Forming a Regional Food
System Council/Coalition
What is the difference between a council and coalition?
What organization structure is best for my community?
What is working in other areas?
FEAST Leadership Network Webinar
February 5, 2014
Agenda
• Introductions
• Background: What’s in a Name?
• Presentations
– Established Regional Food System Coalition
– Establishing Regional Food System Council
– Statewide Food System Council
• Q&A
Our Speakers
Sharon Thornberry, Community Food Systems Manager
Kristin Frost-Albrecht, Executive Director
Sara Miller, Economic Development Specialist
Wendy Peters Moschetti & Ron Carleton
What’s in a Name??
Council, Coalition, Alliance, Network, Food Web or Not
Musings of a
Grassroots Organizer
Sharon Thornberry
Community Food Systems Manager
Oregon Food Bank
Council:
1. an assembly of persons summoned or
convened for consultation, deliberation, or
advice.
2. a body of persons specially designated or
selected to act in an advisory, administrative, or
legislative capacity: the governor's council on
housing.
www.dictionary.com
Coalition:
1. a combination or alliance, especially a
temporary one between person, factions, states,
etc.
2. a union into one body or mass; fusion.
www.dictionary.com
Alliance:
1. the act of allying or state of being allied.
2. a merging of efforts or interests by persons,
families, states, or organizations.
3. the persons or entities so allied.
www.dictionary.com
Network:
1. an association of individuals having a
common interest, formed to provide mutual
assistance, helpful information, or the like.
2. a system of interrelated buildings, offices,
stations, etc., especially over a large area or
throughout a country, territory, region, etc.: a
network of farms or gardens.
www.dictionary.com
Food Web:
1. Noun Ecology.
2. a series of organisms related by predatorprey and consumer-resource interactions; the
entirety of interrelated food chains in an
ecological community.
www.dictionary.com
Considerations
•
•
•
•
•
What is your mission or purpose?
How formal do you intend to be?
Policy group? Is your existence codified?
What will your legal status be?
What kind of organizing documents will you need?
MOU, Bylaws, Charter?
• How does this collective fit into or serve the existing
community food system?
Thank You!
For more information:
Oregon Food Bank
www.oregonfoodbank.org
Food for Oregon
foodfororegon.oregonstate.edu
Sharon Thornberry
Community Food Systems Manager
Phone: 971-205-5028
sthornberry@oregonfoodbank.org
Sara Miller, Northeast Oregon
Economic Development District
 2006 first local food meetings and work plan
 April 2010 Wallowa Chapter of Slow Food USA forms
 May 2011 FEAST workshop in Enterprise
 August 2011 NEOEDD receives AmeriCorps volunteer to
complete a Community Food Assessment
 October 2011 FEAST Funding & Organization committee
becomes Wallowa County Food System Council, begins
monthly meetings
 September 2012 Community Food Assessment complete
 October 2012, planning workshop with Sharon
Thornberry, OFB; create 2012-2013 Strategic Plan
 October 2013, planning workshop, review of first year
accomplishments, educational presentation from Matt
Buck, create 2013-2014 Strategic Plan
 #1 Local Food Production and Processing -
Strengthen producer network (communication and
information) through increased collaboration
(share information, resources, transport,
marketing, etc.).
 #2 Develop and expand farm/community - school
gardens, including collaboration for additional
funding
 #3 Encourage development and collaboration
among farmers markets
 Goal #1: Local Food Production and Processing
 One farmer accessed USDA funds to construct a hoop house
 One rancher made first sales of product to a buying club
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serving low/moderate income neighborhood.
Additional beef donated to the Food Bank.
Slow Food Wallowas started mini-grant program for
producers.
NEOEDD provided matched savings funding for food/farm
businesses.
At least 32 articles about local food and farms.
 Goal #2: Develop and expand farm/community - school
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gardens
Magic Garden awarded non-profit of the year at WC Chamber
banquet, raised more than 3 tons of food for food access
Joseph Charter school, elementary and Enterprise Head Start
students participate in Magic Garden activities.
First paid intern at the Magic Garden.
Wallowa Community garden increased production and
provided food to the food bank, children’s summer lunch
program and senior meals.
Wallowa High school student mentored in organic food
production through Wallowa Community Garden
 Goal #3: Encourage development and collaboration
among farmers markets.
 Lower Valley Farmers Market was approved to accept SNAP
EBT and Debit cards.
 Communication and trust among farmers markets allowed
them to develop a joint SNAP match project.
 Slow Food Wallowas PigNic fundraiser raised $2,700 in
funding for the joint SNAP match project.
 Community spirit, hands-on attitude
 Growing awareness of need for change
 More people want to be self-sufficient
 RARE volunteer support
 Participation of partner organizations
 NEOEDD staff support
 Catalytic leaders
 Participation at meetings fluctuates
 Changing leadership and lack of formal structure
 Opportunity driven
 Progress in some goal areas and not others
 Need for ongoing support for convening, record
keeping, coordination and resource acquisition
 Regrouping – who wants to stay involved
and why
 Gardens and markets are moving ahead with
their work
 Food production/processing actions stuck
 Possible RARE to support a few key goal
areas: SNAP match sustainability;
community garden sustainability and
expansion; Wallowa County brand
standards for ag/food.
www.cofoodsystemscouncil.org
COFSAC History
Initiated by LiveWell Colorado,
www.livewellcolorado.org
Based on state and national
recommendations to improve healthy
food access
Established in 2010 by Senate Bill 10-106
Renewed in 2013 by Senate Bill 13-168
COFSAC Organizational Structure
Legislatively-mandated, Governor-appointed,
volunteer, 15-member advisory body
Meets quarterly
Provides recommendations to the General
Assembly, Governor’s Office, and the
appropriate regulatory agencies
Does not make policy
Must issue two reports per year
One chair, one vicechair (only one from a state
agency)
Consensus-building decision making framework
Very part-time staff funded by LiveWell CO
COFSAC Members
Fifteen Appointees/Representatives
o Dept. of Agriculture
o Dept. of Education
o Dept. of Human Services
o Dept. of Public Health and Environment
o 2 Food Wholesaler/Retailer (small and large)
o 3 Agricultural Production
o 2 Nutrition and Health
o Rural/Community/Economic Development
o Anti-Hunger/Food Assistance
o Academic
o Extension
COFSAC Charge
To advance recommendations that
strengthen healthy food access for all
Coloradans through Colorado
agriculture and local food systems and
economies.
Accomplishments
Communications & Engagement:
o State tour
o Listening sessions
o Logo design
o Survey & interviews of local councils
o Issue submission form
o Open meetings
EBT at Farmers Markets Working Group
Issue Briefs on EBT at markets and direct
market technical assistance
Challenges
Slow process
Diverse knowledge base amongst
members
Hard to secure state-wide representation
Lack of funding
No “teeth” (restricted to elevating issues
and providing suggestions)
No tangible projects/outcomes
Building a State-wide Network
Survey & interview of local councils:
http://www.cofoodsystemscouncil.org/lo
cal-food-coalitions.html
Monthly networking calls of councils
Summit of local councils! Feb 11 & 12th
2014!!
Additional Information
www.cofoodsystemscouncil.org
www.livewellcolorado.org/foodsystems
Ron Carleton, Deputy Commissioner of
Agriculture, ron.carleton@state.co.us
Wendy Peters Moschetti, WPM
Consulting, wendy@wpmconsulting.net
Questions???
Sharon Thornberry
Community Food Systems Manager
Phone: 971-205-5028
sthornberry@oregonfoodbank.org
Spencer Masterson
Community Resource Developer
Phone: 971-313-8585
smasterson@oregonfoodbank.org
Connect With Us on Social Media!
http://www.facebook.com/oregonfoodbankcfs
https://twitter.com/#!/OFB_SharonT