Sustainable and Equitable Local Food Systems A case study in Minneapolis, Minnesota Julie Ristau, Founding Co-Chair, Homegrown Minneapolis Jristau@onthecommons.org The Greater Peoria Regional Food Summit March 2014
2 Importance of Food System Work Health Environment Economy Community Security Equity Regional
Minneapolis, Minnesota 3
4 Profile of Minneapolis Population estimate, 2012 1 : 392,880 Ethnic Breakdown, 2010 1 : White persons: 63.8% Black persons: 18.6% Asian persons: 5.6% Persons of Hispanic or Latino Origin: 10.5% American Indian and Alaska Native persons: 2.0% More than one in five (24%) Minneapolis adults are obese and only 20.3% of adults eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables 2 1 United States Census Bureau. State & county QuickFacts. Minneapolis (city), Minnesota. Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/27/2743000.html. 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Communities Putting Prevention to Work. Community Profile: Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/communitiesputtingpreventiontowork/communities/profiles/obesity-mn_minneapolis.htm.
Citywide initiative to expand the community s ability to grow, process, distribute, eat and compost more healthy, sustainable, locally-grown foods in the city and surrounding region. 5
6 3 Phases of Homegrown Minneapolis Phase I: November 2008 June 2009 Launch of Homegrown Minneapolis and the development of recommendations for ways in which the City can support and advance the local food system Phase II: July 2009 December 2011 Implementation of recommendations Phase III: January 2012 - Ongoing Formation of the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council
7 Shared Leadership Approach Shared city-community leadership model Phase 1-- involved over 300 members of the community and 6 city offices Homegrown Minneapolis emerged from years of local food advocacy
Phase One 8 Small Enterprise Urban Ag. Farmers Markets Stakeholders Commercial Use of Local Foods Community, School, and Home Gardens Steering Committee
9 Recommendations from Phase One Revise City plans and codes to support growing, selling, and distributing local foods Develop a Topical Plan focused on urban agriculture (including a land inventory) Offer educational opportunities and tools to build food production capacity at the neighborhood level
10 Phase Two Farmers Markets Food Access Regulatory Review Implementation Task Force Citywide topical plan Food Policy & Community Engagement Community Garden Program
Phase Three 11 Broad community engagement Recommendations/implementation Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council
12 Vision The Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council envisions a vibrant local food system that enhances the health of all residents, protects the earth, increases economic vitality, expands social connectedness, and improves food security.
13 Statement of purpose Fosters City-Community shared leadership Convenes and engages diverse stakeholders to identify and propose innovative solutions to improve the local food system Provides ongoing guidance to the City on local food issues Serves as a platform for collaborative, coordinated action
14 Composition of Food Council 21 Total Members: co-leadership 15 Community Members 6 City Representatives
15 Activities and Highlights Advocacy/Advisory Submit letters of support and/or pass resolutions Community Engagement Working Groups and Task Forces Speaking and tabling at community events Food Council meetings in the community Communications Annual Open Houses
16 The City s Food Landscape 25 Farmers Markets 212 Community Gardens, with 13 city lots leased to community gardens 700 Food Resource Hub Members >12 Urban Farmers and related businesses 48 Community Kitchens 30 Healthy Corner Stores City Tree Program: 100 honeycrisp apple trees, 75 cherry trees, 150 serviceberry trees
17 Examples of Possible 2014 Food Council Activities Begin to make plans for an incubator/hub for our urban farmers. Support passing of the Mobile Healthy Food Store Ordinance. Work to change CPED policies re: land used for community gardens/growing food Expand curbside organic waste collection citywide Advocate for local and state policies that enhance pollinator habitat and protect pollinators.
Questions? 18