THE WHY, WHAT, AND HOW OF FOOD COUNCILS

Christy Shi Day

Cooperative Extension

Social ServicesFarm Bureau

Higher Education

Educators (K-12)

Local Farm & Food Orgs

Community Gardens

Natural Resource Conservation Service

Food Banks

Soil and Water Conservation

Faith-Based Organizations

Community College

Future Farmers of America

Farmers Markets

Public Health

School System Nutritionists

Community Foundations Hospitals

Health Practitioners

Youth Organizations

People with Networks

Food Bloggers & Writers

Museums and Historical Associations

Civic Clubs and Organizations

Media

Local GovernmentElected OfficialsPlanning & Code Enforcement

Land Trusts

Parks and Recreation

Nature GroupsWatershed Groups

Waste Management

Environment/Sustainability Offices

Economic Development

Distributors

Tourism

Grocery/Convenience Stores

Dealer/Packers/Processors

Banks & Funding Agencies

Chambers of Commerce

Small Business Centers

Culinary Schools

Restaurant Associations

Food Hubs/Aggregators

Marketing Groups

Hardware, Feed & Seed Stores

Many people have a role to play incommunity food systems development.

Farm Service Agency

Smart Start

Sea Grant

With so many people involved, how do we know who’s doing what and what’s working?

Many groups recognize the important role food councils can play in coordinating efforts.

Many groups recognize the important role food councils can play in coordinating efforts.

Many groups recognize the important role food councils can play in coordinating efforts.

In the last ten years, there has been a sharp rise in food council development.

In the last ten years, there has been a sharp rise in food council development.

In 2010, Community Food Security Coalition directory listed 92 FPCs.

In the last ten years, there has been a sharp rise in food council development.

In 2010, Community Food Security Coalition directory listed 92 FPCs. In 2014, next version of the directory listed 270 FPCs in the US and Canada.

There is no set formula for what food councils do, but most provide several key functions.

Drive Action

Focus Attention

Facilitate Cxns

Food councils facilitate connections – across departmental silos and within the community.

Food councils facilitate connections – across departmental silos and within the community.

Food councils provide focus – through assessing, learning, and identifying priorities.

Food councils provide focus – through assessing, learning, and identifying priorities.

Food councils provide focus – through assessing, learning, and identifying priorities.

Food councils drive action – through policy and programming recommendations.

Food councils drive action – through policy and programming recommendations.

Food councils drive action – through policy and programming recommendations.

Stop and Consider…

How might a food council facilitate connections, provide focus, or drive action in your community?

Food council interest has increased significantly, in many different forms, across North Carolina.

Local or Regional Food Councils in 2010

Food council interest has increased significantly, in many different forms, across North Carolina.

Local or Regional Food Councils in 2012

- Councils presenting to NC Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council in Sept 2012 - Councils self-identified but did not present

Food council interest has increased significantly, in many different forms, across North Carolina.

Local or Regional Food Councils in 2014

- Councils engaged with statewide network development, as of April 2014 - Council activity present, or emerging

Some councils are created by government as official advisory boards.

Cabarrus Food Policy Council

Established 2010 Official advisory board,

like the planning board Members appointed by

elected officials Supported by county

staff and resources

Others are totally independent of government.

Charlotte-MecklenburgFood Policy Council

Established 2010 501(c)3 Non-Profit Independent of city /

county government Must raise money for

staffing and resources

Some councils are organizing as intentional networks rather than as smaller councils.

Forsyth Community Food System Consortium Established 2013 Advisory group is

developing a network to implement actions identified in assessment

Supported by community foundation

Some groups have organized at a regional level out of necessity.

Western NCFood Policy Council

Established 2011 Low population density

needs regional council Patterned on existing

regional collaborations Incubated at WCU, now

volunteer-supported

One regional group is reconfiguring council development to a local level.

SENCFSFeast Down East

Established 2006 Began as rural poverty

alleviation strategy Reorganizing to form

county-level councils Incubated at UNCW,

now is a 501(c)3

One council was initiated by local government staff to serve as a community network.

Caldwell Food Council Established 2013 Desired outcomes

identified w/ facilitation Initiated by Cooperative

Extension and the Caldwell County Health Department

Staff informed elected officials of council

Some councils are an informal collaboration between community and government.

Upper PeeDeeFarm and Food Council

Established 2012 Desired outcomes

identified internally Community members

engage elected officials Initiated by community

and local government

An emerging trend is a formal collaboration between community and government.

To be established 2014 Formed by community-

government task force MOUs to outline

city/county support Both local government

and community groups serve as fiscal sponsors and provide support

Charter & resolution outlining partnership

Raleigh Wake Food Policy Council

Chatham Food Council

Stop and Consider…

What might be the benefits or challenges of operating as a loose network vs. a defined council?

What might be the benefits or challenges of operating informally vs. formally?

A successful method for developing strong food councils is emerging in North Carolina.

Seed

Start-Up

Growth

Expansion

Mature

Approximately 30 – 42 months from Seed to Mature

Does it already exist? Is there any history? Task force volunteers?

Government interest? Community interest? Facilitation support?

During the seed phase, a community considers whether a food council might be worthwhile.

3-6 Months

Seed Start-Up Growth Expansion Mature

During start-up, a task force begins to design a council while cultivating a supportive climate.

Get educated Formulate a picture Collect feedback

Enlist government Secure funding Recruit members

9-12 Months

Seed Start-Up Growth Expansion Mature

During the growth phase, new council members develop their structure and learn about issues.

Decide how to decide Affirm purpose Develop structure

Create bylaws Build support systems Develop strategic plan

12-18 Months

Seed Start-Up Growth Expansion Mature

During the expansion phase, council membership expands to work on priority issues.

Involve more people Identify priorities Take action together

Learn what works Find leverage points Build social capital

12-24 Months

Seed Start-Up Growth Expansion Mature

Once mature, the council develops strategic plans and collaborates with other councils.

Self-assess for impact Improve performance

Update strategic plans Join other councils

Ongoing

Seed Start-Up Growth Expansion Mature

Stop and Consider…

What might happen if a council omits or rushes through any of these steps?

Introducing Our Panelists

LARISSA CALANCIEFood Policy Council Researcher

UNC Gillings School of Public Health

ANNIE MARTINIEFood Council Task Force FacilitatorCommunity Transformation Grants

JARED CATESCommunity Mobilizer

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

RICK MORSEUNC SOG Associate Professor

Public Administration & Government

JOHN DAYRetired Cabarrus County ManagerLocal Food Council of NC Task Force

CHRISTY SHI DAYEngagement Strategist / Facilitator

CEFS / NC State University