BEATING THE CULTURE OF HUNGER—REBUILDING THE

LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMFood Bank of Delaware-Daniel Reyes and Nicholas Rockwell

What is the “Culture of Hunger”?

What’s the food system?

-The production, distribution, access, and use of food within a community of any size

How do these actions contribute to hunger and health?

The “Culture of Hunger” (cont.’d)

1) Social inequality—increased Food-Assistance Program (FAP) participation and expenditure

2) Decrease in overall public health 3) Disruption of local economy 4) Increased waste 5) Environmental degradation 6) Disconnect with cultural food tradition

Addressing the Issue

Food Bank of Delaware (FBD) runs multiple hunger-relief programs

Recipients of the food gathered by FBD often request fresh produce

Delaware obesity prevalence rate of 28%--links with poverty and access to food?

Food Bank by the Numbers

Last year, FBD took in 9.1 million pounds of food

FBD distributed 7.7 million pounds of food last year through its 475 Hunger-Relief Program Partners

Project Procedure

Main goal: -Redevelop local food

system by connecting low-income communities with local, fresh, sustainable food

-Reinvigorate local agricultural economy, providing small farmers with a reliable source of income

So how is this all accomplished?

FBD Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) —The “What”

Using this model:-Allows low-income

Delawareans on food stamp benefits to purchase shares of a local farmer’s harvest at greatly reduced prices

Funding and Finances of CSA:

-Community Food Project

-Funders-Fundraising events-Subsidized shares

(based on a sliding scale)

-Delaware Department of Agriculture

-Barclays (potential partnership)

The “Where” Hunger-relief partners:-Act as recruitment sites for

those interested in participating

Farmers’ markets:-Act as distribution sites for the

CSA shares-Located in mixed-income areas

to optimize benefit and community integration

-Support farmers’ markets as well as retains CSA membership and pickup consistency with an incentive system

-Partner with local job-training and employment agencies to run CSA distribution sites

Distribution sites and Farmers’ Markets.

Map of Delaware

Program Collaborations

WestendNeighborhood House Bright Spot Ventures-

Individuals aging out of foster care provide staffing @ CSA

Delaware Department of Agriculture Marketing & Funding

Cool Springs Farmer’s Market CSA location

Local Farmers CSA share providers

Long-Term Goals

Expand program statewide

Make farmers’ markets a desirable and accessible source of food for all Delawareans.

Improve culinary and nutritional knowledge.

Educate communities on how to grow food at home.

Rebuild the local food system.

Food Bank of Delaware14 Garfield WayNewark, DE 19713

PHONE: (302) 292-1305FAX: (302) 292-1309WEB: www.fbd.org