The child food insecurity rates (FIR) are Food even higher (17 percent to 21 percent). How can Miami Valley communities County FIR Child FIR Darke 11.9% 18.9% increase the share of our diets that Greene 12.8% 18.3% comes from our “foodshed?” Miami 11.8% 17.4% Montgomery 17.0% 21.6% The Issues Preble 12.0% 18.8% There is an emerging consensus that a Paradoxically, great agricultural abundance stronger local food system can bridge the and high rates of food insecurity exist side- gap between agricultural abundance and by-side in Ohio and the Miami Valley. When food insecurity, while also fostering a more measured by total commodity value by state, resilient local economy and social fabric. The Ohio ranked 16th in the nation in agricultural more we buy locally grown produce and production in 2018. At the same time, overall locally raised animal products, the more we food insecurity rates in the Miami Valley can help local farmers stay in business. It range from about 12 percent to 17 percent. also helps farmers transition from an increasingly-challenged commodity market to more diversified farms that are healthier building neighborhood and community for the planet and help to mitigate climate connections around local community and weather extremes. This chapter gardens. Local foods are an opportunity for explores ways local governments can residents to learn about new foods, such as support local food systems and reduce traditional foods from immigrant hunger. communities, and how to prepare them. It is fair to ask, “What is local food?” The local food economy in the Miami Valley Definitions of what area can be considered is holding its own in the marketplace. There local vary. The term “local” means different are community gardens and urban farms things to a restauranteur, a grocer, or a local growing fresh produce. Farmers markets dot farmers market. Distances can range from the Region and can be found in every as few as 30 miles to as many as 400 miles. county. Miami County even has a virtual Grocers sometimes define local as within a Farmers Market, which enables year-round day’s drive, or a half day’s drive. The Dayton access to locally grown and produced foods. Regional Green Food Access Team has Community Supported Agriculture programs adopted a “foodshed” for our Region as (CSAs) facilitate direct sales from producer matching the combined watersheds of the to individual consumers. Great Miami River and Little Miami River. In Meanwhile, food insecurity is a serious all of these cases, the central concept is that concern in our Region. Food insecurity is food is “local” if is grown, harvested, and defined as lacking access to enough processed near enough for the consumer to nutritionally sufficient food for an active have an opportunity to interact with (i.e. get lifestyle for all members of a household. to know) the farmer/producer or close Closures of grocery stores have created or enough to visit the farm. expanded food deserts, where access to There are many benefits from a healthy local healthy food is of greater difficulty. In this food system. Locally-based transactions respect, the marketplace is not serving the between farmer and consumer keep local needs of all residents in the Miami Valley. incomes circulating in the regional economy. In response to this issue, the Montgomery It supports efforts at farmland preservation County Food Equity Coalition has launched by reducing local farmers’ dependence on a Food Equity Action Plan initiative. It is large commodity markets. Local food modeled after the “Whole Measures” processing can be a source of local food approach to equitable community food system employment. Local foods are system planning. Led by Public Health healthier and fresher – they often have less Dayton-Montgomery County, the initiative pesticide and herbicide residues than has formed working groups on the topics of factory-farmed produce and livestock. Due to Vibrant Farms, Healthy People, Thriving shorter shipping distances, they are not Local Economy, Food Insecurity, Strong picked unripe and trucked from far away. Communities, and Sustainable Ecosystems. The social benefits of local food systems The initiative aims to release its report in include building personal connections 2020. between rural and urban communities, while A state-level advocacy group, Ohio Smart Agriculture (OSA), issued a report and call to Food action in 2019 to support the goals of Regional Contacts reduced hunger, increased food production, • Farmers markets —B-W Greenway a more robust food economy, and improved Community Land Trust, 937.867.5212, environmental protection in Ohio. Many [email protected] recommendations from the OSA report are • Local food economy — Lela Klein, Co-Op Dayton, 937.716.1717, suited for local or regional implementation. [email protected] • Local food legislation, Jenita McGowan, Two programs in Ohio seek to connect City of Cleveland Chief of Sustainability, people in food insecure households with 216.664.2405, local food producers. Produce Perks [email protected] • provides a dollar-for-dollar matching OSU Agriculture Extension offices: Darke County – 937.548.5215 incentive for customers who use their SNAP Greene County – 937.372.9971 benefits at local farmers markets. The Miami County – 937.440.3945 Produce Prescription program, a project of Montgomery County – 937.224.9654 Preble County - 937.456.8174 Case Western Reserve University, builds on • Regional food planning — Haley Carretta, a network of farmers markets. It partners Public Health-Dayton & Montgomery with health clinics to provide $40 monthly County, 937.496.3308, “prescriptions” for fruits and vegetables for [email protected] • pregnant women, new moms, and patients Regional food policy — Mark Willis, Hall Hunger Initiative, 937.225.3056, with hypertension. [email protected] • Sustainable food services for institutions — What Communities can do Stephanie Corbett, Case Western Reserve University, 216.368.6174, [email protected] • Community Gardening – Kaitlyn Lawry, There are numerous ways communities can Five Rivers MetroParks, 937.275.7275, support the Miami Valley’s local food [email protected] economy. These efforts will keep money • Urban garden zoning — Fred Collier, Cleveland Planning Commission, circulating in your community, build social 216.664.3468, [email protected] cohesion, and improve your residents’ • Soil Health – Susan Jennings, Arthur health. Morgan Institute for Community Solutions, 937.767.2826, [email protected] Community Education & Outreach • Vacant land and urban agriculture — Mike • Highlight the many benefits of local food in Grauwelman, Montgomery County Land Bank, 937.531.7035, community newsletters and events. [email protected] • Distribute the B-W Greenway Local Foods • Green School Yards – Doug Horvath, Five Directory to residents and businesses in Rivers MetroParks, 937.275.7275, either print or electronic form to assist [email protected] institutions in buying local food. Explore local food purchase agreements. BYG • Encourage the development of farmers to host farmers markets on weekends or markets in your community. Allow schools after-school hours. • Encourage partnerships between • Food waste and hunger exist side-by-side community neighborhoods and Homefull to on our communities. Facilitate connections establish a community garden or urban between institutions that produce food agriculture. waste and agencies that distribute food to • The Marianist Environmental Education people experiencing food insecurity. The Center (MEEC) provides workshops for the Dayton Foodbank can assist in this effort. public on vegetable gardening and • Educate citizens about how the growing pollinator gardens. Sponsor a workshop in practices of local farmers can impact water your community. and air quality, as well as the nutritional • Partner with the extension service of either content of food. Ohio State University or Central State University to bring the Expanded Food and Internal operations Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) to • Organize staff memberships in a local your community. The program utilizes Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) interactive discussions and activities to program. guide low- and moderate-income • For city food services, set a procurement participants through a series of community- goal for obtaining healthy food that is based workshops. These workshops are grown locally within the Great Miami and/or aimed at improving diet quality, food Little Miami Watersheds. Cleveland safety, and physical activity. Adult Heights has a policy requiring the city to participants also gain skills in food consider purchasing local and Fair Trade preparation and managing their food food. BYG budgets. • Offer a bid discount to local food providers • East End Community Services offers when bidding contracts. Cleveland’s policy gardening, food preparation, nutrition, and is a model. food preservation classes. • Colleges and High Schools can work with • Share Five Rivers MetroPark’s Earth to the Food Recovery Network and K-12 Table resources and programming with Food Rescue, respectively, to ensure that your residents. leftover, prepared foods are donated to • Support campaigns that encourage local agencies fighting hunger. The community members and community University of Dayton has a Food Recovery institutions to purchase from local food Network chapter. producers, artisans, businesses, and • Have community staff