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Community Based Food Systems

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Title: Community Based Food Systems


1
Community Based Food Systems
2
Two Parallel Food Systems
  • Industrial
  • Community Based
  • Focus on corn, soy and CAFO pork, chicken and
    beef
  • Large property sizes
  • Heavy machinery required
  • Work with only a few large corporations
    throughout the world
  • Focus on Specialty crops, pastured pork, poultry,
    and beef
  • Small property sizes
  • Minimal equipment needs
  • Work directly with consumers

3
IndustrialFood Systems
  • The top five industrial agricultural commodities
    in Iowa are corn, hogs, soybeans, cattle, and
    dairy.
  • The primary uses of these crops are to
  • 1. Feed livestock
  • 2. Produce High Fructose Corn Syrup
  • 3. Produce Hydrogenated Oil
  • 4. Provide Affordable Poultry, Pork and Beef
    proteins
  • The technologies and adaptations in commodity
    agriculture, whether you like it or not, have
    helped make more types of food products available
    at very low cost to people around the world.

media.artdiamondblog.com/.../Ski-Iowa-small.jpg
4
Community Based Food Systems
  • Produce whole food crops not typically intended
    for intensive processing.
  • Distribution is usually done on a local scale
    crops not intended to leave the community or
    region where they are produced.
  • Products are sold directly to consumers or
    institutions, very few third party distribution
    partners.

5
The Elements of a Local Food System
  • Healthy food, including fresh produce and leaner,
    grass based meats
  • Stewardship practiced particularly by farmers but
    also considering the distance food travels and
    other post harvest practices
  • Access to healthy food for people at all income
    levels, not just for well-to-do foodies
  • A livable wage for farm-workers and a decent
    livelihood for farmers
  • Anthony Flaccavento

6
What is a Value Chain?
  • A value chain is a supply chain that is designed
    to link supply with markets efficiently, but to
    do so while promoting certain core values
  • Equity and fair pay for farmers, farm-workers,
    food producers, businesses and workers in the
    supply chain
  • Sustainability beginning with more resilient
    farming practices, but also considering the total
    footprint or production, processing, shipping etc
  • Community Capacity to better meet its own food
    needs and to build a more self-reliant economy,
    primarily through locally owned infrastructure
    and assets
  • Health and Food Access for all, with a
    particular concern for people of limited means
  • Anthony Flaccavento

7
What This Could Look Like
What This Could Look Like
The farmer that wholesales
The farmer that sells direct
  • Grows on less than an acre
  • Typically is un-mechanized
  • Grows up to 50 different varieties of fruits and
    vegetables
  • Invests in season extending technologies such as
    cold-frames
  • Markets direct to individuals, farmers markets
    and CSAs
  • Can scale-up to wholesaling after success in
    direct markets
  • Grows on a minimum of 2 acres
  • Requires machinery to maintain efficiencies
  • Grows 3-5 varieties of fruits or vegetables
  • Invests in greenhouses and high-tunnels for
    season extension and year-round growing
  • Markets to grocers, hospitals, schools,
    institutions
  • Often participates in direct marketing as well

8
Filling in the Gaps
  • Farmers Markets
  • What Sells
  • Every Farmers Market in the region needs more
    fruit, vegetable, and niche meat vendors.
  • There are many communities and organizations that
    want to start farmers markets but cant find
    enough vendors.
  • Most vendors already grow and sell the standards
    tomatoes, onions, zucchini, turnips, etc.
  • New vendors should consider differentiated
    products niche meats, heirloom varieties, baby
    vegetables, gourmet vegetables and FRUIT!

9
An Iowa Farmers Market
  • Farmers market means a marketplace which
  • seasonally operates principally as a common
  • market for fresh fruits and vegetables on a
    retail
  • basis for off-the-premises consumption
  • Iowa Food Code 137F.1.

10
Iowa Farm EnterprisesPast Present
  • In 1920 more than 75 of ALL Iowa farms raised
    horses, cattle, chicken, corn, hogs, apples, hay,
    and oats!
  • Up to 62 of farms also raised cherries, wheat,
    plums, grapes, ducks, geese, strawberry, pears,
    mules, sheep, timothy, peaches, bees, barley,
    raspberry, turkeys, watermelon, syrup sorghum,
    gooseberry, sweet corn, apricots, tomatoes,
    cabbage, popcorn, AND currants!
  • In 2002 the primary crops grown were corn,
    soybeans, hay, cattle, horses, hogs, and
    chickens.
  • Roughly 1 of Iowa farms raised oats, sheep,
    goats, duck, and geese.
  • Other crops were not grown in significant enough
    amounts to track.

11
Growing What We Eat
  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Asparagus
  • Beans (Snap)
  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Cantaloupes
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Cherries
  • Cucumbers
  • Eggplant
  • Garlic
  • Grapes
  • Greens/Collards/Lettuce (Head)
  • Lettuce (Leaf)
  • Nectarines

12
Filling in the Gaps
  • Farm to School
  • Farm to Institution
  • Local food producers can work with their local
    schools food service program to help improve
    access to fresh and nutritious food in our
    community schools. From kindergarten through
    college campuses are embracing local food.
  • Farmers and ranchers can sell product directly to
    hospitals, care facilities, restaurants, grocery
    stores, correctional facilities, etc.
  • Be willing to work with their requirements to
    create a strong professional relationship.

13
Farm to School in Iowa
  • In 2007, Iowa lawmakers passed Farm to School
    legislation to establish a
  • program that would link elementary, secondary,
    public and non-public schools
  • with Iowa farmers provide schools with fresh and
    minimally processed Iowa
  • grown food for inclusion in school meals and
    snacks and to encourage
  • children to develop healthy eating habits and
    provide them with hands-on
  • learning opportunities, such as farm visits,
    cooking demonstrations, and
  • school gardening and composting programs.
  • The Farm to School Program is coordinated by the
    Iowa Department of
  • Agriculture and Land Stewardship in partnership
    with the Iowa Department of
  • Education and a seven-member Farm to School
    Council. The Iowa Farm to
  • School Program will reach out to communities to
    establish strong
  • partnerships.

14
Filling in the Gaps
  • Land
  • Lots of Land
  • It doesnt take much land to put in a garden it
    doesnt take too big a garden to feed your family
    or sell at a farmers market.
  • Western Iowa Development Association has
    developed a land-bank of small (1/10th acre and
    up) parcels available for rent/lease in the area
    specifically to local food producers.
  • We are working to create community gardens so
    that those without land can use public land to
    grow food.
  • For people that want to acquire ten or more acres
    of land there are programs that can offer
    guaranteed loans and business development
    assistance.
  • We have a strong coalition that can help new or
    expanding food producers access land.

15
Filling in the Gaps
  • Regulations Policy
  • Food Safety
  • The local food coordinator, the local food policy
    councils, the RCD, and many state local
    agencies are available and willing to help local
    food producers navigate the web of policies,
    inspections, regulations, rules, and issues that
    can impact production.
  • How could forming a local food policy council
    help your communities?
  • Food Safety should be one of our top priorities
    as we work to create an economically successful
    local food system. Developing strong standards in
    local food production will protect all of us.
  • Local food system champions should be prepared to
    help consumers, purchasers, and producers
    understand what they can do to ensure the safety
    of the food system.

16
Scaling Up Beyond Farmers Markets
  • The following checklist is only a few of things a
    farmer or rancher needs to think about before
    starting a new business or expanding the scope of
    an existing one.
  • CAN YOU PROVIDE SERVICES TO MEET THESE NEEDS?
  • 1. Business plan Have you developed a business
    plan that is an
  • operating manual for your business?
  • 2. Business entities Have you selected the
    business entity that
  • best fits your business plan?
  • 3. Insurance Have you reviewed your insurance
    coverage for your
  • business recently and made sure you have adequate
    coverage?
  • 4. Food safety Have you taken the time to
    determine how food
  • safety rules fit into your present and future
    business plan?
  • 5. Equipment and packaging Have you reviewed
    your
  • equipment and packaging materials to make sure
    they are
  • food grade?
  • 6. Finance Have you reviewed your business plan
    with your
  • banker and lined up adequate financing?
  • 7. Marketing plan Have you identified your
    prospective
  • customers and determined how to market to them?
  • 8. Equipment plan Have you priced and located
    the type of
  • equipment you will need to conduct your business?

From Selling to Institutions An Iowa Farmers
Guide by Robert Luedeman Neil D Hamilton Drake
University Agricultural Law Center
17
What Can a Local Food Working Group Do?
  • Identify all existing local food producers.
  • Identify all existing local food value chains.
  • Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,
    and threats to the Fremont County Local Food
    System.
  • Develop and implement actionable plans to build
    on strengths, encourage opportunities, overcome
    weaknesses and alleviate threats.
  • Work with policy makers within the county to
    engender an environment that supports local food
    production and consumption.

18
Filling in the Gaps
  • Local Lockers
  • Federal Inspection
  • Currently we are incredibly lucky to have small,
    local meat and poultry lockers in SW Iowa.
  • Most regions in Iowa have seen their local
    lockers close.
  • Unfortunately without Federal inspection local
    niche meat producers who want to sell to
    restaurants, institutions (schools, hospitals,
    care facilities, jails, etc) or anywhere across
    state lines, haul their livestock out of state
    for processing.

19
Federally Inspected Processing Economic
Development
  • Current state inspection in Iowa is an EXACT
    replica of Federal Inspection. There is no
    regulatory difference. Currently all lockers in
    SW Iowa are state inspected.
  • Hauling livestock has negative impact in many
    ways its hard on the animals, sends dollars out
    of state dollars that dont come back, and is a
    time consuming activity for producers.
  • Local processing with federal inspection would
    keep more of our hard earned money in our
    communities, shorten distances animals have to be
    hauled for processing, and create more markets
    for local, niche meat and poultry products.

20
Regulating Agencieswill they work with local
food producers in your communities?
  • For Farmers Markets
  • For Wholesale
  • Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals
  • County City Departments of Public Health
  • Iowa Food code
  • Iowa Department of Agriculture and land
    Stewardship
  • FDA
  • Food Safety Inspection Service
  • Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals
  • County City Departments of Public Health
  • Iowa Food code
  • Iowa Department of Agriculture and land
    Stewardship
  • FDA
  • Food Safety Inspection Service

21
Filling in the Gaps
  • What Counties Can Do
  • What We All Can Do
  • Asses what planning and zoning regulations impact
    local food production
  • Meet with local food producers to find common
    ground
  • Amend policy to ensure small farmers and ranchers
    are getting the support they need to fully
    develop their operations.
  • Understand that by working together we can
    accomplish more.
  • Try to see the situation from everyones
    perspective not just your own.
  • Be willing to compromise a little progress
    today may lead to lots of progress tomorrow.

22
How Does Fremont County Define a farmFederal,
State, Local Policy Definitions of A Farm
  • The US Census defines a farm as any place from
    which 1,000 or more of agricultural products
    were produced and sold during the census year.
  • Iowa state code defines a farm as ten acres or
    more of land in agricultural use.
  • The Pottawattamie County Assessor defines a farm
    as 15 or more acres. (this varies from county to
    county)
  • The Pottawattamie County Department of Planning
    and Zoning defines a farm as 35 acres. (this also
    varies from county to county)
  • USDA defines a farm by US Census standards for
    statistical purposes only individual USDA
    programs have their own standards
  • The Farm Service Agency (of the USDA) defines a
    farm as 10 acres or more.
  • The Cass County Auditor defines a farm as ten
    acres or more of land in agricultural use.
  • Boone County defines a farm as an enterprise
    which is recognized in the community as a farm
    rather than a rural residence. 

23
To Put Food Production Into Perspective
  • The average county in Iowa contains 240,300 acres
    of harvested cropland
  • In order to produce the 22 typical fruits and
    vegetables that Iowans consume - 30,000 acres
    would be needed STATE-WIDE.
  • Current seasonal production would require just
    over 12,000 acres.
  • This 12,325 acres represents just 5.1 of the
    cropland in just one county!
  • If this production were distributed across the
    entire state this would require just 123 acres
    per county slightly less than 1/5th of a square
    mile. Food production has different requirements
    than corn and soy production typically counties
    have this much or more vacant land that is
    suitable to use for food production.

From The Economic Impact of Fruit Vegetable
Production is SW Iowa Considering Local Nearby
Metropolitan Markets by David Swenson 2009
24
Possible Economic Impacts
  • In SW Iowa, farmers produce 792 Million in
    food commodities per year, yet spend 887 Million
    to raise them. Losing an average of 95 million
    in production costs each year. Farmers also spend
    an estimated 400 million buying inputs sourced
    from outside the region.
  • Residents of SW Iowa spend more than 370
    Million on food annually. More than 90 is
    imported from other states and countries.
  • Iowans spent 7 Billion on food in 2006
  • The 2006 Iowa corn crop was worth 4 Billion
  • Proven agricultural techniques show it is
    possible to earn up to 50,000 per acre using
    Small Plot Intensive Techniques
    (www.spinfarming.com)
  • Iowans eat 25.9 million pounds of carrots each
    year and only 5 of these are grown in Iowa.
  • Demand for local, sustainable, humanely-raised,
    fair-trade food production has increased
    growing about 20 per year

Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery,
Page, Pottawattamie, Shelby Counties
Data from Crossroads Resource Center Ken Meter
2006 A Vision for Good Food for Iowa by Angie
Tagtow
25
Current Health Trends in Iowa
  • Two-thirds of Iowans are overweight or obese.
  • Iowas direct costs attributed to obesity are
    estimated to be more than 783 million.
  • Since 1996 there has been more than a 60
    increase in the rate of diabetes in Iowa.
  • Researchers have predicted that because of the
    dramatic rise in obesity and related chronic
    diseases, especially among young people, Iowans
    may experience a decline in life expectancy by as
    much as five years in the next few decades. Our
    children may have shorter life spans than their
    parents.

26
Health Benefits of Community Based Food Systems
  • As access to locally-grown food increases, food
    security improves, more fruits and vegetables are
    consumed and diet related chronic diseases
    decline.
  • Food is a basic human need and the quality and
    quantity of food available is essential to our
    good health.
  • Diverse foods are needed to meet the food,
    nutrition, and health needs of all Iowa eaters.
  • Diversifying farm production helps meet the
    demand and enables a producer to spread out their
    production and level of risk.
  • Local food enable Iowans to reconnect with where
    their food comes from. We have a strong cultural
    and historical connection to raising our own
    food.
  • Our ancestors that settled this state did so
    primarily as self-sufficient farmers and
    ranchers.

27
For More Information about Community Based Food
System Development in Southwest Iowa
  • Southwest Iowa Food Farm Initiative
  • (SWIFFI) Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, Guthrie,
    Pottawattamie, Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont,
    and Page Counties
  • www.swiffi.org
  • Local Food Coordinator Bahia Barry
  • At Golden Hills Resource Conservation
    Development (RCD) 712-482-3029
  • Western Iowa Development Association (WIDA)
    Donna Peters
  • 712-343-6368

28
"I think our governments will remain virtuous for
many centuries as long as they are chiefly
agricultural and this will be as long as there
shall be vacant lands in any part of America."
--Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1787.
Papers 12442
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