Educating the Public
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Transcript of Educating the Public
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