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Central Texas Foodshed Assessment Presentation to the San Antonio Food Policy Council

Central Texas Foodshed Assessment Presentation to the San Antonio Food Policy Council. Karen Banks January 19, 2011. Why a Community Food Assessment?. Sustainable Food Policy Council (2008) Access Denied (1995) Where are there gaps in our local food system and how can we close those gaps ?

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Central Texas Foodshed Assessment Presentation to the San Antonio Food Policy Council

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  1. Central Texas Foodshed AssessmentPresentation to the San Antonio Food Policy Council Karen Banks January 19, 2011

  2. Why a Community Food Assessment? • Sustainable Food Policy Council (2008) • Access Denied (1995) • Where are there gaps in our local food system and how can we close those gaps ? • Production • Consumption Source: vancouver.ca/commsvcs/socialplanning/initiatives/foodpolicy/systems/just.htm;

  3. Goals • City of Austin/Travis County Sustainable Food Policy Board • Monitor availability, price & quality of food throughout Austin & Travis County; • Collect data on the food security & the nutritional status of city residents; • Inform policy about the status of the region's food system & food security; • Monitor and analyze city & county food & nutrition programs; • Explore new means to improve the local food economy; • Review availability & recommend measures to preserve agricultural land in Austin & Travis County; • Recommend measures to improve existing local food production & add new programs, incentives. • Central Texas Foodshed Assessment • Estimate the capacity of the region to meet the food needs of it’s inhabitants. • Appropriately address disparities in access to culturally appropriate, healthy food. • Create opportunities for regional farmers which also increase food equity within our regional food system. • Foster new connections between food-focused organizations to ensure that our local food system is holistic and effective. • Ensure the implementation of meaningful, comprehensive policies to support a healthy, viable, sustainable Central Texas foodshed.

  4. Production Goal & Objectives • Estimate the regional production capacity of Central Texas to meet the food needs of Austin-Round Rock MSA area inhabitants. • Inventory existing agricultural land based on acreage and production • Identify ability of region to meet per capita consumption estimates based on regional crop production estimates. • Engage farmers in participatory meetings to identify issues affecting regional farm stability

  5. Production Activities • Scale Frame • 5 counties: Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, Williamson • Resource Inventory • 155 farms serve the region • 102 located in 5 counties • 29 farmers’ markets • 6 farm stands • 35 community gardens • Farmer Discussions • 5 discussion with 20 people

  6. Production Outcome • What works? • School support • Network of organizations • Producer cooperatives • Year-round growing season • Awareness and culture that values of local, sustainable, organic • Network of knowledgeable farmers • What needs fixing? • Culture of cheap food • Affordable and accessible land • Policies that work against alternative practices • Texas water laws • Financial resources • Tax exemptions • Connecting new and existing farmer

  7. Consumption Goal & Objectives • Appropriately address disparities in access to culturally appropriate, healthy food based on consumer perception of the regional food system. • Evaluate accessibility: inventory availability, quality, cost of produce at regional food retailers • Identify gaps in physical access • Identify social access barriers by surveying community members about their perceptions of the food environment in Austin and their desires for the food system

  8. Consumption Activities • Scale Frame • 13 Zip Codes • Store Inventory • DSHS Texas Nutrition Environments Assessment (TXNEA) • 108 stores • 55 UT students & community volunteers • Community Conversations • 20 conversations with 195 people • 59% Latino • 19% African American • 20% receive WIC • 33% receive SNAP benefits • 78% earn less than $2,000/month

  9. Consumption Outcomes • What are the barriers? • Financial • Seasonality • Personal taste • Access and selection • Cooking skills • Health education • Transportation What is “healthy eating”? FRUITS & VEGETABLES Fish Chicken WHITE MEATS Olive oil HOME COOKED MEAL Balanced diet Whole grains Whole wheat pasta Small portions No salt NO FAT All the food groups Not processed

  10. Analysis • Access and Awareness • Areas with x number of residents must have a fully-stocked grocery store within x miles. • Pressure industry to ensure consistency amongst stores • Farmers’ markets, community gardens and farm stands are gateways to healthy food • Mobile farm stand • Cooperative buying club • Cooking classes using locally-grown foods on a budget • Agriculture • Buy Local Campaign • Resource center to connect new and existing farmer • Retirement planning • Urban Agriculture part of urban growth

  11. Policy Goals & Objectives • Foster new connections between food-focused organizations. • Work with local government to increase awareness about the local food system to better support local producers. • Engage local businesses in discussion about how to increase the market for locally grown food, and improve food equity. • Bring non-profits together to discuss ideas for collaborate and cross promotion of programs. • Create opportunities for regional farmers which also increase food equity. • Collect input from farmers on barriers to and opportunities for economic development and job training. • Develop incentive and policy recommendations that promote local food business development. • Ensure the implementation of meaningful, comprehensive policies to support a healthy, viable, sustainable foodshed • Inventory relevant state and local policies, and regional and community plans and zoning that impact the regional food system. • Evaluate the adaptability food policy recommendation from other regions. • Draft effective policies based on synthesis of the information gleaned for this assessment.

  12. Data Sources • Alamo Area Council of Governments • www.aacog.com • American Community Gardening Association • www.communitygarden.org • Community Food Security Coalition • www.foodsecurity.org • Farm Service Agency (Texas) • www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateoffapp?mystate=tx&area=home&subject=landing&topic=landing • Local Harvest • www.localharvest.org • Texas AgriLife Extension Service (Bexar County) • bexar-tx.tamu.edu • Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts • www.window.state.tx.us • Texas Department of Agriculture • www.agr.state.tx.us / www.picktexas.com • Texas Department of State Health Services Texas Nutrition Environments Assessment • www.dshs.state.tx.us/obesity/txnea.shtm • Supermarket Access Map • www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=153c17de00914039bb28f6f6efe6d322 • USDA Census of Agriculture • www.agcensus.usda.gov • USDA ERS Food Environments Atlas • www.ers.usda.gov/foodatlas • WhyHunger • www.whyhunger.org

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