For a full copy of the report visit:
http://www.co.dane.wi.us/committees/foodpolicy/
Recipe for Success:
Recommendations of the Local Food Policy Advisory Subcommittee
Executive Summary
July 18, 2005
Introduction: Building a Better Local Food System
Food is an essential part of our lives and our communities. Nowhere is this more evident than in Dane County. Whether it’s our highly productive farms, numerous farmers’ markets and restaurants, or unique events like Breakfast on the Farm and Corn Fest, food is central to our history, culture, landscape, economy, as well as our individual and collective health.
Dane County has a dynamic and growing local food system that faces a future filled with both opportunities and challenges. That system encompasses the many complex social, political, economic and environmental relationships between food producers, processors distributors, and consumers. The Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee (EANR) of the Dane County Board established the Local Food Policy Advisory Subcommittee (LFPAS) to explore, develop, and recommend strategies to strengthen and improve the local food system. LFPAS members include producers, anti-hunger advocates, nutritionists, business people, academics, planners, and individuals with a passion for building a better local food system.
The LFPAS met regularly over the past 12 months and convened a Local Food Summit
Conference in February 2005 that brought together key stakeholders and the broader community to generate information and ideas to improve the local food system. Out of these efforts, the subcommittee developed a range of recommendations that address areas of need and also capitalize upon the county’s comparative advantages, including efficient and innovative producers and consumers dedicated to supporting local foods.
The recommendations in this executive summary are not a complete list, but rather represent a sampling of the subcommittee’s recommendations based on the year-long study. The recommendations range from county support for coordinated local food system planning as well as supporting efforts currently underway to create and expand processing infrastructure and marketing, and entrepreneurial opportunities for local foods; strategies to promote health and nutrition using local produce; and farmland preservation initiatives. The following is a sample of the subcommittee’s recommendations.
Support the development of infrastructure and marketing opportunities for local foods
Food production has long been a core component of Dane County’s economy and culture.
Dane produces more value of agricultural product than any other Wisconsin county. And
although residents of Dane County spend about $1 billion each year in restaurants and grocery stores, little of that money goes directly to Dane County farmers. However, there is a growing interest among consumers in purchasing fresh food locally. Sales of direct marketed agricultural products - largely fresh vegetables and fruits - grew fully 25% between 1997 and 2002. Not only are consumers seeking out local product in places like the Dane County Farmers’ Market, restaurants and institutional food services are also offering their customers foods grown close to home. Dane County farmers now sell some $3.6 million in direct marketed and organic foods each year, but that accounts for only about 5% of the county’s fresh fruit and vegetable consumption. There is an enormous potential for growth in this sector. Local production for local consumption is worth supporting for a variety of reasons. The county can take a number of immediate steps to enhance access to fresh, locally produced food for all county residents, including:
'''
Initiate local purchasing in county food service facilities'''
The county should initiate local purchasing in its own food service facilities. The county’s Consolidated Food Service now spends about $1.3 million on products that are served at various county facilities (county jail, senior centers, etc.). In cooperation with Dane County Senior Centers, the Food Service has piloted a limited program of special meals served on annual “Locally Grown Food Days.” Moreover, a local entrepreneur has proposed that the cafeteria at the new County Court House be established as a business that would source 75% of its food locally. The county should establish a policy that 10% of food purchases through its Consolidated Food Service be made locally within two years. In addition, the county should support the initiative to create the Courthouse Catering enterprise, which proposes to source 75% of food locally for a cafeteria in the new courthouse.
Support development of a Central Agriculture and Food Facility (CAFF)
The county should participate actively in further exploration of the feasibility a Central
Agriculture and Food Facility (CAFF) – a central, convenient and efficient location for a
variety of purposes related to processing and marketing of locally produced foods. There is considerable demand for fresh, locally produced food across the county, and there are many producers who are looking to expand their production and link to new market opportunities. Often, however, these producers lack the processing, storage, and transportation infrastructure that would allow them to efficiently bring local, fresh produce to market. A “central agriculture and food facility” would address this critical need by including, for example, a processing facility, storage, marketing and office spaces for organizations and individuals involved in local food processing and marketing. It could also provide a winter venue for a year-round farmers’ market. In addition, the county should support the efforts of the City of Madison and others to create a public market in the City of Madison that would provide additional market opportunities for
Dane County farmers. Finally, the county should monitor the need for a meat processing plant, and help to establish a plant in Dane County, if needed.
Establish a countywide network of farmers’ markets
Farmers’ markets are a key component of a local food system and Dane County now hosts an
enviable number of markets. They are now the single most important vehicle for connecting
consumers with fresh, local foods. Dane County should expand this mechanism. In order to
identify and address needs or problems common to our farmers’ markets, Dane County should
work with Extension staff to establish a network of farmers’ markets by convening a meeting of market managers. Such a network could address means of supporting the creation of new markets and the viability of emerging markets (e.g., Madison’s Southside Market). It could also explore means of making markets more accessible to lower income populations such as those using Quest funds (food stamps). The County’s most vulnerable residents should not be barred from access to the high quality fresh local nutritious foods offered at our area farmers’ markets.
Support “Entrepreneurial Agriculture” and innovative farmland preservation initiatives
With some of the most fertile and productive farmland in the world, agriculture continues to be part of the shared history and culture of Dane County, as well its predominant land use pattern. Dane County faces the challenge of balancing the rapid pace of its growing cities and villages while maintaining the continued viability of farming. Dane County towns are already leaders in farmland preservation, utilizing innovative techniques, strict density limitations and design requirements, and timed phasing of development. But farmland preservation efforts that fail to address opportunities to increase farm profitability will only yield limited success. Entrepreneurial agriculture represents an emerging market-based opportunity for farmers to derive more income and for the working lands in Dane county to remain economically viable in farming.
This means diversifying, adding value or identifying new markets and products, as well as
employing savvy marketing strategies to command premium prices for products. Dane County should do more to encourage the type of innovation already taking place, including
continuation of the Agricultural Enterprise Grant program, and including strategies to
promote entrepreneurial agriculture in the county’s Comprehensive Plan.
Promote the use of local foods to improve health and nutrition
Dane County should support development of a healthy regional food system that encourages
the use of healthy local foods to improve our overall health and nutrition. Specific
recommendations for accomplishing this in Dane County emphasize increasing consumption
of fruits and vegetables in the diet. The recommendations include:
Improve access to healthy, locally produced foods and more generally fruits and
vegetables; e.g. expand the Madison initiative for equitable distribution of grocery stores throughout Dane County.
Collaborate with anti-hunger advocates and other community groups to establish a “Market Basket” program, which would distribute low cost, fresh local products in Dane County.
Support and enhance the Dane County Extension Nutrition Education Program with
additional emphasis on using foods locally produced
Investigate the possibility of devoting county-owned land for more community gardens
throughout the county, and encourage direct marketing, CSA farms, farm stands and U Pick?
operations which bring nutritious foods to more people
Network with existing Dane County health and nutrition projects; e.g., Dane Can?, WIC,
local school district health projects and others. This would include supporting options for increasing physical activity through bike paths, after school programs for youth, and adult recreation opportunities
Establish a Dane County Food Council
Food issues significantly affect the public health, land use, economy, and quality of life of Dane County and its citizens. Although several county agencies are involved in particular aspects of food no single unit looks at the myriad of ways the food system affects the county, from the production of food through the food chain to the eventual disposal of food waste.
A county food council would help capitalize on Dane County’s exceptional assets and
coordinate efforts to build a stronger local food system. Establishing a food council would place Dane County among the leaders of this growing movement, with food councils in North America now numbering more than thirty.
The County Food Council’s responsibilities would be to advise County government to address
food system issues, particularly aimed at strengthening the capacity of the local and regional food system. Among its responsibilities would be: assist in food-related education, gather relevant data and information, play a coordinating role among groups in the local food system, develop policies to address food system issues. In addition, the food council would play a lead role in promoting the recommendations of the LFPAS in this report.
Conclusion
How and where food is grown, processed, packaged, transported and prepared makes a
difference! Just as we are shaped by what we eat, the land and our communities are also shaped by what we grow and what we eat. Food choices influence farmland preservation, water quality, the availability of jobs, and the health of our citizens. We hope to have provided you several recommendations that help build a better food system in Dane County.
Members of the Dane County Local Food Policy Advisory Subcommittee are:
Jim Arts, Deirdre Birmingham, Patti Daubs, Mark Dohm, Judy Hageman, Tera Johnson, Jerry Kaufman, Jack Kloppenburg, Mark Olinger, Ken Ruegsegger, Dale, Secher, Ruth Simpson, Jane Voichick, Loretta Wilson, and Doug Wubben.
