Agenda Item Name:
Title
City/County Collaborative Community Food Projects
End
Presenter:
Claudia Tuck, Community Support Services Director and Sean McLendon, Strategic Initiatives Manager
Description:
A review of City of Gainesville and Alachua County Community Food Projects to Date and in Development
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Hear presentation
End
Prior Board Motions:
NA
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
NA
End
Background:
This paper briefly summarizes some of the major food projects involving the City of Gainesville and Alachua County. Food Projects broadly defined, covers a range of project types, states of implementation, and collaboration. The City of Gainesville as both the major population center in the community and economic center makes them a focal point for collaboration for Alachua County. Food Projects may be loosely defined as applicable to Food Security (Hunger and COVID Relief Efforts), Local Food Logistics (Growers and Distributors), and Food System (Metrics and Commitments) projects. These project types may represent long term strategic priorities as found in the County’s Comprehensive Plan, in-design, and in-execution efforts. Outcomes of these project types will frequently overlap and build upon one another. For the projects, where leadership other than County it is annotated in parentheses.
Local Food Logistics (Waste, Growers, Non-Profits, and Distributors)
Food System Coalition (City of Gainesville)
Coordinated by Karissa Raskin, City of Gainesville this cross-section of community stakeholders helps to inform City of Gainesville policy on a diverse range of projects including Food Desert Elimination Action Plan and an Urban Agriculture Ordinance. The Coalition is an important information base of ongoing activities of programs, research, and people actively involved in promoting local food in our community.
Urban Agriculture Ordinance (City of Gainesville)
The Urban Agriculture Ordinance clarifies land use and zoning requirements in the City of Gainesville related to agriculture. It seeks to consider the different conditions and standards needed to harmonize farm-related activities at an appropriate scale within its impacted land use zone. Broadly the principal uses it defines covers subsistence gardens, market gardens, and market farms (Food System Coalition, 2020).
Food Waste - Organics Recycling (Joint)
The City and County are coordinating on expanding food waste (organics) recycling as part of a shared commitment to creating a Zero-Waste Plan. Recycling the organic component of the waste stream not only closes the loop on nutrients but it may also help reduce the need for farming irrigation, pesticide, and herbicide applications also (Berger, 2018). This opportunity area is being discussed with stakeholders now and throughout 2021.
Food Systems (Metrics and Commitments)
Alachua County Foodshed Asset Map Proposal
The foodshed asset map proposal is still in development with two phases. This project helps to achieve County Comprehensive Plan Goals related to food. Its first phase would create an inventory of food assets on a regional basis via a GIS web-enabled interactive map. The map would have a citizen focus building upon the layers already provided via the County’s Map Genius page. Critically, a multi-disciplinary project team would help to initially inform the food shed map.
For phase II, a baseline assessment of Alachua County government’s food procurement will be characterized based on a relevant food criterion such as degree of local production environmental considerations, ethics, etc. with a degree of data verification. These criteria would be benchmarked to other communities. A professional service is recommended to achieve this. Alachua County does not procure a large volume of food by itself, but the does indirectly do so through the Sheriff’s management of the Jail contract. Phase II will allow for the County to establish a baseline and goals for its food dollars and be a platform to lead by example inviting the Cities, UF, Santa Fe, UF Health, and the School Board to establish their own baseline, goals, and metrics.
Food Security (Hunger and COVID Relief Efforts)
Food Desert Elimination Action Plan (cITY OF gAINESVILLE)
The Food Desert Elimination Action Plan is being informed by the Food System Coalition. This Action Plan is in development. The plan will include short-term and long-term projects to address critical gaps in at-risk communities. The City is seeking data on past community assessments and example projects from its members as possible starting points for solutions to build into the Action Plan.
FY20 Community Redevelopment Grant Seed to Plate Project
This project was awarded by the Board in July 2020 to address COVID impacts to some of the most impacted communities in the Gainesville Metropolitan Area while meeting key Comprehensive Plan Economic Development Food Objectives. The project is named Seed to Plate and aims to increase education and demand for local food, develop a plan for needed culinary skills training, and accelerate food system innovation in Alachua County to address healthy food access and local food systems development. It will focus on two synergistic planning projects that will guide how to stimulate local food industries and protect public health by improving food access. Further, it will expand opportunities for education on cooking, food safety, and nutrition, including life and job-related skills training, to increase better eating habits, workforce participation, and better employment opportunities in our food system.
Alachua County COVID-19 Food CARES Coordination
As of November 2020
COVID-19 Food Cares is a comprehensive, coordinated food collaborative comprised of all departments within Alachua County Government, City of Gainesville, Municipalities, Community & Faith-Based Organizations, local businesses, and private citizens to reduce food insecurities and hunger for citizens impacted by COVID-19.
FARMSHARE
Strike Out Hunger Food Distribution
Tuesday, November 10
Served an estimated 1,850 households
FOOD DONATION
The Bread of the Mighty Food Bank donated canned foods, bread, vegetables for individual households with immediate needs.
Alachua County Emergency Management provided 150 food boxes to supplement donated items.
HOMELESS CHILDREN COORDINATION
There were no immediate food needs from the McKinney-Vento Transition Education Services at the Alachua County School Board
MUNICIPALITY/ORGANIZATION FOOD DISTRIBUTION POINTS
Each of the following entities received food from the Bread of the Mighty Food Bank and distributed it throughout Alachua County.
Each agency received enough food to feed at least 100 households.
Municipalities: Archer, Hawthorne, High Springs, Micanopy, Newberry, Waldo
Housing Authority: Gainesville Housing Authority
Faith-Based: Gainesville Spanish Seventh Day Adventist
HOMEBOUND FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Alachua County Government Food Cares
Delivered to 4 homebound (immediate food needs) households serving an estimated 8 people
Households were also referred to ElderCare for their Meals on Wheels program to ensure households also received a prepared meal delivered 2-3 days a week
Households with disabilities and ongoing food needs were referred to Center for Independent Living grocery shopping
Alachua County partnered with the Library Partnership Resource Center and Cone Park Library to deliver prepared meals to homebound residents
Alachua County employees maintain a small food pantry at the Department of Community Support Services to ensure access and food delivery for vulnerable families who express an urgent need for food