innovations in community & regional food systems

Innovations in Community & Regional Food Systems

Steve VenturaSharon LezbergSamuel Pratsch

WI Local Food Summit, Feb. 1, 2013

Presentation Outline• Overview of the Project• Community Food System Framework – Part One: Descriptive Framework– Innovations: Community Engagement Projects– Small group discussion of food system projects– Part Two: Values and Outcomes– Group Exercise: Walk About (add comments to sheets)

• Tools & metrics for evaluation• Themes: collective impact; food sovereignty/food

justice; University-Community relations

Evaluating Innovation and Promoting Success in Community and Regional Food Systems

Research, education, and outreach to address food security in urban areas

Supported by the United States Department of AgricultureNational Institute of Food and Agriculture

USDA Award 2011-68004-30044

A collaboration of

University of Wisconsin-MadisonGrowing Power

University of Wisconsin-ExtensionMichael Fields Agricultural Institute

Wayne State Universityand numerous community partners

USDA’s Goal: Food Security“Food Insecurity in Milwaukee County”Milwaukee County Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program, 2009

Socioeconomic factors put Milwaukee County residents at a greater risk of poor nutritional status than the state as a whole… 26.2 % of Milwaukee residents were poor in 2006, a 4.7 percent increase from 2000.

Regarding Milwaukee’s children, 38.5 percent of Milwaukee’s

children live in poverty as compared to 14 percent of Wisconsin’s children. In Search of a Hunger-Free Community, a publication by Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee, Feb. 2006 reveals that Milwaukee ranks fourth nationally for child poverty.

Food insecurity remains a problem for many families. Despite reports of frequent emergency food use, food pantry and meal site users reported skipping and cutting the size of meals on a monthly basis.

USDA’s Goal: Food Security“Food Insecurity in Milwaukee County”Milwaukee County Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program, 2009

Socioeconomic factors put Milwaukee County residents at a greater risk of poor nutritional status than the state as a whole… 26.2 % of Milwaukee residents were poor in 2006, a 4.7 percent increase from 2000.

Regarding Milwaukee’s children, 38.5 percent of Milwaukee’s

children live in poverty as compared to 14 percent of Wisconsin’s children. In Search of a Hunger-Free Community, a publication by Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee, Feb. 2006 reveals that Milwaukee ranks fourth nationally for child poverty.

Food insecurity remains a problem for many families. Despite reports of frequent emergency food use, food pantry and meal site users reported skipping and cutting the size of meals on a monthly basis.

Poor people have greaterrisk of hunger and poor nutrition; children are

very vulnerable.

Our lenses on food security:• Community and regional food systems• Urban agriculture• Food justice• Collective impact• University-

Community relations

The “Good Food Revolution”

Project Components• Education

– high school: PEOPLE program– college: internships– graduate: practicums

• Outreach– training– products– community engagement

• Research– city studies– community-based research

• community engagement projects• innovation fund projects

– CRFS framework

Why we start with a framework:

• A tool for understanding the dynamics of community-based food systems– Descriptive graphic– Values/outcomes graphic– Graphical representation of relationships

• A means to establish common language• A tool to structure program planning and

evaluation

Why we start with a framework:

Food System Supply Chain

What’s missing?

Food System Framework

A slice of the food system

Values Framework

Examples from our Community Engagement Projects

Madison, Gardens for EmpowermentLos Angeles Food Policy Council Good Food

Procurement Project: Evaluation methodologyLead in Urban EnvironmentsCarrots to SchoolsSouth Side Milwaukee Healthy Food Access

Collaboration

Gardens for Empowerment

Los Angeles Food Policy Council Good Food Procurement Project

Lead in Urban Environments

• Collaboration:- Medical College of Wisconsin- 16th Street Health Clinic- Walnut Way

• Help residents with back yard gardens- Support- Benefits- Risks

Lead in Urban Environments- Risks: information and recommendations for gardeners

Carrots to Schools• Collaboration:

- Growing Power- Milwaukee Public Schools

• Provide locally grown carrots- affordable to MPS- profitable for grower- yummy for kids

Southside Milwaukee Healthy Food Access Collaboration

Small Group Discussion

• Where do your projects fall on the descriptive framework that we are using?

• What is missing from this framework?

• How might you use the framework in your project, organization, or community?

Values and Outcomes

The Natural Step: using backcasting as a way of planning for sustainable development. Ask the questions: “What is a successful outcome? What do we need to do today to reach that successful outcome?”

Evaluation of values-based outcomes

Values-based Fields of Practice

• Justice and Fairness• Strong Communities• Vibrant Farms• Healthy People• Sustainable Ecosystems• Thriving Local Economies

Values and Food System Benefits (Community Goals or Outcomes)

Just Increases access to healthy food Reduces hunger and food insecurity Promotes justice for farmers & food system workers Increases racial and gender equity Builds community capacity Promotes participation and Inclusivity Encourages food self-provisioning and/or sovereignty


Healthy Provides healthy food for all Ensures health and well-being Promotes fresh foods and culinary skills Assures healthy food at public venues, such as schools and hospitals Provides opportunities for physical activity and exercise


Sustainable Enhances ecosystem functioning Assures clean, adequate water supply Builds healthy soils Enhances biodiversity Assures farmland protection Promotes nutrient & waste recycling Promotes energy conservation or production Mitigates climate change


Prosperous Supports economically viable family farms Expands urban agriculture capacity Creates jobs and locally owned food enterprises Promotes Increased sales of local food products Recirculates capital locally & regionally


Place-basedBuilds community social cohesion

Revitalizes neighborhoods

Provides opportunities for leadership development

Contributes to education & empowerment

Encourages citizen engagement in food system activities

Cultivates youth knowledge and skills

Connects families and youth to farms and food enterprises

Promotes the culture of a place and of agriculture through arts and celebration

The correspondence between values and outcomes

Group Exercise• What values or outcome

objectives drive your own work?

• Walk around to where the sheets are hanging; are there outcomes that are missing? (please add these)

• What indicators or measurements would you use to evaluate success at reaching the outcomes indicated?

The relationship between values/outcomes wheel and the food system descriptive framework

Relationship of values/outcomes to the descriptive food system framework

• Values drive strategies or activities of an organization or enterprise within the food system supply chain

• Activities are designed to accomplish specific outcomes or community benefits

• Activities can be evaluated by whether they meet community goals & outcome objectives

Web-site: http://www.community-food.org/

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crfsproject

Contact usSteve Ventura: [email protected] Lezberg: [email protected] Pratsch: [email protected]

http://www.community-food.org/

https://www.facebook.com/crfsproject

mailto:[email protected]

