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Pioneering a Local Food System in Central Oregon

Pioneering a Local Food System in Central Oregon. Review 2011. Chapter 1: Main Ideas. Goal of Assessment: Show critical needs and existing assets of current food system Goal of local food system influence: “Make healthy choice the easy choice”

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Pioneering a Local Food System in Central Oregon

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  1. Pioneering a Local Food System in Central Oregon Review 2011

  2. Chapter 1: Main Ideas • Goal of Assessment: • Show critical needs and existing assets of current food system • Goal of local food system influence: • “Make healthy choice the easy choice” • Carolyn Harvey (Jefferson County Healthy Communities Program) • Demographic of TriCounties: • Poverty Rates: Crook 12.6%, Deschutes 10.4%, Jefferson 16.4%

  3. Chapter 2: Producers • Current farm status: selling to small direct markets • CSA Shares – easy financing, paid upfront • Farmers Market • Interest in expanding sales • Most important setback : “difficulty in finding, interacting, or corresponding with retail and consumers” • Most would like to expand or diversify but are currently struggling • Majority use off-farm income to remain viable • Lack support from local government for small farms • Need to increase profitability

  4. Suggestions to Help Producers • Regulation reform or creation of a roadmap to regulations for small farmers • Post roadmap on COFPC website. • Create roadmap for farmers, as well as homesteaders on non-EFU land • Change EFU status (so that farmers can build a separate shelter on farm for WWOOFer and allow for agritourism) • In progress! • Form a cooperative to pool resources and act as an intermediary in charge of distribution • Research USDA guidelines for starting a farmers cooperative • Year-round indoor farmers market

  5. Chapter 3: Connect Consumers and Producers • Consumers WANT: Fresh, local produce, Food co-op, garden plots/community gardens • Consumers NEED: health/product quality and price greatest considerations • Producers NEED to improve quality, consistency and quantity issues for retail or wholesale • Farmers Markets have been successful, but unsure about participation from lower income consumers

  6. Suggestions to Link Producers and Consumers • Improve healthy/fresh food access in Warm Springs by recruiting a supermarket or produce stand • Cooperative marketing and distributing • Case study Organically Grown Company (Willamette Valley Region cooperative with distribution center) • Advertise school field trips and educational meals at farms • Research decreasing cost of liability insurance • Recipe handout at market with budget breakdown. Rotate using products from different stands • Make sure all prices are displayed at market • Seek interns from COCC or OSU Cascades • Follow Gorge Grown Farmers Market plan to allow small growers to participate in Farmers Market • Market during non-work hours

  7. Chapter 4: Improve Healthy Food Access for Food Insecure • SNAP participation and Food Bank visits are increasing • What needs to be proven: Poverty/losing ones job does not also have to include losing ones health.

  8. Suggestions to Improve Food Security • Include recipes with food bank box • Recruit high school volunteers at food bank – college apps • Case study SNAP program – how much are families receiving, why wouldn’t they qualify for food stamps • Farm to School program – improve nutrition in school • Form cooperative of emergency food sources (collective bargaining power) NeighborImpact to head • Case Study Marion-Polk Food Share as model • Expand St. Vincent de Paul Prineville cooking demonstrations • Problem with participant recruitment – embarrassment? Lack marketing? • Teach people how to grow their own food • Community garden projects

  9. Barriers to a Robust Local Food SystemFrom City Club Meeting 9/15/11 • High cost of local food • Climate • Wildlife • HOA regulations prohibit fencing • Interest Level • Parks and Recreation questions value of adding new community gardens • Will lower income residents use them?

  10. City Policy Models • Chicago (9/2011) • New zoning code expands garden size to 25,000 ft. (about ½ acre) within city limits (allows for commercial production) • Allow for limited produce sales in residential areas • Relaxed rules on fencing and parking • Allow aquaponics • San Francisco (4/2011) • Permit gardens in all areas of the city, also allows gardeners to sell their produce (no need to obtain a conditional use permit) • Seattle (2005) • Requires one community garden for every 2,500 households in urban village/neighborhood.

  11. Organically Grown Company • Employee and grower owned • Created LADYBUG brand – OGC coordinates production and marketing of LADYBUG farmers crops • 41 Northwest regional farms (none in CO) • Sources 25% of products from the Northwest • Tries local first, but will seek products from anywhere if necessary (always organic)

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