Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the 2nd year of the grant period, from September 1, 2010 to August 31, 2011, the Central Texas Foodshed Assessment completed data collection on consumer access and farm production. The project conducted six community discussions with 55 consumers, for a total of 21 discussions and 117 participants. The sessions were held at 3 public recreation centers, 1 high school, and 1 community center. Also, the project conducted an online survey of farmers to provide additional information to complement the feedback from prior roundtable discussions. Only 13 farmers participated in the survey. This data, from the community discussions, roundtables, and online survey was then collated with additional quantitative and spatial data. Findings from this project were summarized in a 54 page, color report that was translated into Spanish. Hard copies of the report were sent to all stakeholders who helped to coordinate activities for the project for further dissemination to their constituents. Copies are available for public use at the Garfield Public library and online at www.sustainablefoodcenter.org/about/reports. Findings were also disseminated through public presentations for the City of Austin/Travis County Sustainable Food Policy Board and the San Antonio Food Policy Council, at the annual Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance Conference, at the First Unitarian Universalist Church and for a nutrition class at the University of Texas. PARTICIPANTS: Throughout the duration of the project, over 75 individuals volunteered their time to assist with development, outreach, and execution of the project. These individuals ranged from directors of non-profit organizations to undergraduate students at the University of Texas, from city council members to a chef for a free lunch program, from librarians to social workers to farmers' market managers, to interested citizens. These individuals were from the following partner organizations: City of Austin, City of Elgin, City of Dripping Springs, Travis County, The University of Texas School or Nursing, School of Human Ecology, and School of Public Health, LBJ High School, St. James Episcopal Church, Oak Meadow Baptist Church, Genesis Gardens, Cedar Park Farmers' Market, Foundation Communities, Haynie Chapel, and the Del Valle Community Health Clinic. There were a few individuals who received a salary or stipend for their work on the project. Karen Banks was the principal investigator for the project and participated in coordination, management and execution of the project. Alejandra Spector, a student at the University of Texas, assisted with translations in Spanish of the community discussions. Jules Assata, a local chicken farmer from Bastrop County and former facilitator, facilitated the roundtable discussions with farmers. Melissa Centeno, a native Spanish speaker, translated the final report into Spanish. Training was provided for all volunteers who conducted observational surveys of food retail environments or who assisted with community discussions. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for this project were underserved consumers, farmers and policy makers. Underserved consumer was defined as a resident who resides in one of 11 zip codes in Travis County: 78617, 78653, 78702, 78721, 78723, 78724, 78725, 78741, 78744, 78745, and 78753; is responsible for household food needs; and is between the ages of 18-65. While this project explicitly focused on the needs of underserved residents in Austin, the income level of residents was not a requirement for participation. Instead, participants were strategically recruited from areas with high concentrations of low-income individuals, above the county level, or without a full-service grocery store. Farmer was defined as a fruit, vegetable or livestock producer; with a farm or ranch in one of five counties in Central Texas: Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis or Williamson; and whose primary sales market is the Austin-Round Rock MSA. While this project targeted farm within the five county region that encompasses the Austin-Round Rock MSA, farmer participation was not limited just to the five county region. While the majority of farm that serve the Austin MSA are located within these five counties, a significant number of farms are also located in proximate counties, like Burnet, Gillespie, and Lee. Policy makers are city council, board, working group or task force members, city employees, and representatives from organizations engaged in public policy. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: As part of the project, 33 full-service grocery stores, 67 convenience stores and 8 non-traditional grocery stores were surveyed based on quality, availability and cost of select healthy food items. This project partnered with the Texas Department of State Health Services to utilize their Texas Nutrition Environments Assessment (TXNEA) tool for the analysis. Due to the sheer volume of information collected using TXNEA, data from the observational store surveys is still being analyzed. The Texas Department of State Health Services recently completed testing confirming the reliability and validity of the tool. Together with the Texas Department of State Health Services and other agencies using the tool, this project has been trying to apply the most appropriate statistical measures for analyzing this data. Currently, the researcher is in communication with the School of Human Ecology at the University of Texas about the possibility of using this data for a student project in the Spring. Information on store quality, and food availability and cost is of great interest to the City of Austin/Travis County Sustainable Food Policy Board.
Impacts
Findings from the project produced both a change in knowledge and a change in action. The project had the greatest impact in providing a base of knowledge about the regions food system. The project showed the breadth and dispersion of food retailers and food producers. It provided a more in depth analysis of the disparities between consumer access and local food production, drawing parallels between knowledge and access, and the cost of food to both produce and buy. In particular, the project raised concerns over policy issues relating to a burdensome property tax exemption process and water rights. It also brought to light inequities in store quality across the region. Due to the qualitative nature of the data collection techniques however, results from this project are varied and extensive. Based on this change in knowledge, the project has also directly and indirectly caused changes in action by the City of Elgin, the City of Austin, Sustainable Food Center, and a student group at the University of Texas. An outgrowth from the roundtable discussion with farmers in Elgin was a small working group of active citizens and interested City council members from Elgin focused on improving opportunities for family farmers in Bastrop County. Currently, this group is working on policy recommendations for the City of Elgin to better facilitate the integration of sustainable agriculture and community development under a grant from Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. The City of Austin, Sustainable Food Center and Texas A&M University, along with a cadre of producers and other local food focused organizations are working on a proposal to fund research on the value of organic production in Central Texas that will support an education and training center for new farmers in the region. The City of Austin/Travis County Sustainable Food Policy Board has formed working groups to engage key stakeholders in assisting in the development of policy recommendations around key issues affecting the local food system, like water rights and healthy food access for low-income consumers. Sustainable Food Center is conducting a feasibility study for a new mid-week farmers' market in an underserved area of Austin that would provide a monetary incentive for low-income consumers to purchase more fruits and vegetables. Finally, a group of ambitious students at the University of Texas at Austin are in the process of forming a food systems working group to lobby for a degree plan focused on the study of food systems.
Publications
- Banks, K. Jennings, R., Evans, A. Casnovsky, J. (2011). Mind the Gap: Reflections on food access by residents of a food desert and missed opportunities for the local food movement, Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (This article was submitted and peer reviewed but was then temporarily pulled by the author for revision and will be resubmitted in the Spring).
- Banks, K. 2011. Framing the Food Landscape of Travis County, The University of Texas at Austin (Masters Thesis, Accepted).
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The first year of this project began with a review of relevant literature to frame the assessment process. A database of local, food-focused organizations and community leaders was compiled. Over 30 community leaders from churches, social service agencies, non-profits, neighborhood associations, and farmers' markets were contacted. Leaders helped with outreach for events, offered feedback on community needs, and input on assessment tools. To understand the breath of agricultural activity in Central Texas, a model to estimate the production capacity of the region to meet the food needs of citizens was created and tested prior to the roundtables. An inventory of existing agriculture land and community gardens was created for this study. Data from the USDA Census of Agriculture, county appraisal districts, and USDA ERS Loss Adjusted Food Availability was used to compare agriculture land production and consumption rates. Roundtables with farmers offered rich data on barriers to business expansion, issues affecting regional farm stability, and ideas for creating new, profitable opportunities for regional farmers. Roundtables were held at the annual Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association conference, nearby locations after 2 Saturday farmers' market, Dripping Springs City Hall and a community center in Elgin. This project relied on interactive discussions about barriers to healthy food and market basket surveys of food retail locations to address disparities in access to culturally appropriate, healthy food. Using a modified version of the Texas Department of State Health Services Texas Nutrition Environments Assessment tool, the availability, quality, and cost of select healthy food items was evaluated at 116 food retail stores. Interactive discussions to identify social, financial and physical barriers in access to healthy food were held with the public in 13 target communities from June to September. Discussions lasted 1-hour, were guided by 15 open-ended questions and were complemented by a survey on demographics, and an exercise to map where people buy food. Target areas include: 78617, 78653, 78702, 78721, 78723, 78724, 78725, 78741, 78744, 78745, 78748 and 78752, and 78753. Areas were selected because there is less than 1 full-service grocery store and a high concentration of low income and minority populations. Discussions were held at a variety of facilities: 3 libraries, 11 community centers, and 3 churches, because of the proximity to residential areas and perception as public locations. Outreach was conducted through flyer distribution to schools, businesses and community organizations, and door to door. Through participation in community events and public presentations, this project foster new connections between community resources to develop policies to support a viable local food system. Quarterly presentations on project progress were made to the City of Austin/Travis County Sustainable Food Policy Board. In September, preliminary findings were presented during a panel on Developing Food Policy for Food Access and Sustainability at the 4th Annual Farm & Food Leadership Conference. PARTICIPANTS: Information on local agriculture in Central Texas was gleaned from the Capital Area Council of Governments, Sustainable Food Center, Edible Austin, the Barton Creek Farmers' Market, Cedar Park Farm to Market, the Georgetown Farmers' Market Associations, the River Valley Farmers' Market network and the San Marcos/New Braunfels Farmers' Market Association. These organizations also helped with outreach to farmers about assessment events. Six market managers and five farmers were contacted in order to gain a preliminary understanding of barriers facing local farmers as well as determine appropriate times to coordinate events for farmers. Information on community resources within target neighborhoods was gathered through internet searches of food-focused organizations and community organizations as well as through recommendations from key people or word of mouth. Interviews were conducted with over twenty community leaders within select neighborhoods in order to determine how best to outreach to the community as well as identify appropriate venues for events for consumers. The community leaders included church pastors, social service providers, non-profit program directors, neighborhood association members and passionate residents. Additionally, 55 graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Texas as well as interested community members conducted 116 survey of local food retail locations. Prior to conducting the surveys, evaluators participated in a 2-hour training about how to use the Texas Nutrition Environments Assessment tool. TARGET AUDIENCES: There are two target audiences for this project: fruit and vegetable farmers and livestock producers within five counties in Central Texas whose primary market is customers in this region. The counties include Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell. The second target audience is residents between the ages of 18 to 65 who do the primary grocery shopping for their families. These residents reside in one of 13 target zip codes: 78617, 78653, 78702, 78721, 78723, 78724, 78725, 78741, 78744, 78745, 78748 and 78752, and 78753. These areas are home to primarily low-income and minority populations. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: For the most part, this project has tried to abide by the goals and objective outlined in the project narrative. Minor changes in the scope of activities for the project have been made. These changes include the exclusion of school and backyard gardeners from the analysis. While community gardens within the five county region have been identified and mapped as part of a spatial analysis of agricultural lands in the region, a survey of community, school or backyard gardeners will not be conducted. Time constraints, limitations in access to select populations, complementary activities by partner organizations and applicability to the premise of the study are reasons for not conducting the survey. the Austin Community Garden Coalition is preparing for a garden survey. In order not to duplicate services, this activity is not included in this study. Through the community discussions, it was raised that most residents in the select areas do not garden but would be willing to try. This information is more relevant to this study because it is an example of a gap in service that could be filled by one of the local food organizations. Additionally, the Austin Community Garden Coalition is preparing to conduct a garden survey. In order not to duplicate services, this project will not pursue a survey of community gardeners.
Impacts
Thus far, the project has generated a wealth of data which will enhance the work of a growing network of food-focused organizations; increase information resources about the regional foodshed; and support policy recommendation to transform the urban landscape to promote public health and local producers. Even with extensive outreach, attendance at the roundtables was low. 20 people participated in the roundtables: 5 ranchers, 13 farmers, and 2 City of Elgin officials. A trained facilitator led each roundtable. Travis and Bastrop counties had the greatest turnout. Bastrop participants overwhelmingly support capitalizing on the farm heritage of their county. This desire was affirmed by the local government who recently partnered with TOFGA to apply for a grant to strengthen community development opportunities for local agriculture. Things identified by farmers that this area does well are support a network of local food organizations, farmers' markets, eat local campaigns; school interest; cooperatives; and a year-round growing season. Things that need improvement are lack of cultural value for good food; restrictive regulations; tax-exemption requirements; Texas water laws; access to affordable land; farm endowment planning; and labor. Solutions are greater support for education in schools; a network to connect new and existing farmers; ground water conservation districts; and more funding. 195 people attended 21 community discussions. 46% were Hispanic, 22% African American, 16% white, and 5% other. Most earn under $1,000 a month. 20% receive WIC and 34% SNAP. For community members, the main access issue was cost. Most think fruits and vegetables are important and budget for them but can't afford organic produce although it is thought to be better. People buy foods they already know how to cook or know their families will eat. Bargain hunting is common causing people to make multiple trips to buy groceries. Seasonality, appearance and personal taste are also decision factors. Linked to cost, foods in season are seen as cheaper, and they taste better. Local origin is rarely considered or understood. For participants the solution to food access issues is a nearby, fully-stocked neighborhood grocery store. A community garden, cooking classes and a proximate farmers' market were also raised as solutions though the preferred choice varied by area. Conversely, there is strong opposition to a convenience store carrying healthy foods because they are perceived to be too expensive. As a project of Sustainable Food Center, these discussions were not only a chance to get public feedback; they were also a chance to educate people about local food. As a supporter of local food enterprises, where possible, SFC tries to incorporate food into program activities. Fresh produce from a local farm was given to each attendee, unbeknownst to them, after the discussion, to showcase the availability of foods grown in Central Texas. Also, since many attendees didn't know what a CSA is, this was a way to introduce them to the CSA model.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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