Baltimore Food Policy Initiative: A Catalyst to Address Health, Economic and Environmental Disparities Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Baltimore City mayor@baltimorecity.gov August 29 th, 2014
Baltimore Food Policy Overview
Baltimore Food Policy Initiative (BFPI) Inter-governmental collaboration: Baltimore Office of Sustainability, Department of Planning, Health Department & Baltimore Development Corporation Food Policy Advisory Committee (Food PAC) Provide Advisory Capacity to implement Food Policy Taskforce recommendations 60 Diverse stakeholders (such as Anti-hunger community, extension, city government, community nonprofits, schools)
Food Policy Recommendations 1. Promote and expand farmers markets 2. Support community gardens and urban agriculture 3. Expand supermarket home delivery program 4. Develop a targeted marketing campaign to encourage healthy eating among all Baltimoreans 5. Support street vending of healthy foods 6. Promote and expand community supported agriculture 7. Support a central kitchen model for schools 8. Support research on food deserts and collaboration with policy makers 9. Improve the food environment around schools & recreation centers 10. Create healthy food zoning requirement or incentives
Timeline 2009: Food Policy Taskforce Recommendations 2010: Hired Food Policy Director 2010: Established Food Policy Advisory Committee (Food PAC) 2012: Released first Food Environment Map 2013: Developed Food Desert Retail Strategy 2014: Hired Food Access Planner and Food Retail Economic Development Officer
Food Environment Map Food Desert Definition: ¼ mile from supermarket Low vehicle availability At or below 185% federal poverty level Low Healthy Food Availability Score Impact: 20% of city residents in food deserts, (120,000 people) 1 in 4 school aged children (31,000) 1 in 4 of African American (105,000) Food Environment: 450 corner stores 625 carry outs 45 supermarkets
Food Deserts & Health Disparities Northwood Clifton- Berea Percent of Population 0% 83.5% Living in a Food Desert Percent Population Black 89.2% 96.9% or African American Median Household $50,512 $24,696 Income Unemployment Rate 11.6% 20.0% Life Expectancy 75.4 64.9 Heart Disease (Rate of 19.7 30.7 Deaths per 10,000) Cancer (Rate of Deaths 20.3 31.3 per 10,000) Stroke (Rate of Deaths 4.2 7.3 per 10,000) Source: Baltimore City Neighborhood Health Profiles, 2011
Food Retail in Food Deserts
Improve health outcomes by increasing access to healthy affordable food in food deserts in Baltimore City
B More Fresh: Baltimore s Food Desert Retail Strategy 1. Expand and Retain Supermarkets 2. Improve the Food Environment of Non- Traditional Grocery Retail Small grocery stores Corner stores Pharmacies Virtual Supermarket 3. Create Healthy Public Markets 4. Expand Homegrown Baltimore to serve food desert neighborhoods
Supermarkets: Job Creation & Food Access 7 supermarkets opened since 2012 Total of 660 FTE jobs Howard Park ShopRite $759,000 Healthy Food Financing Initiative 240 FTE jobs in just this store Commercial kitchen Revitalizing farmers markets Health clinic
Virtual Supermarket Programmatic Order groceries online anywhere Accepts SNAP Benefits Pick up at senior and disabled and public housing sites Facilitated by Neighborhood Food Advocates Policy Implications Online SNAP benefits in Farm Bill
Healthy Corner Stores 450 corner stores, 130 in food deserts Programmatic solutions Healthy Corner Stores Pilot: 18 stores over 3 years Engage 75 youth food advocates Policy Implications SNAP depth of stock requirements Old: 3 varieties of each 4 staple food groups New: at least 7 varieties of each 4 staple food groups
Get Fresh Public Markets Healthy Carryout Strategy 36 Healthy Carryout Vendor- menu analysis Get Fresh Kids Menus 9 vendors created healthy kids meals Smaller portion sizes Affordable (under $4) Meet school nutrition requirements Come with 8-oz water and fruit or veggie Based on Green Leaf Menu Items Fruit and Vegetable Art Workshops Teach children about healthy snacks through fruit and vegetable art workshops
Food Entrepreneurism Food Trucks: 50 food trucks creating 200 jobs in less than 4 years Baltimore Food Hub Proposed commercial kitchen, food business incubator, job training, urban farm, farmers market and office space Create approximately 125 jobs by year three Baltimore Integration Partnership Supporting anchor institutions hospitals, universities in local food procurement and local jobs Intention to drive $11-13M to local economy
Homegrown Baltimore Grow Local, Buy Local, Eat Local
Establish Baltimore as a leader in sustainable local food systems
Employee Wellness CSA Changed MAPS MOU: $250 MAPS Wellness Reimbursement 145 employees participating 7 city drop offs (6 buildings) 1 Vista Coordinator, 7 site coordinators 2 Farms: Five Seed and One Straw Monday & Thursday Deliveries Partnering with Dinner Time for recipes
Farmers Markets 17 farmers markets in Baltimore City 7 markets accept SNAP 19 vendors at JFX Market piloting SNAP smartphone technology Maryland Farmers Market Association Provide resources and coordinated services to markets and consumers Coordinate Maryland Market Money matching incentives
Urban Agriculture 3 urban farm have leases to farm on 4.5 acres of city-owned land Approved Urban Agriculture Plan Input from 6 agencies, 6 urban farms, 17 partner orgs and a public comment period Comprehensive overview and 25 major recommendations for expanding local food production in Baltimore City Updated Building Code for hoop houses Updated Animal Husbandry Regs
Thank You For More Information Please Contact: Holly Freishtat Baltimore City Food Policy Director Holly.freishtat@baltimorecity.gov 443-928-3477 BFPI is currently supported by: