goodfoodla.

org

Overview: our foodshed

California agriculture is a $38 billion business Southern California grows $12.6 billion in produce LA County buys $4 billion in produce 1 in 7 jobs in LA County is in the food system

Problem: consolidation squeezes out small scale farms Problem: 10% of farms account for 75% of our food supply Consolidation leads to loss of local revenue and threatens small scale farms Southern California lost 10% of its farm land from 2002-2007

Problem: consolidation leads to environmental impacts California agriculture: a top contributor to greenhouse gases uses 80% of the states water mostly in field (not food) crops

California officials identify agriculture, including cows, as the major source of nitrate pollution in more than 100,000 square miles of polluted groundwater. -- NRDC report
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Problem: the paradox of hunger

Number of county residents seeking assistance from food banks jumped from 674,100 in 2005 to 983,400 in 2009. 1 in 10 families (1+ million people) go hungry or face food insecurity in LA County 25% of children and 50% of seniors are food insecure.

Less than 55% of eligible residents receive CalFresh. Over $1 billion in federal CalFresh benefits goes unclaimed.
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 and obesity

55% of adults, 40% of middle school and 34% toddlers are obese or overweight in LA. Los Angeles County loses $12 billion annually due to obesity related costs. Obesity, diabetes, and poverty rates are 3 times greater in South LA compared to West LA.

Farm and Food Worker Impacts

Seven of the ten worst-paying jobs in the U.S. are food system jobs (e.g. fast food, farm workers, dishwashers). Farm workers experience cancer rates double the national average. About 400,000 farm workers are children. Meatpacking is the one of the most dangerous jobs in America more than 1 in 10 workers in meatpacking plants suffer illness and injuries, double the rate for all U.S. manufacturing. On average, restaurant workers annually earn $12,868, compared to $45,371 for the total private sector

Mission and Reach of Los Angeles Food Policy Council

Mission: The Los Angeles Food Policy Council is a collaborative network working to make Southern California a Good Food region for everyone- where food is healthy, affordable, fair and sustainable. Through policy creation and cooperative relationships, its goals are to reduce hunger, improve public health, increase equity in our underserved communities, create good jobs, stimulate local economic activity, and foster environmental stewardship. Reach: a well developed network of over 300 diverse food system stakeholders representing over 180 organizations and business Organization: Council of 33 with extended network of hundreds, in Working Groups Reputation: the largest and most advanced food policy council in the state, with the broadest reach of any such council in the country

LAFPC 2011 Achievements

Catalyzed three LAUSD school food policies and practices Ban on flavored milk Local food procurement target of 50% Breakfast in Classroom pilot at three schools Organized two farmers market workshops on EBT use Organized farm bill town hall listening session with CFDA Secretary Ross Coordinated six workshops at Good Food Festival September, 2011 Coordinated over 40 events for Good Food Day October 24, 2011 Co-hosted 700 person event honoring Eric Schlosser and the 10th anniversary of Fast Food Nation at Occidental College Supported development of City Council Farm Bill resolution Developed Good Food procurement motion

LAFPC 2011 Achievements

Developed highly facilitated stakeholder coalition process in a unique Working Group structure, which has led to: Refinement of priorities from Good Food For All Agenda Implementation strategies and tools

1. Good Food Economy 5. Healthy Food Retail

2. Street Food

4. Food Security & 3. Good Food Nutrition Procurement 7. Education & Outreach 8. School Food & Gardens

6. Urban Agriculture

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Strategic Priorities (based on stakeholder input)

YEAR 2012 1. Build the markets for Good Food
a. Develop model local, healthy, and sustainable food procurement policies for public agencies, schools, hospitals, restaurants and other institutions, adopted by five major institutions b. The Good Food Pledge for individuals c. Public awareness through two high profile city wide event per year

2. Create healthy food retail for underserved communities

a. Expand farmers market access by increasing the acceptance of Federal benefits at farmers markets b. Healthy Food Cart program: increase the availability of healthy street food, including permitting the sale of food on city sidewalks and incentives to encourage more mobile vendors to sell healthy items c. Crops to Communities: the corner market conversion program d. Work with the Planning Department to develop the health chapter of the general plan and create incentives for healthy food retail, including grocery store placement e. Support the Freshworks Fund initiative, which locates independent grocers in underserved communities

3. Build the infrastructure for Good Food

a. Develop a Regional Food Hub b. Develop capacity among small and large distributors, retailers, and food service providers to procure and sell locally sourced produce from small and mid-sized farms

4. Advance and help implement healthy school food initiatives and programs 11

Strategic Priorities Phase two and long term

Year 2013
Urban agriculture -- policy recommendations Urban aquaculture large scale commercial production of fish as part of a local food hub Healthy Food Cart program

Long term: Durability of Los Angeles Food Policy Council (legacy organization)
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Priority 1: Building Markets major institutions

Goal: Good Food Procurement Policies adopted by at least five major institutions by June of 2013 Good Food Policy priorities, scaled similar to LEED, in the following areas:
Local Economies family-scale agriculture and food processing within the local area or region Environmental Sustainability assessing for food safety and absence of food additives and environmentally sound production practices Labor Issues maintaining safe and fair working conditions for the providers of the products consumed Diet related health concerns Animal Welfare assuring the safe and humane conditions of the animals used for proteins consumed

Long term goal: metrics quantified and then certified by participating in a third party program such as Green Restaurant Certification or Green Seal
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Priority 1: Building Markets individuals

The Good Food Pledge for individuals -- voting with your food dollars for a healthy food system:

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Priority 2: Healthy Food Retail the need

The Reality
South Los Angeles has twice as many small stores than the County average; three times as many convenience stores as West Los Angeles. RAND Study: corner stores are the real culprit of health disparity in LAs lowincome areas 53% of youth shop in corner stores at least once a day $113 Million in grocery leakage from South and East Los Angeles indicates unmet demand

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A Community Based Small Store Strategy

Small business strategy reaches more communities with less time and money
Large scale supermarket attraction is a necessary strategy but is resource and time intensive. Store and vendor conversions support already existing small businesses and offer a parallel strategy to achieve impacts with less resources.

Microenterprise Conversion: a food access & business development strategy in one

Investment in community businesses that are more likely to hire and source locally Catalyze revitalization Creates local jobs Creates vibrant, safe public space Reduces crime Responsive to resident needs Other cities with healthy corner store programs are: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Hartford, Louisville, Minneapolis, Newark, New Orleans, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.

[Mayor Rahm] Emanuel promised to halve the citys food deserts neighborhoods without healthy food outlets by the end of his first term. Yet in the eight months since he gathered chief executives from major grocery chains and pushed them to put stores in underserved communities, few have opened. Meanwhile, Mr. Emanuel took another approach: persuading corner stores, seen by some as a part of the food-desert problem, to sell fresh fruits and vegetables.
New York Times, How About a Nice Fresh Orange to Go With Your Cheetos? February 11, 2012

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Priority 2: Healthy Food Retail cornerstores

Small Store Conversion
Rationale
Convenience stores are a critical link in the food chain in many low-income neighborhoods A parallel strategy to new grocery development

Strategy
Convert 15 neighborhood markets a year to healthy food retail stores through (1)technical & marketing training (2)local sourcing mechanism (3)community engagement and (4)leveraging FreshWorks funds, DWP grants for rehabs and refrigeration

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Priority 2: Healthy Food Retail

Small Store Conversion Phases
Phase 1 With Existing Resources - Provide initial technical, marketing & business training for up to 40 stores interested in conversion - Recruit 15 stores to receive DWP refrigeration incentives - Develop and plan local sourcing/ cooperative purchasing model Phase 2 With Funding ($1 million) - Recruit 15 stores for full conversion including new refrigeration, light faade improvements, new market signage, customized training and community support through LAFPC network partners

Basic produce installation from CRA/LAs Community Market Conversion Program Pilot. Estimated Impact of Store Conversion: 13,500 households with expanded food access

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Priority 2: Healthy Food Retail the potential

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Priority 3: FOOD HUB (local food infrastructure)

Creating aggregation and delivery infrastructure for Good Food availability a mission driven business approach

Local Growers

FOOD HUB

GOOD FOOD MARKET ASSN

(Purchasing Co-op)

Aggregate & distribute regionally grown food Value-add processing Farmers Market Job Creation Environmental stewardship

Aggregate demand from stores Cooperative purchasing & distribution Maintains affordability for low-income patrons

Small Small Market Small Food Market Market Desert Markets

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Regional Food Hubs

A priority of the USDA A priority of the USCM Food Policy Task Force
Resolution in support adopted in June of 2011

A priority of California Ag Vision 2030

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Cities benefit from local food hubs

Better for the environment less trip miles and packaging Smaller scale farmers generally use more environmental, less intensive farming practices Better for health more nutritional content in fresher produce A small business strategy for our food producers Better for the local economy local multipliers of 45% versus 15% return for purchase from an out of state business Supports local retention of income from jobs in agriculture projected growth in agriculture support jobs in LA and Orange county

Mayor Menino of Boston: USCM Food Policy Task Force will explore local food sourcing as a means to increase access to healthy food, while supporting the local economy.

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