CONNECT Our Future: Food Systems Assessment Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CONNECT Our Future: Food Systems Assessment Report January 2014 Prepared for the CONNECT Our Future project by: ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) Asheville, NC www.asapconnections.org CEFS (Center for Environmental Farming Systems) CFSA (Carolina Farm Stewardship Association) Raleigh, NC Pittsboro, NC www.cefs.ncsu.edu www.carolinafarmstewards.org Cite this report: Local Food Research Center (2014). CONNECT Our Future: Food Systems Assessment Report. Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, Asheville, North Carolina. A report funded by the CONNECT Our Future Project. CONNECT Our Future: Food Systems Assessment Report Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................1 CONNECT Our Future Project ..................................................................................................1 Key Findings ............................................................................................................................1 Summary of Recommendations...............................................................................................3 SECTION 1: DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT REGION ...........................................................................3 The Project Region ..................................................................................................................3 Geographic Location................................................................................................................4 Major Economic Drivers ..........................................................................................................4 Demographics .........................................................................................................................5 Health of the Population .........................................................................................................6 SECTION 2: REGIONAL LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY ...............................................................................8 Production Data ......................................................................................................................8 Local Food Infrastructure Inventory ......................................................................................20 Equity and Access ..................................................................................................................22 Food Waste Management .....................................................................................................30 SECTION 3: REGIONAL LOCAL FOOD DEMAND ..........................................................................41 Resident Food Consumption and Spending ...........................................................................43 Food Dollar Considerations ...................................................................................................45 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................................47 Bring Food System Issues to the Forefront of Local Government ...........................................47 Support Farmers and Local Food Production .........................................................................48 Connect Residents to Their Food System ...............................................................................49 Address Equity and Access in the Food System ......................................................................51 Expand the Knowledge Base Around Your Community Food System .....................................52 Develop an Intentional Network to Foster Communication and Collaboration ......................54 APPENDIX A: INVENTORY OF FOOD SYSTEMS ASSESSMENTS IN PROJECT REGION ....................55 CONNECT Our Future: Food Systems Assessment Report North Carolina .......................................................................................................................55 South Carolina .......................................................................................................................68 Federal ..................................................................................................................................70 APPENDIX B: LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT IN REGION .................................................71 Sector Analysis ......................................................................................................................71 Key Recommendations ..........................................................................................................73 APPENDIX C: COUNTY SNAPSHOTS ............................................................................................83 APPENDIX D: COUNTY SNAPSHOT METHODOLOGY ...................................................................98 Production ............................................................................................................................98 Retail Infrastructure ............................................................................................................ 101 Consumption, Access, and Health........................................................................................ 103 Waste Management ............................................................................................................ 105 Equity .................................................................................................................................. 106 APPENDIX E: 2013 REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM STAKEHOLDER SURVEY DATA ............................ 107 Survey Methods .................................................................................................................. 107 Summary of Findings ........................................................................................................... 109 Survey Results ..................................................................................................................... 113 APPENDIX F: COMMUNITY RESOURCES INVESTED IN THE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM ............... 156 Purpose and Goals .............................................................................................................. 156 Approach ............................................................................................................................ 157 Methods.............................................................................................................................. 160 Results ................................................................................................................................ 166 CONNECT Our Future: Food Systems Assessment Report List of Tables and Figures Tables: TABLE 1. DIET-RELATED ILLNESS IN CONNECT OUR FUTURE PROJECT REGION ............................6 TABLE 2. FARMS AND ACRES OF FARMLAND, 2002 AND 2007 .....................................................8 TABLE 3. FARMS BY VALUE OF SALES, 2002 AND 2007 ................................................................9 TABLE 4. DOLLAR SHARE OF RETAIL PRODUCE SALES FOR SELECTED PRODUCE, 2012 ...............17 TABLE 5. PRODUCTION OF SELECTED FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, 2007 ............................18 TABLE 6. PRODUCTION OF SELECTED ANIMAL PRODUCTS, 2007 ...............................................19 TABLE 7. ENTITIES MAPPED ON LOCAL FOOD INFRASTRUCTURE INVENTORY MAP, 2013 ..........22 TABLE 8. SELECTED PANTRIES, FOOD BANKS, AND COMMUNITY GARDENS IN THE REGION BY COUNTY ....................................................................................................................................26 TABLE 9. ESTIMATED RESIDENT CONSUMPTION AND SPENDING, AND ESTIMATED FARM PRODUCTION OF SELECTED FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN THE PROJECT REGION ............44 Figures: FIGURE 1. CONNECT OUR FUTURE PROJECT REGION ...................................................................3 FIGURE 2. FARMS BY VALUE OF SALES, 2002 AND 2007 ............................................................10 FIGURE 3. FARMS BY NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, 2007 .................11 FIGURE 4. NET CASH FARM INCOME: AVERAGE NET EARNINGS AND LOSSES, 2007 ..................13 FIGURE 5. NET CASH FARM INCOME: FARMS REPORTING NET GAINS AND NET LOSSES, 2007 ..14 FIGURE 6. LOCAL FOOD INFRASTRUCTURE INVENTORY MAP FOR PROJECT REGION, 2013 ........20 FIGURE 7. FOOD DESERTS WITHIN THE PROJECT REGION, 2013 ................................................24 FIGURE 8. CHANGE IN DIRECT SALES FROM 2002-2007 .............................................................42 CONNECT Our Future: Food Systems Assessment Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION This report was produced by ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) with CEFS (Center for Environmental Farming Systems) and CFSA (Carolina Farm Stewardship Association) to inform the food systems development work of the CONNECT Our Future project in Charlotte, North Carolina, and 14 surrounding counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union counties in North Carolina, and Chester, Lancaster, Union, and York counties in South Carolina. (These counties will be referred to throughout this report as the “CONNECT Our Future project region” or “project region.”) This report documents current food and farm conditions,