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Food and Agriculture Policy Collaborative Policies That Promote Healthy Food and Healthy Economies January 25, 2013
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Transcript of Southern SAWG- convergence presentation
Food and Agriculture Policy Collaborative
Policies That Promote Healthy Food and Healthy Economies
January 25, 2013
Healthy Food, Healthy Economies
A session to explore the how efforts to improve food security and access to healthy, local foods can strengthen our communities. Speakers will present information and data to help you make the case in your own community. Central questions:
• How does policy shape our food systems?
• How does access to healthy food and adequate purchasing power contribute to strong local economies?
Judith BellPresidentPolicyLink
Alexandra Ashbrook DirectorD.C. Hunger Solutions
Kathleen FitzgeraldConsultantFair Food Network
Helen Dombalis Policy AssociateNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
FEATURED SPEAKERS
The Farm Bill• Primary piece of agriculture
and food policy legislation
• Covers many issues, ranging from hunger issues in America to price supports for large crops
• Reauthorized roughly every five years
• Farm Bill legislation dates back to the 1930s
Farm Bill Goals from the Beginning (1930)
• Ensure a stable and affordable food supply• Protect farmers from price volatility• Provide a food safety net for the poor• Support farm production and rural
development• Conserve natural resources• Create new sources of energy
Farm Bill 101: Distribution of Mandatory Spending
The Farm Bill and Food
The biggest drivers of poor diet are all regulated by the Farm Bill
*Graphic produced by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Characteristics of a Healthy Food System
• Nutritious food is affordable and accessible• System supports the production of
nutritious, fresh food
Characteristics of a Healthy Food System
• Food is produced in ways that does not harm workers or the environment
• Production systems create and sustain jobs and build wealth in rural and urban communities
Farm Bill 101: Congressional Committees
• Authorizing Committees: write the Farm Bill– House Committee on Agriculture– Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and
Forestry
• Appropriations Committees: determine how much funding should be allocated for specific programs during each fiscal year
Farm Bill: Key Players
• Agribusiness Lobby • Anti-Hunger
Advocates• Nutrition/Public
Health• Community Food
Security• Conservation/
Environmental Groups
• International Trade and Globalization
• Renewable Energy• Government
Agencies• Organic Groups • Sustainable Ag
2013 Farm Bill
At some point this year, the Congress will begin to debate the next Farm Bill. The actual timing and the contents of a
proposed Farm Bill are uncertain.
Food and Agriculture Policy Collaborative
Widespread support across disciplines and among diverse sectors to include the following in the next Farm Bill:
• Healthy Food Financing Initiative• SNAP• SNAP Incentive Programs• Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
Strengthening the Local and Regional Farm and Food System Infrastructure
Helen Dombalis, Policy Associate
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Who We Are and What We Do
• The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is an alliance of grassroots organizations that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities.
• More than 90 member organizations
• Policy and grassroots work
• Issue committees including Marketing, Food Systems, and Rural Development
NSAC’s Regional Partner: Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
• Southern SAWG was founded in 1991 to foster a movement toward a more sustainable farming and food system that is ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just and humane.
Overview of Our Work
• Increasing the number of small and mid-sized family farmers producing sustainable food
• Improve the long-term economic viability of sustainable and organic farming
• Strengthen rural and urban communities through food- and agriculture-based development
Local and Regional Food Systems
• Skyrocketing consumer demand for local food that agricultural producers and entrepreneurs are striving to meet
• Despite these opportunities, significant infrastructure, marketing, and information barriers are limiting growth
Supply, Demand, and the Supply Chain
• Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)
• Farm to School
• Infrastructure
Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
• Over half of all new jobs created in the most rural areas come from small, non-farm business ventures.
• The average age of an American agricultural producer today is 57
BFRDP and 2501
BFRDP• A competitive grant
administered by NIFA• Funds education,
extension, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives directed at helping beginning farmers and ranchers
2501• Outreach and Assistance
for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
• The goal of 2501 is to assure that these farmers and ranchers have opportunities to successfully acquire, own, operate, and retain farms and ranches and equitably participate in all USDA programs.
Connecting the Dots
• Defending and improving SNAP’s structure, benefits and eligibility can yield increased income for farmers
• Incentivizing healthy, local food purchases similarly provides more opportunities for farmers to sell their produce
• Healthy food financing establishes additional avenues through which farmers can market
What You Can Do!
• Sign up for NSAC action alerts: http://sustainableagriculture.net/take-action/
• Sign up for NSAC blogs: http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/
• Follow us on Facebook
Bridging the Gap Through SNAP Incentives
Kate Fitzgerald for Fair Food Network
Linked Challenges
• Dwindling revenue at family-owned, small and mid-sized farms
• Few good food options for low-
income consumers
SNAP Incentives Address Both Challenges
FARMERS:
• Increase income
• Develop loyal new customer base
SNAP consumers:• Use their benefits at farmers markets
• Double benefit value
• Buy healthy, fresh, local food
And Stimulate Local Economies
• Farmers spend dollars in rural communities
• Farmers hire more labor
• Farmers markets create new jobs (4 on average)
• Businesses near markets increase sales
Double Up Food Bucks
How it Works
Measuring the EffectIn 2012, Michigan farmers received almost $2 million in increased SNAP and DUFB sales.
Double Up Food Bucks
Response from Farmers
Double Up Food Bucks
Response from Customers
Double Up Food BucksQuantifiable Success
Midwest Farmers Markets – Total 2012 SNAP Sales
Source: USDA
Total Sales: $2,273,681
Double Up Food BucksQuantifiable Success
Michigan Farmers Markets – SNAP Sales Growth
Expanding the EffectSNAP use in farmers markets as % of total SNAP food purchases by state.
SNAP Incentive Programs
• Proven success
• Next steps to scaling
– SNAP Incentives in the Farm Bill
– Nationwide adoption
SNAP Incentives lay the foundation for improving healthy food access for low-income families and the future of rural communities.
Fair Food Network
• Web: www.fairfoodnetwork.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (734) 213-3999
• YouTube: View educational and promotional videos from FFN www.youtube.com/fairfoodnetwork
• Facebook:
www.facebook.com/FairFoodNetwork
• Twitter: @fairfoodnetwork
For more information and updates:
SNAP and the Farm Bill
Alex AshbrookD.C. Hunger Solutions, an initiative of the Food Research and Action Center
January 25, 2013
Southern SSAWG
American households struggling to afford food
“Have there been times in the last 12 months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed?” (Gallup)
Households answering yes in the 1st 6 months of 2012: 18.2% nationally
Worst 10 states: MS, AL, DE, GA, NV, AR, OK, TN, WV, LA.
Food hardship in virtually every Congressional district (2010-2011)
• 48 Congressional districts >/= 25%• 162 Congressional districts >/= 20%• 323 Congressional districts >/= 15%
Median Congressional district = 18.2%
Median House Agriculture Committee member district = 18.3%
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)(“food stamps”)
Number of beneficiaries each month:
• 1996 – 25.5 million• 2000 - 17.2 million• 2007 – 26.5 million• 2009 – 33.5 million• October 2013 – 47.5 million
Benefit allotments and redemptions
• Maximum $668/month, family of four (Thrifty Food Plan)(Low cost food plan = $822/month)
• Average SNAP benefit: $4.50/day/person
• EBT Cards
• 93% of benefits redeemed at supermarkets, superstores, grocery stores, specialty food stores
Strengths of SNAP - General• Reduces hunger/food insecurity
• Structural – responsive to economic need
• Targeted:– 93% of benefits households below poverty line– 85% of benefits households with seniors, people with
disabilities, or children– 47% of recipients are children
• Helps working families as well as unemployed – 41% of participants are in households with earnings
Strengths of SNAP - Economic
• Stimulates economy: each SNAP $1 produces $1.73 - $1.79 of economic activity
• Counter-cyclical• Creates jobs: $1 billion SNAP 9,800 to
19,800 for FTEs plus PTs • Builds on mainstream commerce• Reduces poverty• Frees up family resources for other basic
needs
Strengths of SNAP - Nutrition Impacts
• Raises food expenditures; improves nutrient availability
• Improves child health
• May reduce obesity
• Across broad food categories, little difference between food choices/ expenditures of low-income and high-income families
Farm Bill• President’s Budget (FY 2013):
- restores Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act benefits allotment cut
- eases access for unemployed workers
• Senate Bill:- cuts $4.5 billion (eliminates coordination of
SNAP and LIHEAP)
• House Bill:- Cuts $16 billion
o Senate LIHEAP provisiono reduces allowable assetso reduces allowable income
Learn More…
Follow developments on FRAC website
– http://frac.org
Sign up for FRAC alerts
– http://bit.ly/9FzB66
Follow us on Facebook
– facebook.com/foodresearchandactioncenter
Follow us on Twitter
– twitter.com/#!/fractweets
Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Increasing Food AccessImproving Health Outcomes
Creating Economic Opportunity
Judith Bell, PresidentPolicyLink
A Successful Model:PA Fresh Food Financing Initiative
• 88 new or expanded healthy food retail projects
• $73.2 million in loans and $12.1 million in grants to healthy food retailers
• $190 million in total project costs resulting from $30 million in state seed money
• 400,000 residents with increased access to healthy food
• 5,000 jobs created or retained
State & Local Initiatives
• NJ Food Access Initiative• CA FreshWorks Fund• IL Fresh Food Fund• New Orleans Fresh Food
Retail Incentive Fund• NY Healthy Foods,
Healthy Communities Fund
Healthy Food Financing InitiativeA National Campaign
• Improve access to healthy food in low-income, underserved, rural, suburban, & urban communities
• Support small business development, job creation
• Contribute to sustainable food system development
• Incent public-private partnerships
• $477 million in grants and tax credits already distributed
HFFI Federal Actions
A coordinated effort to increase access to
healthy foods in underserved urban
& rural communities
Interagency group established in 2010
to guide implementation
Fiscal year 2013 budget request: Total of $285 million through:
• Treasury: $25 million • HHS: $10 million• NMTC Program: potential for $250 million (or
more) available
HFFI Impact
• $ 77 million awarded to 47 CDCs & CDFIs from across the country awarded HFFI Funds
• More than $400 million in New Market Tax Credits allocated to CDEs to support a diversity of food access projects
Diversity of projects funded: • Supermarkets, grocery stores, food hubs, farmers markets,
CSAs, corner stores, food processors, distribution centers
• For-profit businesses, cooperatives, non-profit organizations
Food and Agro Processing CenterBrightwood Development CorporationPorta del Sol region , PR
Agriculture Enterprise InitiativeCoastal EnterprisesPortland ME
Northside Community Food HubButterfly FoundationSpartanburg, SC
A Sampling of HFFI Projects
Healthy Foods Cooperative CommunitiesCooperative Fund of New EnglandAmherst, MA
HFFI & the Farm Bill
• Enhance USDA’s ability to improve access and demand for healthy foods by providing one-stop financing for healthy food retailers.
• Support a range of locally-determined strategies designed to strengthen regional and local food systems
• Selects a CDFI using a competitive process to manage a National Fund
• Oversees & monitors program implementation
• Raises private capital nationally• Funds local partnership using a
competitive process• Provides TA to local public/private
partnerships
• Develops investment strategy & raises local funding
• Evaluates and finances local projects and provides TA
HFFI Farm Bill Proposal
HFFI Benefits
• Market opportunities for local farmers
• Jobs & small business development
• Revitalized neighborhoods• Better health outcomes
For more HFFI information and updates: www.policylink.org/KeepMeInformed/HFFI
• PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing economic and social equity by Lifting Up What Works ®. www.policylink.org
• Contact: [email protected]
• The Food Trust, founded in 1992, is a nonprofit organization working to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, nutritious food. www.thefoodtrust.org
• Contact: [email protected]
• The Reinvestment Fund, a community development financial institution, invests in
distressed markets and conducts research on policy issues that influence neighborhood revitalization & economic growth. www.trfund.com
• Contact: [email protected]
Judith Bell, PresidentPolicyLink
Helen DombalisNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Kathleen FitzgeraldFair Food Network
Alexandra AshbrookDC Hunger Solutions
Patricia L. Smith, Senior Policy Advisor The Reinvestment Fund
For more information:
