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Food Policy Councils: An Online ConversationMarch 16, 2012
Agenda for Today’s Webinar
• Welcome and technology overview• Who is the Central Appalachian Network?• Presentations • The Knoxville/Knox County Food Policy
Council (Tennessee)• The Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy
Council (North Carolina)• The Athens Food Policy Council (Ohio)• Questions and discussion
Technology Overview
• Attendee lists – how to hide or expand
• Meeting chat – ask questions or make comments
• Address to host (Katy Allen) or to everyone
• Webinar is being recorded• Follow-up email: link to
recording and short evaluation survey
The Central Appalachian Network
• Network led by six non-profit organizations• ACEnet – Athens, OH• ASD – Abingdon, VA• CEO – Charleston, WV• MACED – Berea, KY• NCIF – Shepherdstown, WV• Rural Action – Trimble, OH
• Shared purpose is to work for a more just and sustainable Appalachia
The Central Appalachian Network
• Focused on building and strengthening local and regional agricultural value chains
• Training, technical assistance, network-building, regional gatherings, online learning opportunities, policy outreach and education, small grants program
• For more information, visit www.cannetwork.org
Knoxville-Knox County Food Policy Council
A Pioneer in Food Systems Policy Work
Stephanie WelchChair, Knoxville-Knox County Food Policy Council
andDirector of Community Development and Planning,
Knox County Health Department
Knoxville-Knox County Food Policy CouncilEstablished 1982 by Knoxville Resolution (R-
202-81).Expanded to include Knox County in 2002 (R-
02-6-903).Purpose: Monitor Knoxville’s food supply
system and recommend appropriate actions to improve the system.
11 Members:5 City Appointees6 County Appointees
How It Started1977 report by University of Tennessee
Graduate School of PlanningUnder the direction of Robert Wilson
Recommendations: Establish a Food Policy Council Create plans or policies to preserve ag. land Support activities to increase urban gardening Improve wholesale produce facilities Study long-term need for produce facility, food
distribution center, food production center, farmers’ market
Prepare for solid-waste disposal need of 1982 World Fair
Monitor food retail operations, particularly effect on disadvantaged groups
And More….
How It StartedAssessment report caught the
attention of Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC)
CAC received funding from USDA to support a “Food Supply Project”
Reps from Food Supply Project approached Knoxville Mayor to request: Staff support from Community and
Economic Development and from planning commission
Assistance with approaching local food industry reps, transportation officials
Ongoing support from his office City Council adopted resolution to
establish the Knoxville Food Policy Council
Early ActivitiesAssessments:
Interviews and public forum eventsEnvironmental assessments and interviews in
inner-city food storesPrice comparisons between inner-city and
outlying storesRecommendations:
Planning to include food distributionDevelopers to provide food facilities for Worlds
Fair residential development
Early ActivitiesSuccessful advocacy efforts:
Bus route changes related to grocery locationsNew “grocery bus”Grocery stores began carrying folding carts for
persons who shopped by busGrowth of school breakfast to include 5,300
more childrenEstablished a school nutrition education
positionAnnual Report to City Council
Knoxville-Knox County Food Policy Council Members
City of Knoxville Appointees:
Chad Hellwinckel, UT Agricultural Economics
James Bosi, SyscoGail Root, Second HarvestCharlotte Tolley, Market
Square Farmers MarketMark Campen, Knoxville
City Council
Knox County Appointees:
Barbara Monty, CAC Office on Aging
Emily Gonzalez, UT Extension
Robert Hodge, El Puente (Vice-Chair)
Amy Broyles, Knox County Commission
Jon Dickl, Knox County Schools
Stephanie Welch, Knox County Health Department (Chair)
Recent ActivitiesPartnered with UT to
complete a food equity assessment
Convened a series of forums on community gardens
Produced a community garden toolkit
Compiled a report outlining the connections between local food systems and our economy
March 10L&N Stem Academy
Special event for policy makers: March 9, 8:30 – 10:30, East TN History Center
Hear from an expert about how the food system impacts our local economy
Helping people become involved in local food and active outdoor spaces in
support of their own healthy living.
Also check out FRESH (the movie), March 9, 7:30 p.m. at
Relix Variety Theatre (across from Time Warp Tea
Room!)
Ingredients for SuccessLeadership:
FacilitationPassionCommunication skillsTime/energyCultivate future
leadershipStructure:
Bylaws, guiding principals
Organizational support (minutes, meeting reminders, etc.)
Membership rotation
Focus:Realistic expectationsTied to guiding
principalsBased on: data,
opportunity, passion and expertise of members
RelationshipsWithin teamWith stakeholders
ResourcesDedicated staff and
funding is useful
Knoxville Knox County Food Policy Councilhttp://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/food.asp
Stephanie Welch, Chair, Knoxville-Knox County Food Policy CouncilDirector, Community Development and PlanningKnox County Health [email protected]; 215-5297
Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy
Council
Addressing Poverty, Public Health, Local
Commerce and Sustainability through Food
Security
Food Security
The world health organization defines
food security as existing “when all people at all times
have access to sufficient, safe
nutritious food to maintain a healthy
and active life”
Regional Food Security
• 14 of Buncombe County’s 15 ZIP codes contain a food outlet of some sort yet 1 out of 6 people in WNC experience food insecurity
• 27% increase in county residents receiving food assistance in 2010
• 50% of students within Buncombe County School system were enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program during 2009-2010 year, up from 47% the previous year
•Asheville has now been ranked third in the nation for food hardship, up from 7th in 2010
•Impaired mental and physical development in young children
•Food insecure children are 90% more likely to be in fair or poor health than food secure children
•A poorly prepared and uncompetitive work force
•Family and personal instability, where uncertainness over “the next meal” creates a roadblock to dealing with other problems
Problems associated with Food Insecurity
Causes of Food Insecurity
•“Food Deserts”-areas that do not have a convenient, affordable, healthy food source nearby, or full scale grocery store
•High prices for healthy food even when it is available
•Inadequate cooking education and nutrition information
•Limited public awareness on the necessity and accessibility of affordable, healthy food
•The availability of Local sustainable food to the population
Opportunities to a Food Secure Community
We have enormous opportunities regarding our community’s commitment to ensuring a stable, healthy, and affordable food supply. Food security encompasses issues of poverty, public health, local commerce, and sustainability.
Improving Food security
•Local food is a simple, convenient, and powerful tool to achieve food security
•Local food is reliably healthy and beneficial to the economy
• Local food increases access and affordability of fruits and vegetables
Buncombe County & Asheville
•In 2007 there were 72,087 acres used as farmland
•There are currently 15 major tailgate markets in Asheville and growing
•There are approximately 11 community gardens in Asheville and growing
•There are many community gardens in Buncombe County and growing
Improving food security
infrastructure•If the food and farm economy were expanded in WNC an additional $200 to $300 million would be spent on locally sourced food within the region
•Expanding could increase employment opportunities
•Local food expansion could address poverty, public health, commerce, and sustainability within any community or region
Local Food Policy Council
•Food insecurity is complex and cannot be solved by one organization or one initiative
•In WNC several organizations are concerned with hunger and food security
•Buncombe County and Asheville have a good foundation with strong local food awareness and community support
•The opportunity to work across sectors, government, business, non-profits, educational institutions and other organizations
Food Policy Council Makeup
•Diverse makeup, farmers, community leaders, food banks, faith based, health directors, hospitals, community centers, local restaurants, educators, and community members
• Local food production, distribution, and education
•These stakeholders are people with the ideas, resources, and ability to make a difference and who, given the opportunity, will make a difference
Goals of the council
•Improve food sustainability within the region
•Coordinate production and distribution to increase efficiency
•Expand food education
•Improve land usage
•Increase access of healthier food options
Food Working Group
Brandee Boggs- Director- UNCA Student Environmental Center
Darcel Eddins- Executive Director, Bountiful Cities
Olufemi Lewis- Public Housing Resident and Community Gardener
Austin Fero- UNCA Intern
Fred Porter- Asheville High School Intern
Jodi Rhoden- Local Business Owner, Board Member, Bountiful Cities
Gordon Smith- Asheville City Council
Starting Asheville’s Food Policy Council
The Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council began as a collaboration between a local urban agriculture organization (Bountiful Cities), the University of North Carolina Asheville, community members, and City Councilman Gordon Smith. This working group met with representatives of over 50 government, private sector, and community organizations to introduce the idea of a food policy council. The first convening in Fall of 2011 saw over 80 community members in attendance.
Structure: Clusters Model The Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council agreed to move ahead with a Spokes and Hub model of organization. The spokes, or Clusters, meet to address specific aspects of food security and then send representatives to be a part of the formal Food Policy Council. We are now working with the following 7 Clusters - Communications; Asset Mapping; Legislation, Policy, and Advocacy; Land Use Policy; Public Health, Wellness, and Education; Access; and Local Food Flow.
Decision-Making: Dynamic
GovernanceThe Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council has agreed to use the model of Dynamic Governance for decision making. Attendees agreed that the decision-making process seems to be fair, democratic and efficient. The process allows each voter to ask questions, share responses and have a voice. Dynamic Governance is a decision-making structure that combines the most effective qualities of traditional decision-making (like Robert’s Rules of Order) with newer models such as Consensus.
Contact Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council:
www.abfoodpolicy.com
Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council on Facebook
Athens Food Policy Council
Athens County, Ohio
Why A Food Policy Council?
Community Member Driven: sparked from Athens City Town Hall meeting
Public support for the local food economy
Public interest in developing front yard garden policy for Athens City
Public concerns about food access gaps
Provided needed structure for collaboration between organizations
AFPC Membership Farmers and Producers Athens City-County Health
Department Rural Action ACENet Community Food Initiatives Locavore Business Owners Ohio University faculty and
staff Live Healthy Appalachia Athens City Chamber of
Commerce: 30 Mile Meal Extension Office staff Local government officials And many more!
AFPC Goals Mission Statement
“The mission of the AFPC is to grow healthy, equitable, and sustainable food systems in our region.” Focus Areas
Education
Local Foods Marketing
Access and Equity
Economic and Food Community Assessment
Advocacy
Policy
Structure Monthly Meetings
Open to the public
Agency-sponsored facilitator
Subcommittees
Open forum for agenda items
Children enjoying local apples
Front Yard Gardening Policy
Ohio University commitment to local foods
Policy Changes May be a law, ordinance, resolution, mandate, regulation, or rule (both formal and informal) that guide or influence behavior. Big “P” or little “p.”
Chesterhill Produce Auction: (from Left) Leslie Schaller of ACENet, Debbie Philips of Ohio Congress, Matt Rapposeli of Ohio University
Environmental Changes
Youth Entrepreneurs vending at Athens Farmers Market
Involves physical or material changes to the economic, social or physical environment.
Eight Local Community Gardens
Fruit and Nut Tree Planting and Mapping
System Changes
Food is Elementary
Country Fresh Stops
Nelsonville and Trimble Farmers Market
Local Food is Schools (from public schools to the university)
Worksite CSA Delivery
Impact all elements of an organization, institution, or system.Can include a policy or an environmental change strategy.
Country Fresh Stops at Cee-Dee Handi-Mart in Chauncey, Ohio
Education and Advocacy
30 Mile Meal
Live Healthy Appalachia Summit
Cook’s Conferences
Community Education and Outreach
University students and professors providing research and grant writing
Bob Fedyski teaching knife skills workshop for AmeriCorps Members
Southeastern Ohio Cook’s Conference, 2011
Educating Ourselves
Panel Discussion on Food Policy with City, County and State Politicians
USDA & Farm Bill Policy-Mike Strode
Natural Gas Industrial Activity and Impact on Agriculture-Sonia Marcus, Natalie Kruse, and others
Challenges Keeping farmers engaged
Addressing diverse interests within membership
Sustainability: there is a need to develop a representative board to meet quarterly.
Need for Food Systems Infrastructure
Funding
Ongoing need for community education
Need to directly connect AFPC with State-level sustainable agriculture umbrella organizations (OEEFFA, IFOH, Farm Bureau, etc)
Athens Food Policy Council
Contact Information Bob Fedyski
Rural Action Sustainable Agriculture
740-767-4938 [email protected]
Ruth Dudding Athens City-County Health Department
740-592-4431 ext 225 [email protected]
Mary Nally Athens City-County Health Department/AmeriCorps
740-592-4431 ext 226 [email protected]
