S.C. Food Policy S.C. Food Policy CouncilCouncil

Beth Crocker, SC Dept. of Beth Crocker, SC Dept. of Agriculture & Susan Frost, SC Agriculture & Susan Frost, SC

Dept. of Health & Environmental Dept. of Health & Environmental ControlControl

August 24, 2010August 24, 2010

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

This is an update on the most recent This is an update on the most recent activities of the S.C. Food Policy activities of the S.C. Food Policy council, which includes:council, which includes:– supporting a statewide Farm to School supporting a statewide Farm to School

program in SCprogram in SC– visiting and learning more about food visiting and learning more about food

safety and local vegetable productions at safety and local vegetable productions at W.P. Rawl & SonsW.P. Rawl & Sons

– hosting the first Sustainable Local SC hosting the first Sustainable Local SC Food Systems Workshop on January 29, Food Systems Workshop on January 29, 2010.2010.

MissionMission

To provide a forum for To provide a forum for stakeholders in the food, stakeholders in the food, health and agricultural health and agricultural sectors to:sectors to:

share ideasshare ideas collaborate on solutions & collaborate on solutions &

researchresearch investigate & reportinvestigate & report

on the food system in SC, on the food system in SC, the sustainability of the sustainability of agriculture and how it agriculture and how it affects the people of SC.affects the people of SC.

SC FPC HistorySC FPC History March 2005, steering committee formedMarch 2005, steering committee formed

March 2006, first general membership meetingMarch 2006, first general membership meeting

The FPC serves as a forum for members to share The FPC serves as a forum for members to share their concerns as well as their progress on their concerns as well as their progress on programs and initiatives that are related to the programs and initiatives that are related to the food system here in South Carolina. food system here in South Carolina. 

The Council reports annually to the S.C. The Council reports annually to the S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture with Commissioner of Agriculture with recommendations for ways to improve and recommendations for ways to improve and support SC Food Systemssupport SC Food Systems..

FPC Board of DirectorsFPC Board of Directors Organizations represented on the BoardOrganizations represented on the Board

– SC Department of EducationSC Department of Education– Clemson UniversityClemson University– University of SCUniversity of SC– SC School of Public HealthSC School of Public Health– SC Department of Health & Environmental SC Department of Health & Environmental

Control (DNPAO)Control (DNPAO)– SC Farm BureauSC Farm Bureau– Anderson County Farm to SchoolAnderson County Farm to School– Wil-Moore Farm Wil-Moore Farm – Walter P. Rawl & Sons, Inc. Walter P. Rawl & Sons, Inc.

  

Farm to SchoolFarm to School

The 2009 S.C. Food The 2009 S.C. Food Policy Council report Policy Council report focused on the focused on the benefits and need for benefits and need for a Statewide Farm to a Statewide Farm to School Program in SC.School Program in SC.

During the 2009-10 During the 2009-10 legislative session, legislative session, House Bill 3179 was House Bill 3179 was introduced. introduced.

Local Farm to School ActionLocal Farm to School Action In May 2010, the SC Dept. In May 2010, the SC Dept.

of Education & Lexington of Education & Lexington County School District, County School District, instituted their own “Farm instituted their own “Farm to School” month.to School” month.

Partnership with W.P. Rawl Partnership with W.P. Rawl farms, which is local in farms, which is local in Lexington County.Lexington County.

USDA presence.USDA presence.

Everyone invited to have Everyone invited to have lunch at Pelion Elementary lunch at Pelion Elementary School.School.

FPC Board Meeting at FPC Board Meeting at W.P. Rawl Farm in Pelion, SCW.P. Rawl Farm in Pelion, SC

Tour of state of the art packing facility, Tour of state of the art packing facility, led by fellow board member, Charles led by fellow board member, Charles Wingard, family member & Director of Wingard, family member & Director of Field OperationsField Operations

Frank discussion about food safety Frank discussion about food safety and:and:

– costs associated with safety precautions costs associated with safety precautions such as paperwork and audits involved such as paperwork and audits involved in maintaining high food safety in maintaining high food safety standards. standards.

– These trends are likely to increase in These trends are likely to increase in the future.the future.

The board also discussed the future of The board also discussed the future of farming and potential challenges farming and potential challenges including:including:

– land availability (encroaching urban land availability (encroaching urban areas, land prices, etc)areas, land prices, etc)

– water availabilitywater availability– overall increasing input costs associated overall increasing input costs associated

with growing and harvesting high-with growing and harvesting high-quality, fresh produce. quality, fresh produce.

Sustainable Local Food Sustainable Local Food Systems WorkshopSystems Workshop

January 29, 2010 – January 29, 2010 – Columbia, SCColumbia, SC

Almost 100 people Almost 100 people registered & attendedregistered & attended

All Local foods served to All Local foods served to strengthen the message strengthen the message of Local Food Systems.of Local Food Systems.

Diversity of attendees: Diversity of attendees: governmental agencies, governmental agencies, community community organizations, farmers, organizations, farmers, planners, food banks, planners, food banks, etc.etc.

Sustainability of Local Food Sustainability of Local Food Systems WorkshopSystems Workshop

Speakers & PresentationsSpeakers & Presentations

Speaker on Economic Benefits – Speaker on Economic Benefits – Hugh Weathers, Hugh Weathers, Commissioner of AgricultureCommissioner of Agriculture

Speaker on Environmental Benefits – Speaker on Environmental Benefits – Walter Walter Douglas, NRCS-USDADouglas, NRCS-USDA

Speaker on Health (Nutritional) Benefits - Speaker on Health (Nutritional) Benefits - Erika Erika Kirby, SC DHECKirby, SC DHEC

Speaker on Food Safety – Speaker on Food Safety – Susan Barefoot, Susan Barefoot, Clemson UniversityClemson University

Speaker on Food Equality/Access Issues – Speaker on Food Equality/Access Issues – Darcy Darcy Freedman, Univ. of SCFreedman, Univ. of SC

Sustainability of Local Food Sustainability of Local Food Systems WorkshopSystems Workshop

Speakers & PresentationsSpeakers & Presentations

Farm to School in Anderson County, SC Farm to School in Anderson County, SC Institutional Dining Services– Institutional Dining Services– University of SCUniversity of SC Local Foods in School Food Service – Local Foods in School Food Service – SC SC

Department of Education Department of Education Sustainability Practices on the Farm & in Food Sustainability Practices on the Farm & in Food

ProcessingProcessing - Charles Wingard, farmer with W.P. - Charles Wingard, farmer with W.P. Rawl & SonsRawl & Sons

Plant a Row ProjectPlant a Row Project Hub City Farmers MarketHub City Farmers Market – Spartanburg, SC – Spartanburg, SC

Lessons Learned from Lessons Learned from WorkshopWorkshop

Active involvement by Commissioner of Agriculture and Active involvement by Commissioner of Agriculture and other state leaders was important.other state leaders was important.

Local initiatives stimulated interest/modeling examples.Local initiatives stimulated interest/modeling examples.

Information we take for granted was new to many Information we take for granted was new to many participants.participants.

The morning speakers/panel informed the afternoon The morning speakers/panel informed the afternoon discussion groups.discussion groups.

Local food products now an option at the conference Local food products now an option at the conference center.center.

Discussion GroupsDiscussion Groups

Economic & Farm Sustainability Economic & Farm Sustainability Health, Food Accessibility & EquityHealth, Food Accessibility & Equity Food Safety/Food Processing Food Safety/Food Processing

Challenges Challenges EnvironmentEnvironment

Recommendations from Final Report of Recommendations from Final Report of Sustainability of Local Food Systems Workshop.Sustainability of Local Food Systems Workshop.

• Expand & Diversify Expand & Diversify Marketing Marketing

• Increase Processing Increase Processing Facilities Facilities

• Respond to Respond to Distribution Channel Distribution Channel ChallengesChallenges

• Educate Leaders and Educate Leaders and Consumers about the Consumers about the Impact of Impact of Buying/Using Local Ag Buying/Using Local Ag ProductsProducts

• Keep the Farm & the Keep the Farm & the Farmer in BusinessFarmer in Business

• Increase Access & Increase Access & Availability to Healthy, Availability to Healthy, Locally Grown Foods Locally Grown Foods

• Create & Sustain Create & Sustain Environmentally Environmentally Friendly Farming Friendly Farming OperationsOperations

• Ensure Food Safety of Ensure Food Safety of South Carolina Products South Carolina Products from Farm to Consumerfrom Farm to Consumer

Future PlansFuture Plans

Recommendations from the report Recommendations from the report will guide the on-going work of the will guide the on-going work of the FPCFPC

– Determine prioritiesDetermine priorities– Identify lead organizations for prioritiesIdentify lead organizations for priorities

Thank You!Thank You!

SC Food Policy CouncilSC Food Policy Council

http://agriculture.sc.gov/content.aspx?ContentID=697

Beth CrockerBeth Crockerbcrocker@scda.sc.gov

Susan FrostSusan Frostfrostss@dhec.sc.gov