The Missouri Regional Cuisines Project (MRCP), launched in 2003, seeks to market Missouri wine and food products using distinct labels of origin based on ecological regions of the state. Labels of origin have been used for centuries in European countries to identify food and wine products based on the region in which they are produced -- allowing the consumer to distinguish among the unique tastes and attributes of products from different areas. This identification of Missouri products will mean greater recognition and economic opportunities for our state's food producers, tourism industry, and rural communities.

According to Dr. Elizabeth Barham, Professor of Rural Sociology at the University of Missouri, "...regionalization can be an important way to proactively counter impacts of globalization by building a critical mass of interconnected businesses that, together, can map a strategy for their future. While a single small or medium-sized business acting alone cannot put into motion the partnerships with government and education that can secure that future, a viable network of regional businesses connected across sectors can." While the concept of a regional approach to economic development has been around for some time, for a number of reasons it has been slow to take hold in rural areas. Using labels of origin and focusing on the unique offerings of a region provides a distinct focus for collaborative economic development.

Project Goals:

• Promote sustainable rural development
• Foster an appreciation for rural regional identity
• Increase local cooperation among producers, marketers, and community entities
• Develop new economic opportunities for rural regions faced with globalizing markets

The process:

The MRCP organizes local groups to take charge of setting their own goals for the region and for the stakeholder groups. In the pilot region, participants chose to organize into four stakeholder groups: wine industry, tourism / hospitality, agricultural producers, and local governments and economic developers. A regional "roundtable" serves to coordinate communications and planning. A diagram of the roundtable is found on the Reports and Notes page (link in the menu bar on the left).

A primary goal for a MRCP region is the development of a label of origin for locally produced products (primarily foods and wines), and corresponding standards of quality for the label. Each industry area is responsible for setting their own standards. The standards are not mandatory, and not all products will meet the identified standards.

Visit the MRCP website @: http://www.extension.missouri.edu/cuisines