Educating the Public

How can we support the transition to a Community Based Food System?

Planning for Agriculture Columbia-Greene Community College

November 12, 2011Andy Turner, Executive Director - CCE of Columbia

and Greene County

Presentation Outline

• Community Food System Trends

• Local Research Results

• Action Steps

Introduction

• Local food movement is growing in the U.S.

• Reducing “food miles” is a growing focus

• Goals1.improving food security2. Building the local economy 3. responding to Climate Change

New York State Specifics

• Agricultural production was a $4.7 billion dollar industry in 2010 in New York State

• 36,300 farms occupy 23% of NYS land area

• Not much information about the economic impact of the local food movement at the community scale

Community Based Food Systems

• Considers production, processing and distribution in the context of local economic and human health and well being as well as the health of the environment.

• Sustainable practices take into consideration the future as well as the present.

Importance of Local

• For a growing number of us, local is more important than organic

• 55%: “locally grown” affected their food purchases

• 38% “organically grown” influenced food choicesHartman Group’s Organic Trends Study, 2004

Global Food Security Challenge

• Dramatic increase in food production will be required by the end of the 21st century

• Little available additional land without severe ecological consequences

• Energy and water constraints

Assessing the Impact of Local Agriculture Production in the Capital District Region of

New York State

Rosy Cohane-MannCornell Cooperative Extension Intern

Summer 2011

Data Collection • Farms of all sizes• All types of products included

in study Dairy, Fruit, Vegetable, Maple, Meat,

Hay, Greenhouse, etc.

• Organized Interviews $20 incentive to participate

Data Collection

• Various Methods to get farmers involved

– In person interviews

– Phone Surveys

– Online Surveys

Some Preliminary Results

Further Results and Conclusions• 118 Surveys Collected• Further analysis of the results will be augmented with the help of

Cornell faculty using economic impact planning software• We will have a clear sense of the impact of local agriculture

production on the Capital District economy so that we can further research, educate, and advocate in the U.S. for more locally grown products, with an increase in total jobs and labor income, and reduction in fossil fuel usage.

Columbia County Community Food Survey

• Anna Duhon– Cultural Research and Outreach Coordinator– Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program– 518-672-7994

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

“What type of land use would you most like to see increase in Columbia County?”

Residential

Commercial

Natural/Recreational

Agricultural

Columbia County Community Food “Dot” SurveysSurveyed more than 650 residents at 11 community

events(Preliminary Results)

Agricultural; 48%

Commercial; 6%

Natural/Rec.; 42%

Residential; 4%

Livingsto

n & Taghkanic

Hudson &

Greenport

Stuyvesa

nt & Kinderh

ook

Germanto

wn & Clerm

ont

Ancram &

Gallatin

Claverack

Austerli

tz & Canaan

Valatie & N

iverville

Philmont &

Melle

nvilleGhent

Chatham

Copake

Hillsdale

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

“In summer, where do you primarily get your fresh produce?"

Convenience Store

Supermarket

Small Local Grocery/Co-op

Garden (Home/Comm)

Direct From Farmers

Small Local Grocery/Co-op;

12%

Garden (Home/Comm);

22%

Supermarket; 31%

Direct From Farmers; 35%

For questions or additional information, contact:

Anna DuhonCultural Research and Outreach CoordinatorHawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program518-672-7994anna@hawthornevalleyfarm.orgwww.hawthornevalleyfarm.org/fep

Or stop by for our weekly open house “pizza nights” every Thursday, 5-8pm at the Creekhouse (1075 Harlemville Rd, Ghent).

Conclusions

• Potential exists for regional agriculture to meet more of total food needs

• CBFS represent an opportunity for food product, and food-based enterprise development

• Rich area of research and education• Allows for a comprehensive and engaged approach to policy

formation• Community-based food systems suggest a need to rethink

food and nutrition education

Educational Opportunities• Clearly a role for general education and building awareness of existing

opportunities

• Existing engaged citizens are eager to participate in the process of education and building on strengths

• Provide evidence base related to claims– Identify questions, confusion, misunderstandings

• Continue to increase access to local/healthier options for lower income

• Youth education/workforce development is going to be critical in building the next generation of food system entrepreneurs

• Partnership among local institutions is critical

Roles for Local Government

• Support efforts aimed at increasing Local Processing Options

• Support efforts to provide increased local/regional based marketing and direct sales

• Cooperate across traditional “home rule” boundaries

• Promote local organizations and programs that are contributing to the solutions

• Take advantage of opportunities to learn more

Thank you!

Andy TurnerExecutive Director

Cornell Cooperative ExtensionColumbia/Greene Counties

ast4@cornell.edu