FCS Diversity and Inclusion - PROPOSED RULE - MARCH 2011
Dear Mr. Van Meter,
I thank you for the opportunity to comment on ways that the FCS can improves its service to small and midsize, local and regional food producers. The food I buy at our local farmer's markets is organic, without toxic pesticides and unhealthy hormones and it is superior in flavor. Diversifying the FCS loan portfolio such that that each FCS institution creates a baseline analysis of local and regional food producers by number of borrowers, by loan volume and other characteristics.
PLease also add local and regional food producers to the FCS board and a plan for developing lending and business support products with terms and benefits appropriate for local and regional food producers.