Post-Conference Tours

Farm-Nonfarm Conflicts at the Urban Fringe
Chester County, one of the counties directly adjacent to Philadelphia, happens to be the nation's center for mushroom production-- it alone accounts for more than 80 percent of all mushrooms produced in the United States (this area also happens to be the home of Andrew Wyeth, the Brandywine River Valley, Brandywine Revolutionary War battle, etc). For more than 100 years, mushroom production has been the major force in its agriculture. But increasing development pressures, from both Philadelphia (35 miles away) and from Wilmington, Delaware (just 15 miles away) have brought very expensive homes in direct proximity to mushroom farms, with a resulting major conflict between farmers and non-farmers. It has threatened the survival of the mushroom industry in the area, with major lawsuits, allegations of threats to public health, etc.

This tour would visit a mushroom farm and meet with local officials, providing an objective perspective on farm-nonfarm issues. Participants will tour a mushroom farm that has been at the center of local controversy in Chester County, before touring the nearby neighborhood. Over lunch at a nearby restaurant, participants will meet some local officials and have the opportunity to discuss and learn more about this situation, and how Cooperative Extension is responding.

Even though mushroom production is unique compared to most other types of farm production, the types of conflicts (odors, and concerns from neighbors about the "ethnicity" of the farmworkers- most are Mexican migrant workers) aren't dissimilar from what can occur with other types of agriculture. In many ways, Chester County provides a glimpse into the future for many agricultural areas close to urban centers.

Note: At the end of the tour, the bus passes close to the Philadelphia airport. The tour bus will stop at the airport for participants who want to depart directly rather than return to the hotel. Participants wanting to be dropped off at the airport must bring their luggage with them on the tour bus (secure space will be provided).
8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Urban Farms/Local Foods
See the consumer end of farm-to-market and urban agriculture efforts. Philadelphia has a thriving urban farm environment, major farm to chef initiatives and a very active consumer community actively engaged with farmers from the region.

The tour will visit Reading Terminal Market, Greensgrow Farms and Yards Brewery, where, along with the local beers we will enjoy a lunch catered by Fair Food and presentations by the Institute for Innovations and Local Farming, the East Passyunk Business Improvement District, and Farm to City.

The nation’s oldest, continuously operating, enclosed farmers market, Reading Terminal Market, was established in 1892. Over 80 merchants, including Amish farmers, offer fresh produce, meats, fish, ethnic foods and groceries, flowers, baked goods, crafts, and books, every day of the week.
Greensgrow Farms is a nationally recognized leader in urban farming, is a ¾ acre experimental hydroponic farm with a high tunnel and greenhouses. It is a multifaceted operation, including a nursery, a farm market, and a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program all built on abandoned land. It is stocked with the best the region has to offer and specializes in plants and vegetables for the urban gardener and garden.

Yards Brewery is the oldest and only surviving brewery within city limits and is now producing 10,000 barrels per year in its new home, the former Weibrod & Hess Oriental Brewing Company, which closed in 1939. The company has made an investment in the renewal of our city and hopes to be here for a long time!

Fair Food is dedicated to bringing locally grown food into the Philadelphia marketplace and promoting a humane, sustainable agriculture for the Greater Philadelphia region. It runs the Fair Food Farmstand at the Reading Terminal Market, is part of the national Buy Fresh, Buy Local consumer campaign and produces the Philadelphia Local Food Guide. It also fosters connections between family farms and an ever-growing network of chefs, caterers and grocers. Fair Food is a project of the White Dog Café Foundation.
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Mural Arts
Throughout Philadelphia, once empty and scarred walls are now filled with murals of peaceful gardens and exotic landscapes, moving tributes to historic figures and local heroes, and allegories that speak to the values and aspirations of Philadelphia's diverse communities. Join the city's Mural Arts Program for a 2-hour trolley tour as we take you into the city's neighborhoods to see a sampling of Philadelphia's 2000 most famous and colorful works of public art. You will explore how murals are made, hear the inspiring stories of how they changed their communities and the people involved in creating them, and learn how the Mural Arts Program is an important component of the city's community development efforts. We will meet and talk with Jane Golden, founder and head of the Mural Arts Program, while we lunch at Farmicia, a restaurant which features locally grown produce and family farmed animal products.
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM