Merc staffers attend food conference

Community Mercantile board of directors president Carolyn Micek; Rita York, general manager; and staffers Jacqueline Victor and Taylor Hollenbeck attended the Iowa Local Foods Conference on Sept. 4 in Fairfield, Iowa.

The Merc is a cooperatively owned local business, committed to becoming a leader in sustainability and supporting local food systems. The four representatives attended workshops on community-supported agriculture, farm-to-school programs, food policy efforts, as well as larger lectures on the economics, culture and identity of local food efforts.

Lawrence created its own food policy council and asked York to be a member last month.