Strengthening Community Engagement in Sustainable Local Food Systems

Strengthening Community Engagement in Sustainable Local Food Systems

Summary

Initiatives to increase citizen participation on local food system issues is occurring by addressing locally-defined issues and needs on the food system through professional development and technical support. Previous research documented extension educators’ perspectives on food system issues in their communities, their involvement with such issues, as well as community and organizational support and barriers regarding such programming within their communities. Extension educators identified institutional barriers—lack of program resources on the local food system and that such programming did not fit within their responsibilities as educators—as factors limiting their involvement in such programming. Earlier research reported in 2004 identified significant differences between Extension educators’ demographic and program characteristics—gender, educational level, program responsibilities, and geographic location–and how important local food system issues were perceived. Just as different issues resonate with different stakeholders, diversity also exists among Extension educators. These differences must be acknowledged as programs are defined and implemented. Understanding these differences is valuable in developing in-service training programs as well as educational resources. During 2005, a county-level survey was carried out to determine interest in buying local, an in-service on strategies to increase consumer participation/buying at farmers markets was conducted, and a proposal was developed and submitted to fund a buyer/marketing specialist in addition to responding to individual requests for information. Strengthening farm to school initiatives in New York are now being supported through additional NESARE funding.

The intent of this project is to increase public dialogue among community residents regarding sustainable localized food systems in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The value of expanding public conversations regarding community food systems is that such conversations enable residents to define, and thus, create the type of community they desire, including the role of a locally sustainable food system. Agriculture and the food system are commonly overlooked as communities define their futures. Agricultural land is preserved for its open space rather than for its economic potential to provide diverse local foods to satisfy consumer demand or to support a locally vibrant economy and quality of life. The desired long-term outcome for Extension educators and communities is to build community consensus in order to develop a common vision for a sustainable local food system. This project is providing Extension educators with the knowledge, program resources, and strategies a) to facilitate community conversations and b) to seek greater media coverage regarding the local food system.

This project will provide the foundation on which to expand Extension programming on local food systems through collaboration with other organizations in local communities. Data from the 2003 e-survey of field-based Extension educators in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania identified, from the perspectives of extension educators, local food system priorities, support and barriers to local food system programming, extension’s involvement in local organizations, and demographic and programmatic information. Local food system issues are perceived as important to field-based educators yet local residents, county planning commissions, and the media are perceived as having little interest. Understanding one’s local environment as well as individual differences among extension educators regarding the local food system is providing direction to subsequent program development. The objective of the e-survey and other initiatives is to enhance the capacity of Extension educators in collaboration with others in their communities to carry out local food system programming. Community defined needs for local food system programming must be a priority.

A locally vibrant agriculture is part of a community’s economic viability and quality of life for all of its residents, not only for those in agricultural production. Nevertheless, agriculture and the food system are commonly overlooked as communities define their futures. Agricultural land tends to be preserved for its open space rather than for its economic potential to provide diverse local foods to satisfy consumer demand or to support a locally vibrant economy and quality of life. Few counties or municipalities in Pennsylvania include agriculture in their planning. In fact, both county and municipal planners in Pennsylvania (Abel, 2000) have indicated that incorporating food system issues into the planning process is likely to occur only through government mandates, citizen pressure, or expanded funding. Such outcomes can best be influenced by public actions at the local level.

Extension educators can respond to such local community interests. To facilitate Extension’s involvement on the local food system in their communities, Extension educators should be aware of their views on the food system and those of their colleagues as well as the perceived support for such programming within Cooperative Extension and their communities. Based on the 2003 e-survey, a program development model was articulated to recognize what needs to be considered in developing programs.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Thirty Extension agents and 30 community collaborators at 15 sites in three states will engage with the project as described below.

1. Extension educators will commit time to the initiative through a plan of work.

2. Educators and community collaborates will work to enhance media and community awareness of local food issues, and specifically the use of Our Food: Our Future programming.

Success for this project is defined as an increase in appropriate community-defined initiatives that support continuing public dialogue on a sustainable local food system. The specific initiatives Extension educators and community collaborators undertake will be based on their own communities’ current involvement in such concerns.

Those involved in local action to address food system issues might a) initiate a process in the community to identify assets and needs for a sustainable local food system; b) determine the type, structure, and inclusiveness of community groups that may already exist and could explore food system issues at the community level; c) work in collaboration with community groups to initiate local programming on relevant food system issues; d) initiate contacts to expand media coverage of local food system issues; e) seek resources to expand community dialogue on the local food system.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Milestone 1. Establish a multi-state Extension Educators’ Project Advisory Council.

During 2004, the Project Advisory Council, established in 2003, held four conference calls to discuss programming strategies and resources and use of the e-survey (Milestone 2) in local food system programming.

Milestone 2. Conduct a baseline electronic survey among field-based Extension educators in each participating state.

This tri-state e-survey determined the perceptions of Extension educators regarding public engagement with food system issues within their states as well as assessed their own perceptions and participation in food system programming.

Community support for local food system programming among educators and administrators was perceived by Extension personnel to be greater than from state-level Extension personnel. Local governments as well as local residents, Extension educators perceive, provide only limited support. The lack of both professional knowledge and program resources was perceived to be a moderate barrier. Just as important, Extension educators questioned whether or not local food system programming is part of their professional responsibilities.

Responses to the e-survey indicate that Extension educators across all of the three states perceived each of the 21 local food system issues to be important. However, differences existed among Extension educators based on gender, area of program responsibility, education, and geographic location within states. For example, female educators place higher importance on food access, hunger, and food preparation skills than do male educators. Male educators, on the other hand, view viable local ag-related businesses as most important. Just as different issues resonate with different stakeholders; similar diversity exists among extension educators; such differences must be acknowledged as programs are defined and implemented. Incorporating diverse interests and expertise can strengthen the resulting community initiatives.

Each state analyzed responses to the e-survey for their own state. Now the data are being analyzed across the three states in order to determine how this information and its implications can be most useful nationally.

Milestone 3. Implement in-state in-services focusing on strategies to enhance community dialogue and media coverage on locally relevant food system issues.

Within state in-services supporting local food system programming in order to address local needs have met with mixed results. In New Jersey, such support was primarily provided through conversations with individual educators and through membership by project personnel on advisory boards such as that of the Mid-Atlantic States Food Systems Education Center. New York emphasized “farm to school” programming to strengthen local food system initiatives through Extension. This initiative has now become an independently funded outreach program.

In Pennsylvania, resources were shared at the annual in-service for community development educators and with individual field-based educators, particularly those associated with the Keystone Agricultural Innovation Center (KAIC). Talking points on local food system education in Pennsylvania, primarily drawn from this project’s e-survey, were provided, per request, to the Director of Cooperative Extension.

During the January 2005 economic and community development in-service, a “hand-on” session on drafting a questionnaire for local use and GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping to pinpoint local food and farming activities in a county provided strategies for educators to use in order to involve local residents in conversations on the food system. Involving participants, regardless of their role in the food system, can facilitate communication across stakeholders within communities.

A fall 2005 Pennsylvania in-service “Adding Value to Strengthen Local Agricultural Sustainability” focused on rapid market assessments engaging local farm market participants and other strategies to increase demand for local foods. In addition, support available through Small Business Development Centers, was presented.

Food system resources from Penn State and Cornell were provided to the Farm Foundation to add to the NPPEC (National Public Policy Education) web site. Program resources and program ideas were also shared among members of the three state Project Advisory Council via conference calls as well as during within state in-services.

Milestone 4. Extension educators and community representatives from across 15 counties in the three states (total: 30 agents; 30 community members) will identify, initiate, and carry out at least two appropriate community-based programming strategies on the food system within 12 months following the in-service.

Given limited participation by educators at in-services on the local food system in Pennsylvania, alternative strategies to address barriers to local food system programming identified by the educators in the e-survey are being implemented. During 2005, a county-level survey was conducted in order to determine interest in buying local; an in-service on strategies to increase consumer participation/buying at farmers markets was carried out, and a proposal was developed and submitted to fund a buyer/marketing specialist in addition to responding to individual requests for information. In each situation, these initiatives supported other food systems programming being carried out in the local area. Educators involved in these activities are also participating in conferences addressing local sustainable agriculture in the region as well as collaborating with others engaged in similar efforts.

All of these experiences provide opportunities 1) to share resources and programming ideas in order to demonstrate how local food system programming can be incorporated into already on-going programming on the economic viability of the food and fiber system in the community and 2) to explore the use of language and its importance in involving local residents in conversations on food and agriculture as well as to increase local media coverage. Support for local food system programming will be increasingly based on requests from individual educators.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

In New York, local food systems programming is now focusing on farm to school initiatives supported through additional NESARE funding. In Pennsylvania, initiatives to increase citizen participation on local food system issues is occurring by addressing locally-defined issues and needs on the food system through professional development and technical support. Previous research documented extension educators’ perspectives on food system issues in their communities, their involvement with such issues, as well as community and organizational support and barriers regarding such programming within their communities. Extension educators identified institutional barriers—lack of program resources on the local food system and that such programming did not fit within their responsibilities as educators—as factors limiting their involvement in such programming. These needs are being addressed through in-service opportunities and responding to individual requests for information and technical support.

At the national level, the primary participant in this project from New York and a former Pennsylvania participant now at Montana State University are members of a sustainable food supply task force recently established by the American Dietetics Association to define the role of Association members regarding food and nutrition practices for a sustainable food supply.

As extension programming across states gradually shifts to include local programs on sustainable food and fiber systems, educators individually are seeking resources to support such programming. Addressing issues from a community perspective involves collaborating with others and building partnerships, distinct from direct programming with clientele. Often initial awareness regarding the importance of the food system to a local area is based on one-to-one contacts in order to build broader community support. The time intensive nature of such programming discourages many Extension educators. Not only does Cooperative Extension need to ensure that its personnel have the skills to facilitate as well as carry out such programming but that Extension communicates the value of such programming to the educators both as professionals as well as for the communities in which they live.

Building on the diverse interests and expertise within communities can strengthen resulting community efforts. A local food system reflects the community of which it is a part. All who are involved in this food system must participate in creating a shared vision of the local food system in order to develop consensus on, as well as acceptance of, local action. Defining the community’s “food future” depends on such engagement.

Publications and Outreach

Roberts K.S., Struble M.B., McCullum C., and Wilkins J.L. 2006. Use of a risk communication model to evaluate dietetics professionals’ viewpoints on genetically engineered foods and crops. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 106(2).

Thomson, J.S., Radhakrishna, R.B., Maretzki, A.N., and Inciong, L.O. 2005. Strengthening Community Engagement Toward Sustainable Local Food Systems, Journal of Extension, 11 pages. Accepted for publication.

Thomson, J.S., A.N. Maretzki, and A.H. Harmon. Defining the Local Food System: Community Initiated Dialogue, Chapter in Remaking the Food System, C. Hinrichs and T. A. Lyson, editors. Forthcoming. Under contract with University of Nebraska Press.

Wilkins, J.L. 2004. Think Globally, Eat Locally. Op-ed published in the New York Times. Dec. 18, 2004.

Wilkins J.L., Peters C.J., Hamm M., and Reinhardt E. Increasing Acres to Decrease Inches: The Land Requirements of Low-Carbohydrate Diets. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. In revision.

Wilkins, J.L. 2005. Eating right here: Moving from consumer to food citizen. 2004 Presidential address to the Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society and the Society for the Study of Food and Society, Hyde Park, New York. Agriculture and Human Values, 22(3): 269-273.

Wilkins J.L. 2005. Seeing Beyond the Package: Teaching about the Food System through Food Product Analysis. Food, Culture, and Society, 8(1): 91-108.

Wilkins J.L. Eating Right Here: The Role of Dietary Guidance in Remaking Community-Based Food Systems. Chapter in Remaking the North American Food System, C. Hinrichs and T. A. Lyson, editors. Forthcoming. Under contract with University of Nebraska Press.

Presentations/Outreach

Radhakrishna, R.B., Thomson, J.S., Maretzki, A.N. 2005. Using Needs Assessment Results as a Tool for Local Food System Programming. Presentation at the American Evaluation Association Conference, Toronto, Canada. October.

Radhakrishna, R.B., Thomson, J.S., Maretzki, A.N., and Inciong, L.O. 2005. Involving 4-H/Youth Development Educators to Strengthen Community Engagement in Sustainable Local Food Systems. Presentation/Abstract in Proceedings of National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference. Seattle, WA. p. 56.

Thomson, J.S., Radhakrishna, R.B., and Maretzki, A.N. 2005. Engaging Communities in Local Food System Dialogue: Challenges and Opportunities. Presentation at the North Central Sociological Association. Pittsburgh, PA. April.

Thomson, J.S., Maretzki, A.N., and Radhakrishna, R.B. 2005. Extension Educators’ Perspectives on Strengthening Community Engagement in Sustainable Local Food System. Presentation/Abstract for annual meeting of the Community Development Society. Baltimore, MD. p. 29.

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Making the Farm to School Connection: Achieving Healthy Weights and Agricultural Viability through Farm to School Links.” Presentation given as part of the SPIN (Schools + Professionals In Nutrition) Trainings in conjunction with NYS Action for Healthy Kids. January 21, Buffalo NY. (Professional Meeting; 120 nutrition professionals and food service directors)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Food Security, Health, and Sustainability.” Panel presentation for the CIIFAD Forum Special Colloquium Series on: Sustainability in the Age of Development. Session Focus: Sustainable Development from Food Systems and Health Perspectives. February 9, 2005. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. (Invited Lecture; 75 students and faculty)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Farms to School Connections: Potential, Practicalities, and Policy.” Cornell Community Nutrition Program Seminar. February 14, 2005. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. (Academic Seminar; 20 students and faculty)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Increasing Acres to Decrease Inches: The Land Requirements of Low-Carbohydrate Diets.” 14th Annual PASA (Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture) Farming for the Future Conference, Reclaiming Health: Nourishing our Farms & Families. Workshop title: “Eating for Sustainability and Health: Proteins vs. Carbohydrates. February 4, 2005. State College, PA. (Invited Presentation; 75 participants)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Making the Farm to School Connection: Achieving Healthy Weights and Agricultural Viability through Farm to School Links.” Presentation given for me by Bill Jordan of NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets at the SPIN (Schools + Professionals in Nutrition) training hosted by the Hudson Valley Dietetic Association. Part of the NY Action for Healthy Kids. Capital Region BOCES. 900 Albany-Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12205. March 17, 2005. (Professional Meeting; 60 nutrition professionals and food service directors)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Sustainable Food Systems: Challenges and Possibilities.” 2005 Fletcher Conference. The Fletcher School, Tufts University. April 1, 2005. Medford, MA. (Invited Lecture; 60 students and academics)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Farm to School Approaches to Addressing Child Obesity.” NYC, CCE office/ SPIN (Schools + Professionals in Nutrition) Training. April 13, 2005. (Professional Meeting organized by NYDOH; 100 nutrition professionals)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “What to Eat? Achieving Health and Sustainability One Bite at a Time.” Presentation given at the 2005 Milken Global Seminar. April 19, 2005. Hollywood, CA. (Invited Lecture; 60 mostly business professionals)

Wilkins JL, Asher K, Cook R. 2005. Connecting New York Farms and Schools. Workshop presentation at ACCEE 2005 Gateways to Great Ways – 2005. April 11. Buffalo, NY. (Professional Meeting; 35 extension educators)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Eating Locally: Achieving Health and Sustainability One Bite at a Time.” MOFGA Workshop Local Food Systems Nutrition educators. Audience was extension and nutrition professions, food service personnel and a few farmers. May 6, 2005. Maine. (Invited Lecture; 75 farmers and educators)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Connecting New York Farms and Schools: For Healthy Kids, Healthy Farms, and Healthy Communities.” SPIN (Schools + Professionals in Nutrition) training, SUNY – Cortland, NY. (Professional Meeting organized by NYDOH; 80 nutrition professionals)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Cornell Farm to School Program.” Poster presentation at the Ecology of Obesity Conference sponsored by the College of Human Ecology, Cornell University June 6-7, 2005. Statler Ballroom. Ithaca, NY. (Professional/Academic meeting; 100 participants)

“Farm to School in New York” Poster Presentation and Abstract at the Ecology of Obesity Conference. Cornell University Statler Ballroom. June 7, 2005 (Academic Conference; 100 participants)

Wilkins JL and Hemelgarn M. 2005. “Access, Agriculture and Advertising: The Devils and the Dietary Guidelines.” Presentation given at the The Joint Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS) and Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society (AFHVS). June 11, 2005. Portland, OR. (Professional Meeting; 30 participants)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Integrating Health and Sustainability in U.S. Agriculture Policy.” Presentation given twice at the NASULGC/USDA/CSREES sponsored Roundtable – food and society. July 19, 2005. Washington, DC. (Invited presentation; Total audience: 45)

Wilkins JL. 2005. Moderated and introduced this opening plenary session of the Society for Nutrition Education Annual Conference, “A Food Systems Approach to Improving Nutrition and Health.” July 24, 2005. Orlando, Florida. (Professional Meeting; 350 nutrition professionals)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Institutional Purchasing Projects: Getting Started with Project.” Presentation was made via Conference Call for participants in Farm to School Training funded by NE SARE. July 6, 2005; connected from CU office. (15 participants)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “The Dietary Guidelines, Consumers and the Food Supply Gaps and Potential.” Panel presentation given in my absence at the Soil and Water Conservation Service Conference. August 2, 2005. Rochester, NY. (Professional Meeting; 45 participants)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Making Farm to School Connections for Healthy Kids and Healthy Farms.” NY State Parent Teacher Association Annual Conference. August 13, 2005. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (Professional Meeting; 20 teachers and parents)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Farm to School Project Evaluation.” Teleconference presentation to participants of a NE SARE farm to school project. (15 participants)

Wilkins JL, Jordan W, Adamick K. 2005. “Farm to School in New York: Ramping up.” Workshop at the Community Food Security Coalition Annual Conference. October 9, 2005. Atlanta, GA. (Conference; 25 participants)

Wilkins JL, Neff G, Bacelli B. 2005. “Making farm to school connections.” Workshop NYSSFA Annual Meeting. October 22, 2005. Syracuse, NY. (Professional Meeting; 30 School Food Service professionals)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Farm to School in New York: The Time is Ripe!” Presentation was part of the Fall Educational Training for Class 10 of the LEAD-NY program. November 3, 2005. Birdseye Foods Corporate HQ in Rochester, NY. (Professional Meeting; 70 professionals)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Farm to School In New York: Extension Educators Providing the Local Link.” November 16, 2005. Workshop provided at the Fall Update for nutrition supervisors with responsibility for EFNEP and FSNE. Garden Inn Hilton Hotel, Ithaca, NY (Professional Meeting; 60 extension educators)

Wilkins JL. 2005. “Education and Engagement A Vision for the WSU Extension Consumer Food Safety Program.” Seminar given to the faculty of Food Science and Human Nutrition at WSU – Pullman and by video conference to Puyallup, and Wenatchee. December 9, 2005. Pullman, WA. (Invited Lecture; 35 academics and practitioners)

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