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Acclaimed Food Systems Analyst to Visit Campus Community

March 8, 2022

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. ⁠— Ken Meter, one of the most experienced food systems analysts in the U.S., will deliver a presentation on his work with community food systems at Illinois Wesleyan University on Monday, March 21.

Ken Meter headshot with tomatoes
Food systems analyst Ken Meter will speak at Illinois Wesleyan on March 21. 

After speaking with several IWU classes, Meter will deliver a talk at 7 p.m. on March 21 titled “Local Foods in Central Illinois: Next Steps” in IWU’s Center for Natural Science room C101. The event will also be available via Zoom

Meter will be joined by Jeff Hake, who is a partner at Funks Grove Heritage Fruits and Grains, Board Vice-President of Central Illinois FARM-fed Co-op and President of the Central Illinois Young Farmers Coalition. Hake will speak about local applications of community food systems in his speech, “Weaving a Community Food Web in Mount Pulaski, Ill.” 

On Tuesday, March 22, Meter will give a talk at 7 p.m. at Heartland Community College that focuses on his new book, Building Community Food Webs . This event will also be available via Zoom .

All events are free and open to the public. 

Meter taught at the Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Minnesota. In his work, Meter integrates market analysis, business development, systems thinking and social concerns. 

He has a master’s degree in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School and a master’s degree in arts from Boston University. 

These events are sponsored by Illinois Wesleyan University’s Environmental Studies Department, Illinois State University's Interdisciplinary Food Studies Initiative and Heartland Community College's Agriculture Department.

By Maria Harmon '23