Impacts. By Ken Meter (2015). Metrics in the Field column for Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 5(3), 5-7.

U.S. Food Market Highlights. Revised September 5, 2006

U.S. Natural and Organic Foods Market Highlights. 2006

U.S. Poised to Become Net Food Importer (Ken Meter, 2006).

Use Local Economic Analysis to Strengthen “Buy Fresh Buy Local” Foods Campaigns. Published in cooperation with FoodRoutes (2005).

What Would Be in Your Ideal Farm Bill in 2007? Essential steps for the 2007 Farm Bill (Ken Meter, 2006)

Where Will Our Food Come From? Regarding Minneapolis/St. Paul (Ken Meter, 2006).

Who Produces Minnesota’s Food? Ken Meter (1981)

Writing Farm Policy by Ken Meter (1986).