Transcript Community Foods Organizing

Community Foods Organizing
Building Rural Communities
and Food Systems
Sharon Thornberry, Oregon Food Bank
Spencer Masterson, Ten Rivers Food Web
Kristin Frost-Albrecht, North Coast Food Web
We envision communities across Oregon
and SW Washington where citizens are
empowered and actively engaged across
sectors to attain personal and
community food security.
What is Community Foods
Organizing?
Community Foods Organizing is the process of
bringing together a variety of stakeholders to
reshape a local food system that is more
responsive to the needs and assets of a
community. The goal of that organizing will
promote a healthier community; respect,
promote and celebrate the culture of that
community as well as seek to improve its
economic well being.
Three approaches
• Community FEAST
• RARE Assessment &
Organizing Project
• Food Systems Networking
Food
Education
Agriculture
Solutions
Together
Community members tell the story of their local
food system.
Participants are introduced to Community
Food Systems Organizing and Language
Priorities are identified
An Organizing Plan is created to address the priorities
Participants get resources and tools to inform their plan.
IMPACT
Attendees include:
Community Member
Emergency Food Pantry
Farmer/Producer
Food Retailer
Elected Official
Health Care Provider
Gleaner/Food rescue
Farmers Market
Gardener
OSU Extensions
Farm-School
Economic Development
Nutrition Education
Public Health
Food Processor
Nonprofit
Faith-Based Organization
• New Farm-to-school partnerships
• WIC and Senior Farm Direct Checks and
WIC Fruit and Veggie Vouchers are
accepted at more farmers markets.
• Farmers and Grocers in Grant County are
forging a long term marketing
relationship
• Food systems coalitions have been
established
• Food donors are partnering with
emergency food providers
• Increased media coverage
• Lunch!
OFB-RARE
Assessment
& Organizing
• Community food assessments
• Coordination and facilitation
of community food system
organizing events
• Rural grocery store surveys
• Local food resource guides
• Food literacy
Clatsop
Columbia
Hood
River
Sherman
Gilliam
Umatilla
Wallowa
Morrow
Wasco
Lincoln
Wheeler
Linn
Grant
Lane
Harney
Klamath
Josephine
Lake
Malheur
IMPACT
• 7 community food assessments completed
– covering 16 counties
• More than 300 producers, processors and
farmers identified and engaged
• 7 local food resource guides published
• 3 new Farmers’ Markets and increased
WIC/SNAP accessibility at 4 additional
markets
• Nutrition education classes started
• Social media tools active in community
organizing.
• Intentional, regular donations to food
pantries
• Increased community engagement
Regional
Food System
Organizing
• Tri-County Organization
• Community Food Organizers
• Active Board
• Chapters
• Working Committees
 Countywide or Smaller
 Low-Income Access
 Board Presence
 Food Literacy
 Grassroots Efforts
 Growers Network
Rural Organizing Considerations
• Distance
• Action Motivated
 Alternate meeting locations
 Identify community needs
 Meeting frequency
 Start with a task
 Community working groups
 Ex. Food Day Food Fair
• Meeting Format
• Alternative Engagement
 Informal vs. Formal
 Volunteer Opportunities
 Potluck
 Email/Phone/Skype
Key Things to Remember when doing
Community Foods Organizing:
• Community Foods Organizing (CFO) always highlights a
community’s resources and assets as well as its needs.
• The act of doing an assessment is an organizing tool.
• CFO must include the grassroots of a community.
• CFO is done with communities, not to them.
• It’s about the conversation!
• This is both short-term and long-term work. Results may
not be instant.
Food Systems
Networking
•
•
•
•
•
Food for Oregon website
Social Media- Facebook & Twitter
Technical assistance to CFS Organizations
Convening partners & players
Playing a leading role in local food
movements
Resources
• Food for Oregon website:
http://foodfororegon.oregonstate.edu/
• FEAST Planning Manual:
http://oregonfoodbank.org/feast
• Assessment Reports and Local Food Guides:
http://oregonfoodbank.org/cfs
Contact Information
Sharon Thornberry
Community Food Systems
Manager
Oregon Food Bank
[email protected]
g
503-703-2198
Spencer Masterson
Community Food Organizer
Ten Rivers Food Web
[email protected]
541-602-7279
Connect With Us on Social
Media!
http://www.facebook.com/orego
nfoodbankcfs
https://twitter.com/#!/OFB_Shar
onT
http://tenriversfoodweb.org/hom
e/feed/