Jenny McPhersonNorth Carolina Central University Dr. Chad MorganLSIS 5220November 29, 2012

LOCAL AVENUES TO FOOD SECURITY

Far Western North Carolina Counties – Region A

LOCAL AVENUES TO FOOD SECURITY

Far Western North Carolina Counties – Region A

Table of Contents

Food InsecurityFood PolicySlides 5-8

Obtaining Immediate Food

ReliefSlides 9-13

Resources for Market Coordinators

Slides 12-16

Resources for Growers/Producer

sSlides 14-23

Helpful for allSlides 18-23

Table of Contents5. Food Insecurity (Hunger) - Defined6. Implications of Food Insecurity7. Food Insecurity - Statistics8. Food Policy9. Western North Carolina Food Pantries10.Summer Food Service Program11.USDA Food and Nutrition Service : Nutrition

Resources12.SNAP benefits – Food Stamps at Markets13.WIC – Women, Infants, and Children14.Grant Funding15.Start Up Your Own Farmers Market16.Promoting Yourself: Farmer/Grower or

Market17.Training for Growers in WNC18.Farmers Markets in Far West Region of

WNC19.Farmers Markets in Far West Region of

WNC cont.20.Cooperative Extension Centers21.Cooperative Extension Local Food Contacts

in Far West Counties 22.Seed Libraries/Exchanges23.Certified Kitchens

Abbreviations

1. ASAP – Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

2. USDA -- United States Department of Agriculture

3. SFSP – Summer Food Service Program4. SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition

Assistance Program5. WIC – Women Infant and Children

Food Insecurity (Hunger) Defined

USDA's labels describe ranges of food security

Food Security

High food security (old label=Food security): no reported indications of food-access problems or limitations.

Marginal food security (old label=Food security): one or two reported indications--typically of anxiety over food sufficiency or shortage of food in the house. Little or no indication of changes in diets or food intake.

Food Insecurity

Low food security (old label=Food insecurity without hunger): reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake.

Very low food security (old label=Food insecurity with hunger): Reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.• http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-

assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics.aspx#map

Lots of Statistics and Data on this page. North Carolina is above the national average

“Food security means access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.”

http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us.aspx

United States Department of Agriculture –Economic Research Service

I talk about this page again regarding statistics, but the website offers a lot of information including a link to published articles from Assessing the Healthfulness of Consumers’ Grocery Purchases to Wheat Outlook: October 2012. Digging deeper I can get an excel spreadsheet of the cost of apples or any fruit or veggie for that matter, in all forms in 2008.

Implications of Food Insecurity

• http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger.aspx

Feeding America –

Hunger Studies tab offers hundreds of reports from their Hunger Study 2010 regarding food insecurity.

Click on the Emergency Food Assistance tab and it leads you to the nearest Foodbank Hub. From there you can enter a map of the counties the Hub serves and find the closest emergency food source.

Impact of Hunger link provides information regarding specifics on physical and mental health of adult and children along with a bibliography of resources used.

The website also provides links to find out if you are eligible for food assistance such as SNAP and directs you to your local resources.

Also provides many ways you can get involved to help including volunteering and donating money or food.

“The consequences of food insecurity—not having access at all times to enough safe, nutritious food for an active healthy lifestyle—can negatively affect health and behavioral development.” www.cdc.gov

Food Insecurity Statistics

Food Insecurity and Very Low Food Security • In 2011, 50.1 million Americans lived in food

insecure households, 33.5 million adults and 16.7 million children.

• In 2011, 14.9 percent of households (17.9 million households) were food insecure.

• In 2011, 5.7 percent of households (6.8 million households) experienced very low food security.

• In 2011, households with children reported food insecurity at a significantly higher rate than those without children, 20.6 percent compared to 12.2percent.

• In 2011, households that had higher rates of food insecurity than the national average included households with children (20.6 percent), especially households with children headed by single women (36.8 percent) or single men (24.9 percent), Black non-Hispanic households (25.1 percent) and Hispanic households (26.2 percent).

• In 2011, 8.8 percent of seniors living alone (1 million households) were food insecure.

• Food insecurity exists in every county in America, ranging from a low of 5 percent in Steele County, ND to a high of 37 percent in Holmes County, MS.

http://feedingamerica.org

In the United States, more than one out of five children lives in a household with food insecurity.

http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-environment-atlas/go-to-the-atlas.aspx USDA Economic Research Service

A highly interactive map with county specific information regarding food insecurity. Also includes just about any information related to food such as how close the nearest store is and how many acres of vegetables were sold at farmers markets.

Food Policy• http://www.wcu.edu/31316.asp

Western North Carolina University’s Food Policy Council. Focused on Region A (the 7 far western counties in NC) and working with MANNA Food Bank, the Southwest Commission Region A and local governments. The council is focused on “planning and advocating for greater food security and stronger food economies”• http://www.ncagr.gov/localfood/documents/

2012_NCSLFAC_Annual_Report.pdf

North Carolina Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council 2012 Annual Report

Government mandated in 2009 (http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/Senate/PDF/S491v4.pdf) “to contribute to building a local food economy, thereby benefiting North Carolina by creating jobs, stimulating statewide economic development, circulating money from local food sales within local communities, preserving open space, decreasing the use of fossil fuel and thus reducing carbon emissions, preserving and protecting the natural environment, increasing consumer access to fresh and nutritious foods, and providing greater food security for all North Carolinians.”

The report ends with a list of its 24 members and their contact information. • http://www.ncagr.gov/localfood/

Includes links to the above NC Council

http://www.statefoodpolicy.org/?pageID=qanda#WhatIsAFoodPolicy

“A food policy is any legislative or administrative decision made by a government agency, business, or organization which effects how food is produced, processed, distributed, and purchased, designed to influence the operation of the food and agriculture system.”

This site offers questions and answers about creating a food policy council. A Food Policy Council is a collaboration between citizens and government officials who have diverse needs and ideas. Together they bring voice to local food needs and make informed recommendations to policy makers. Council can be a grassroots effort or sanctioned by government.

Western North Carolina Food Pantries

MANNA Foodbank covers 16 Western North Carolina Counties with a vision of a hunger free WNC. MANNA Food bank is a central distribution agency where farmers and farmers markets can donate their excess food which will help feed a local person in need.

A few of the many places that work with MANNA• Cherokee County

Murphy Free Methodist Church Soup Kitchen

828-837-5425• Clay County

Clay County Food Pantry 828-389-1657• Jackson County: 828-586-6782

http://www.communitytable.org/

The Community Table - An organization providing meals to “neighbors in need”. Works in conjunction with the Sylva Community Garden. • Macon County:

Adventist Community Services of Franklin

828-369-9000• Swain County:

Food Pantry/Grace Christian Academy

828-488-2480

• http://www.fns.usda.gov/outreach/getinvolved/

Get Involved – ways that you can help end hunger in your community.

Immediate help for you or someone you know who is hungry dial

2-1-1 or 828-252-4357• mannafoodbank.org

MANNA food bank is the best resource for determining location of local food banks. http://mannafoodbank.org

Click on the About section and go to Agency Directory.

www.foodpantries.org/ar/establishing-a-new-food-pantry

A resource for Establishing a New Food Pantry.

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

• http://www.fns.usda.gov/outreach/SNAPandSFSPmap.htm

Interactive map showing state participation rates for SNAP and SFSP. Clicking on NC shows that there is only an %8.5 participation rate for SRSP or in other words 717,000 eligible children are NOT participating. • http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/

summer/

USDA Food and Nutrition Service – Summer Food Service Program

This site offers information on how you can help to increase the number of children benefiting from this program by sponsoring a program, opening a site or volunteering.

• Call 866-348-6479 or 877 842-6273 (Spanish) to find a site serving food during the summer in your community.

USDA–Food and Nutrition Service

• http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/cfs_tefap.htm

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Commodity fact sheet and recipes. Detailed nutritional information on many fruits and vegetables and how to use them

• http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/default.htm

Food Distribution Programs spotlighting two programs: Healthy Choices American Grown and 180 Healthy Options – lots of nutrition based resources for school nutrition professionals, teachers and parents.

Nutrition Resources

SNAP benefits – Food Stamps at Markets

• http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/ebt/fm.htm

This will be your first stop in obtaining a FNS number (Food and Nutrition Services)

The site also has resources for Farmers Markets regarding details of how to run the token program (EBT Scrip Project,) grant opportunities, getting SNAP customers to the market and more.• http://snap.ntis.gov/

provides free outreach and nutrition education materials for markets and educators to download or order.• http://www.fns.usda.gov/outreach/

documents/SNAP_rates/North_Carolina.pdf

shows that North Carolina has a 71% participation rate for SNAP. Some states have %100 or close to it. Increasing the number of eligible SNAP participants will reduce the risk of food insecurity. • http://www.foodstamps.org/north-carolina-

food-stamp-program

A non government website geared toward helping you determine what food assistance programs you qualify for. Offers links to the necessary sites to obtain SNAP benefits.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) At Farmers Markets: A How-To-Handbook

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5085298

A joint publication by the USDA and Project for Public Spaces, this is a great guide for understanding all that is needed to implement an EBT system at your market including how to obtain an FNS number, rules, vendor agreement forms, where to purchase wooden tokens and funding options.

WIC – Women, Infants, and Children

• Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Coordinator:

Cory Menees phone: 919-707-5765

email: cory.menees@ncmail.net

Participating WNC counties:

Haywood County Health Department: Contact: Marcia Tate 828-452-6675

• http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/FMNP/

USDA Food and Nutrition Services

Provides more in depth information regarding the FMNP and Senior FMNP. Includes overview, facts and contacts.• http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/FMNP/

FMNPfaqs.htm#overview

scroll down to How does the program operate for specific information on starting FMNP at your market.

WIC is a nutrition program funded by the USDA. The Farmers Market Nutrition Program offers coupons to WIC eligible persons to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets.

http://www.nutritionnc.com/wic/fmarket.htm

Nutrition Services (NC)

website provides information for market coordinators as well as a directory of participating counties. Also provides information regarding health related workshops and trainings.

Grant Funding

• http://www.sare.org/Grants – Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education

Seven different grant types are available yearly and nationwide for researchers, producers, extension, nonprofits, educators, community organizations and students. The mission of SARE is: “to advance—to the whole of American agriculture—innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education.” Website is clearly set up with information regarding grant specifics for each region and type, as well as educational opportunities and grants awarded.

• http://wncagoptions.org/ - NC Cooperative Extension WNC AgOptions

Serving Western NC with a mission “To build sustainable farming communities in our mountain region by providing resources directly to farmers who are diversifying or expanding their operations.”

• http://www.organicgrains.ncsu.edu/organiccostshare.htm#ncda NCDA&CS Organic Certification Cost-Share

Will pay up %75 of certification cost up to $750. Provides link to www.ncdaorganic.org for lots of information. Contact Heather Lifsey heather.lifsey@ncagr.gov or 919-707-3127

• www.nrcs.usda.gov – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Lots of grant options – a good resource for beginner farmers too.

• http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/ebt/fm-scrip-Grant_Resources.htm

All types of USDA grant options

Grants – Grant funding is a great way to begin or expand your business. Yes, the process can be daunting and long, but take it step by step, don’t miss the deadlines, ask your local ag agent for help if you need it – that’s what they are there for. You can do it!

http://www.asapconnections.org/grants.html

ASAP has a list of grant opportunities here.

Start Up Your Own Farmers Market

• http://cherokee.ces.ncsu.edu/2012/04/files/library/20/farmers%20market.pdf

How to Start a Farmers Market• http://cherokee.ces.ncsu.edu/2012/04/157170/

Provides an even more in depth word document on link above.• http://www.asapconnections.org/downloads/

ASAP%20Growing%20a%20Local%20Food%20Economy.pdf

ASAP’s Growing a Local Food Economy: A Guide to Getting Started – an 11 page publication designed to guide you though the process of promoting local foods.• http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy639

University of Florida IFSA Extension offers an in depth resource of issues involved with starting a market – including legal issues.• pps.org

Project for Public Spaces – Blogs and information on public spaces. Offers training program information for new and existing market spaces and market vendors. A monetary commitment, but you can browse through 80 worldwide markets and read about what makes them work.

According to ASAP’s Local Food Guide, in the last 10 years Farmers Market listings in our area have grown from 28 – 84. Farm listings have grown from 36 to over 500!

Promoting Yourself: Farmer/Grower or Market

• http://www.asapconnections.org/

If you are a Western North Carolina farmer/grower or market, you should register your business with ASAP whose mission is to “help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food”• www.farmersmarketcoalition.org

Has a listserv that you can subscribe to and ask a targeted audience, any market related questions you have. • Corum, V., Rosenzweig, M., & Gibson, E.

(2001) The new farmers’ market: Farm-fresh ideas for producers, managers & communities New World Publishing: Auburn, CA

The only book in this resource guide – well worn and used often – chocked full of good ideas for both growers and market organizers.• http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/farms-and-

community/beginningnew-farmers – USDA National Agricultural Library

Resources for beginning / new farmers

Become a member of ASAP

Join the Chamber of Commerce

Volunteer Teach Workshops Talk to schools Create a website Email News Social Media Press Release Grow great food Make sure your stall is

attractive and your items are well marked

Network Join the Farmers Market

Coalition listserv

Training for Growers in WNC

• http://www.organicgrowersschool.org/

An annual spring conference taking place at the university of NC at Asheville. The website offers up an amazing amount of information gathered from prior conferences. • Organic Grower School Farmer

Programs:

This portion of the website offers to connect apprentice farmers with established farmers, and explains The Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) in detail. • http://fromhere.org/events/ ASAP

A great resource for training opportunities for both farmers and market coordinators in the area.

A great way to hear about learning opportunities is to get on the mailing list of extension agents in your area.

Upcoming training sessions:

• GAP: local farmers can achieve USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) certification, provide information on risks behind specific GAPs requirements, and outline logistics for preparing and scheduling a GAPs audit. 

Contact Sue Colucci:828-697-4891 or email sjcolucc@ncsu.edu

• Pickle School: A necessary class to produce pickles was previously offered in Raleigh and an expensive class, now being offered in Asheville and is affordable.

Contact: Lisa Gordon: 919-515-2760 or email lisa.gordon@ncsu.edu

Farmers Markets in Far West Region of WNC

Cherokee County• Cedar Valley Farmers Market: …………………...Murphy

cedarvalleyfarmersmarket@gmail.com

Clay County• Brasstown’s Farmers Market : ……………….Brasstown

828-837-9329 jax1215@gmail.com• Mountain Valley Farmers Market : …………..Hayesville

828-389-3022 clayjoan@frontier.com

Graham County• Graham County Farmers Market : ………..Robbinsville

828-479-8788 www.smnpa.org bwrc@earthlink.net• Stecoah Tailgate Market : …………………Robbinsville

828-479-3364 www.stecoahvalleycenter.com kate@stecoahvalleycenter.com

Haywood County• Canton Tailgate Market: …………………..……..Canton

828-235-2760 www.cantonnc.com holcombe@canton.nc.net• Haywood Historic Farmers Market : ……....Waynesville

828-550-4748 www.wanesvillefarmersmarket.com haywoodfarmersmarket@gmail.com• Waynesville Tailgate Market : ………………Waynesville

828-648-6323 ncnannyandpapaw@gmail.com

Appalachian Sustainable Agricultural Project ASAP

http://www.buyappalachian.org/

Website offers an interactive guide to farmers markets, farms and more in the Southern Appalachian region with their online version of their Local Food Guide. You can search by region or farm, or market.

List to right: Farmers Markets in the Far West Region of NC. (14)

Farmers Markets in Far West Region of WNC cont.

Jackson County• Blue Ridge Farmers Co-op : ………..…

Cashiers

828-226-9988 www.blueridgefarmersco-op.com blueridgfarmers@gmail.com• Cashiers Tailgate Market : ……….……Cashiers

828-734-5106 www.blueridgefarmersco-op.com

bearfootgrandonna@yahoo.com• Jackson County Farmers Market : ……….Sylva

828-631-3033 www.jacksoncountyfarmersmarket.org jennywm@buncombe.main.nc.us

Macon County• Andrews Farmers Market: ……………..Andrews

828-321-5960 rblchick041@frontier.com• Franklin Tailgate Market : ……………..Franklin

blueribboneggs@gmail.com

Swain County • Swain County Farmers Market : …..Bryson

City

828-488-3848 christine_bredenkamp@ncsu.edu

Appalachian Sustainable Agricultural Project ASAP

http://www.buyappalachian.org/

List to right: Farmers Markets in the Far West Region of NC. (14) Cont.

Cooperative Extension Centers • http://jackson.ces.ncsu.edu/

categories/agriculture-food/local-foods/

“North Carolina Cooperative Extension is an enthusiastic supporter of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems’ initiative to build the state’s local food economy, from farm to fork. Cooperative Extension is the face of your county’s local foods initiative, helping to promote North Carolina’s 10% Campaign and to guide efforts to develop the local food economy.”

The Cooperative Extension Center Agents are truly a fabulous resource!

• See next page for individual county local food contacts!

Agriculture and agribusiness account for about 17% of NC state jobs and income.

http://jackson.ces.ncsu.edu

“North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s educational programs provide farmers and agribusinesses with the research-based knowledge they need to produce high-quality crops and livestock in economically and environmentally sustainable ways.”

Cooperative Extension Local Food Contacts in Far West Counties

Local Food Contacts by county

• Buncombe County:

Sue Colucci

828.255.5522• Cherokee County:

Tammara Cole or Keith Wood: 828.837.2917• Clay County:

Silas Brown 828.389.6305• Eastern Band,

Cherokee Indians

Tammara Cole 828.554.6931

• Graham County: Randy Collins 828.479.7979• Haywood County

Bill Skelton, Tim Mathews, Sue Colucci 828.456.3575• Jackson County:

Christine Bredenkamp 828.586.4009• Macon County:

Alan Durden, Sherrie Peeler 828.349.2046• Swain County:

Christine Bredenkamp 828.488.3848

A Map of NC Cooperative Extension Service Districtshttp://www.ces.ncsu.eduWEST Region Contact:

Dan Smith 828-687-0570

**Email individual agents for updates on events and learning opportunities.

Email addresses are:

firstname_lastname@ncsu.edu

Example: sue_colucci@ncsu.edu

Seed Libraries/exchangesSylva Sprouts

A free seed project in Sylva, NC

There is only one seed library in Western North Carolina that I am aware of and that is in Jackson County and located at the Cooperative Extension Service Center in on Scotts Creek Rd. in Sylva. It is called Sylva Sprouts and allows you to check out seeds at no cost, grow the plant and save the seed. Contact: Jenny McPherson 828-631-3033 or jennywm@buncombe.main.nc.us

Many communities and farmers markets also have a seed exchange annually.

Learning proper seed saving methods will guarantee the plants survival, and saving seeds from local plants ensures that the plant will be well adapted to our microclimate.

• www.richmondgrowsseeds.orgVisit this site for lots of seed saving information and how to start up your own seed library or seed saving community garden.

Certified Kitchens

Buncombe County• Blue Ridge Food Ventures ………………….Candler

Mary Lou Surgi 828-348-0128

http://www.advantagewest.com/content.cfm/content_id/144/section/food

Graham County• Stecoah Valley Food Ventures

Rose Moberly (828) 479-3364

www.stecoahvalleycenter.com/community.html – has downloadable information on uses, fees and a contract.

Jackson County• Community Table – Community Kitchen

Jennie Ashlock - 828-736-4971

Renee Pierce - Renee Pierce@ncagr.gov 919-270-4119

Madison County• Madison Farms

Catherine Walker 828-649-2411 www.madisonfarms.org

madison@quickbrightsharp.com or ross_young@ncsu.edu

Certify Your Own Kitchen

www.ncagr.gov/fooddrug - North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consume Services – Food and Drug Protection Division

www.agr.state.nc.us/fooddrug/food/homebiz.htm

919-733-7366

Community Certified Kitchens offer an avenue to process value added foods such as jams, jellies and baked goods.

An individual can be certified for low or medium risk foods to be sold at local farmers markets.

This is also an opportunity for individuals to process their own vegetables in a safe environment for their own use.

Community Food Processing centers in NC http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/NCCommunityFoodProcessingCenters.pdf