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Home , Sustainable agriculture, Urban horticulture

LAREDO CENTER FOR URBAN & LCUAS To have a local and just system ensuring every Laredoan, regardless of socioeconomic status, has access to ADVOCATES

Adrian Zapata Erika Martinez Juan Arellano Sandra Rocha Taylor Adriana Rodriguez Eva Delgado Juan Carmona Santos Montoya Aldo Molina Fabiola Guerra Julia Orduna Sara Lyssie Hernandez Amelia Solis Fabiola Rodriguez Karen Gaytan Saul Gonzalez Jr Ana Ilse Martinez Flavio Garza Jr. Karina Orozco Stephanie Garcia Andrew L Carranco Frank Rotnofsky Les Garcia Stephanie Garza Andy Hillburn Gabriela Fernandez Leslie Aboumrad Steven Salas Angie Sifuentes Gilbert Garcia III Ma. De Lourdes Viloria Sylvia M Flores Anita Stanley Gloria C. Juarez Marcela Uribe Thelma Arambula Berman Rivera Graciela Briones Mario Pena Tracey King Betty Flores Gregorio M. Lopez Maritza Roman Veronica Y. Dominguez Blanca E. Gonzalez Guillermo Walls Martha Ramirez Victor Longoria Blandina Gomez-Haught Henry Sauvignet Martin Aleman Victor Navarro Cecilia Cisneros Hilda A. Martinez Martiza Benavides Viviana Frank Celeste Armendariz Horacio de Leon Mimi Perez Waldo Lopez Christina Perez Irene Rosales Oda Garcia Yvette Limon Cihtlalli Perez Ivan Santoyo Ramon Chavez Clarissa Rangel Jacklyn Oh Rebekah Alvarez Claudia San Miguel Jacqueline Hernandez Regina Portillo Claudia Sierra Jaime Garcia Reynol Vela Consuelito Martinez John Kilburn Robert Cuellar Daniel Castillon John Porter Rosarlo Morales David Gomez Jordan Wise Roxanna Lara Erasmo Villarreal Joseph-Mendiola Sandra Ibarra COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 2018 “Motion to fund a service agreement with a 501(c)(3) organization to be created at the Canseco House for the implementation of goals, services, and tasks for and sustainability programs as well as facilitation of the Laredo Food Policy Council.”

7 In Favor 0 Against STATS One out of every three Laredoans are below the line1

Type 2 Diabetes is 2.5% more prevalent among adults along the border than elsewhere in the U.S., and 2-3x higher in Mexican-Americans

78.2% of Laredo men are 72.2% of Laredo women are overweight2 overweight 4.5% men nationally3 5.3% women nationally

1. Census Bureau 2010 (31.2%) 2. City of Laredo Federal Legislative Agenda 2017 3. National Center for Health Statistics 2013-2014 ACCESS TO LOCAL PROVIDE OFFER EDUCATIONAL FRESH FOOD FOR LOW ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMS: INCOME CITIZENS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE, THE COMMUNITY AT URBAN COMMUNITY , LARGE HOME GARDENS, FARMERS MARKETS, LOCAL & JUST TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS

CULTIVATE XERISCAPE FACILITATE THE LAREDO DEVELOP POLICY AND AND SUSTAINABILITY FOOD POLICY INCENTIVES FOR THE PRACTICES COUNCIL INDUSTRY APRIL JULY 2017 2018 CANSECO HOUSE CM. ALEX PÉREZ DISTRICT III FASKEN COMMUNITY + SR. CITIZEN PLANTING CM. ALTGELT DISTRICT VII FARM TO TABLE EVENT CM. VIELMA DISTRICT V FOOD PANTRY + CANSECO HOUSE CM. BALLI DISTRICT VIII COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) PILOT

15 CSA boxes at $30 each, sold out in 3 hours at the Laredo Farmers’ Market

Total Sales: $450 Total Expenses: $60.78 Volunteer-based = Total Net Sales: $389.22

– Priscilla Iglesias, Laredo Main Street Director CASA MISERICORDIA WOMEN’S SHELTER + HILLSIDE COMMUNITY GARDEN A LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM CAN ONLY BE SUSTAINED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT HELPING ADVOCATES ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS FOR A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE CITY FUNDING WOULD SPARK PARTNERSHIPS

LCUAS

ACADEMIC PHILANTHROPIC

PRIVATE SECTOR PUBLIC SECTOR LAREDO FOOD POLICY COUNCIL WORKSHOPS FEBRUARY 2018

Per Mark Winne’s recommendations 17 agencies creating a 5-year plan with 1/3/5 year implementation goals. These include:

 UISD Nutrition  LISD Nutrition  LCC Culinary Arts  TAMIU  Texas A&M Extension Office  Laredo Main Street  South Texas Food Bank  USDA  City of Laredo Health Department  Webb County TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & TRAINING IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE

PARTNERING WITH CITY SOURCE OF GOVERNMENT IN PRODUCE FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT FARMERS’ & IMPLEMENTATION MARKETS LCUAS - Board of Directors SCOPE OF WORK - Program Director - FPC Facilitator

ENVIRONMENTALLY FOOD POLICY APPROPRIATE COUNCIL

CENTRAL HUB FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES & ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & TRAINING

1. Business and financial planning 2. Marketing and distribution 3. Product development 4. access 5. Water use 6. Food Safety 7. Zoning and permitting 8. Farm security 9. Labor / Volunteer development 10. fertility and 11. Urban production practices 12. Environmental contamination (soil, water, and air) GRANTS LCUAS WOULD QUALIFY FOR

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Grants $25,000

USDA Research and Education (SARE) $1,000 to $350,000

Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFP) $10,000 to $300,000 for 1-3 yrs

Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) $50,000 avg

Specialty Block Grant Program (SCBGP) $100,000 to $16 million

Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program $3,000 to $500,000 APPENDIX The mission of LCUAS is dedicated to the creation of an urban food system by increasing access to local fresh food for low income citizens and the community at large; offering educational programs that surround urban agriculture, community gardens, home gardens, farmers markets, and farm to school programs; providing entrepreneurial opportunities for urban farmers; cultivating and sustainability practices; LCUAS MISSION facilitating the Laredo Food Policy Council; and developing policy and incentives for the local food industry. ECONOMIC IMPACT

Four years ago, the USDA’s Census of Agriculture data revealed:

. Historical growth in small acreage farming operations

. A maturing $3.16 billion organics industry that was poised to grow

- Texas A&M University ECONOMIC IMPACT

Research study looks at “ services” associated with urban agriculture, including reduction of the urban heat-island effect, avoided stormwater runoff, , , and energy savings. Taken together, these additional benefits make urban agriculture worth as much as $160 billion annually around the globe.

- A Global Geospatial Ecosystem Services Estimate of Urban Agriculture. January 2018 Developed Bylaws ✓ Appointed 13 board of directors✓ members

Working with city attorney (Connie✓ Martinez), also a proposed board member

Submitted articles of incorporation✓ to State of Texas 501(C)(3) DESIGNATION …Waiting for federal SUMMER 2018 approval City of Laredo Health Department – Guillermo Walls City of Laredo Urban & Forestry Division – Berman Rivera City of Laredo City Manager’s Office – City of Laredo Environmental Department – PROPOSED Sustainable Chef/Restaurateur – Bobby Gonzalez & Gabriela Fernandez Advocate – Martha Ramirez BOARD Farmers’ Market Director – Priscilla Iglesias CATEGORIES Apiculturist – Cecilia Cisneros & MEMBERS Academic – Marcela Uribe Sustainable Landscape Practitioner – Economic Development and Incentives Advisor – Roger Garcia Urban Agriculture Advocate – Consuelito Martinez LCUAS ROLES

PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOOD POLICY COUNCIL FACILITATOR

. Works with board to develop programs that . Facilitate efforts of 17 agencies that form the Food address mission Policy Council . Leads in grant writing and manages funding . Lead organizer of Laredo’s food plan . Collaborates with local, state, and federal . Communicate with academic, private, public, government officials and philanthropic sectors . Manages resources and requirements . Enforces implementation goals . Work with experts and community on creation . Research policies and data-based initiatives of education curriculum . Assess community needs . Research, develop and implement policies . Assist in grant writing . Measure training impact . Develop measurement efforts . Manage outreach and public relations COST OF GROCERY STORE VS.

HOME-GROWN Urban Agriculture Del Mar Education

1 run to grocery store for 20 limes one tree for ~182 limes every year $3.35 for 2 lbs. = 0.19¢/lime Year 1: $12 tree + $10 soil + compost (free) = 0.12¢ lime Year 2+: $10 soil + compost (free) = 0.05¢/lime SUPPORTING STATEMENTS

“This endeavor is not focused solely on production but also education. Therefore, the economic impact will be invaluable as citizens apply the lessons learned in their own homes and environment. The Hillside Community Garden is one of the primary community gardens [in Laredo], which came to fruition with help from the City of Laredo Health Department.”

– Berman Rivera, Construction Superintendent of Horticulture & Forestry Division SUPPORTING STATEMENTS

“The consumer can use that information to develop their own production on their own land for a result of up to $50,000 per year.”

– Martha Ramirez, Texas A&M Extension Director In addition to boosting food security, urban and gardens can:

. Make neighborhoods more tight-knit . Give youth the opportunity to spend time in . Improves cross-cultural and cross-generational interactions . Competitive advantage for millennial homebuyers

Beckie, M. & Bogdan, E. J. Agriculture Food Syst. Community Dev. 1, 2152–0801 (2010)

SOCIAL HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL In addition to boosting food security, urban farms and gardens can:

. Ease depression and boost mental health, particularly for low-income residents o The impact [of green spaces] was strongest for residents of poorer neighborhoods — they showed at least a 27.5 percent reduction in the prevalence of depression Eugenia C. South, MD, MS; Bernadette C. Hohl, PhD; Michelle C. Kondo, PhD. Effect of Greening Vacant Land on Mental Health of Community-Dwelling Adults: A Cluster Randomized Trial (2018)

. Encourage healthier diets o Adults with a household member who participated in a community garden consumed fruits and vegetables 1.4 more times per day than those who did not participate o The use of SNAP/WIC cards to pay for CSA shares has been approved by the USDA National Institute of Health

SOCIAL HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL In addition to boosting food security, urban farms and gardens can:

. Enhance the environment o Attract native , pollinators, and a variety of small animals. For instance, gardens set in urban areas have higher ladybird abundance and richness o Facilitate drainage of water and reduce the urban heat island effect

ScienceDirect: The future of urban agriculture and -ecosystem services: Challenges and next steps. Brenda B.Lina, Stacy M.Philpott, ShaleneJha (2015)

SOCIAL HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL