Food Policy Council (FPC) Meeting on Mon, June 15, 2015 - 7:00 PM

I.Administrative items – 7:00 PM

a.Determine quorum of members, agenda approval

b.Approval of May meeting minutes

c.Chair responsibilities description draft

d.Vote on new youth member (bylaws specify age 18-30, with interest in food systems)

e.FPC Retreat update

i.Vote on budget

f.Update: Growing Food Connections visit

 

II.Market Match Update – 7:20PM

 

III.Homework presentations on peer community farmers’ markets (3-5 minutes per person) – 7:30PM

 

Does that community have a food policy council, and if so, how do they interact with the farmers markets?

Has the community undergone a farmers market planning process?  Any tips? Advice? Pitfalls to avoid?

Austin, TX and Burlington, VT

Jill Elmers

Ithaca, NY

Marlin Bates

Asheville, NC

Carol Gilmore

Louisville, KY

Brenna Wulfkuhle

Roanoke, VA

Pattie Johnson

Bloomington, IN

Sandra Lawson

Raleigh-Durham, NC

Tyra Kalman-Crouch

Columbia, MO

Pep Selvan

Tulsa, OK

Elizabeth Stewart

Boulder, CO

Jason Hering

 

IV.Northeast Kansas Food Hub Feasibility Study next steps – 8:20PM  (Marlin Bates)

a.Value-Added Producers Grant: Increasing FPC KHF funding to $40K for match (Eileen Horn)

 

V.Subcommittee progress reports – 8:30 PM

• City

i.Beekeeping in the city

• County

i.Branding for incubator kitchen

• Community

i.Buy Local Campaign update

ii.Chefs Challenge (volunteers needed!)

 

VI.Public comments – 8:40 PM

VII.FPC member updates – 8:50 PM

VIII.Adjourn full council meeting – 9:00 PMBottom of Form

In Attendance (11 for quorum): Pep Selvan, Jill Elmers, Marlin Bates, T.K. Peterson, Tyra Kalman-Crouch, Carol Gilmore, Jason Hering, Kim Criner, Pattie Johnston, Crystal Hammerschmidt, Jan Hornberger, Jen Humphrey, Elizabeth Stewart, Chris Tilden, Brady Pollington, Jennifer Kongs

Absent: Ashley Jones-Wisner, Sandra Lawson, Teresa Flory, Brenna Wulfkuhle, Dennis "Boog" Highberger, Daniel Poull

Staff:  Helen Schnoes, Eileen Horn           Guests: Matt Schwabauer & Katie Hobson

 

1. Administrative items – 7:00 PM

   1. Determine quorum of members, agenda approval – With 12 of 23 members at the start of the meeting, quorum was reached. Motion and second to approve agenda

   2. Approval of May meeting minutes – Move to accept by Jason, Carol seconded, unanimous pass

   3. Chair responsibilities description draft – Helen sent this out to subcommittee chairs, send back comments about drafts.

   4. Vote on new youth member (bylaws specify age 18-30, with interest in food systems) – For formal approval of new member to replace Jason, need to recommend to the Commission through an official memo, with FPC’s suggestion. Russell Mullins nominated by Jason Hering, seconded by TK Peterson, passed unanimously.

   5. FPC Retreat update

      1. Current FPC Budget: $4316.77

         1. Potential retreat costs:

            1. Food ($10-$20 per person from Purple Carrot--$250-500)

            2. Space (depends on time and needs)

            3. Facilitation ($500-600, or free if using staff time)

            4. Wine? (County can’t buy!)

         2. For 2014, no facilitation cost but did have to pay for room rental and food, total of $300

         3. Anticipated coming expenses include:

            1. $700 to Chefs’ Challenge, $700 to Incubator Kitchen

            2. FPC Conference (information to come via email)

      2. Best dates so far:

         1. Thursday, July 2 – Group determined this is not a good date.

         2. Helen will re-send a Doodle poll based on most common dates and with some dates later in the summer.

      3. TK offered that Merchants is happy to donate food. There was common interest in having retreat without outside facilitation. Last year, retreat was whole day, there were particular conversations/tasks; facilitation often is better when something is longer, contentious—also would take up “meeting you” time, when we could go off the bat. Helen, Eileen, Jill, Emily will work together to run the event

      4. Motion to approve $700 for retreat from Marlin, seconded by Jan – all in favor

   6. Update: Growing Food Connections visit

      1. Eileen reported about the USDA/APA Growing Food Connections project, in-part done with Kimberly Hodgson who, when with American Planning Association led a local food system workshop in 2012 that launched interest in the food hub study. GFC lead researcher Samina Raja was in town today conducting interviews to write a case study about our local policy work. Will create Podio social media site for all communities identified as “Communities of Innovation,” like us. Wyandotte Co. is a “Community of Opportunity.” Dr. Raja will write a letter to the Commissions saying how good the local work is. Learn more and find great resources at www.growingfoodconnections.org

          

2. Market Match Update – 7:20PM

   Tresa’s been working very hard to grow Market Match. Got $48K for 2015 from a variety of local, regional, and state funders. So far $2,127 has been spent at Lawrence Farmers’ Market and Cottin’s FM, with $2,102 in match and 70 SNAP participants. It’s been harder than anticipated to help other county markets become EBT-equipped, but Clinton Parkway is close. Because we have extra funding from Kansas Health Foundation and Topeka Community Foundation, we’ve extended Market Match to four regional farmers’ markets—Manhattan, Atchison, Allen Co. (Iola), and Pittsburg. Tresa, Helen, and Eileen are visiting these markets to “launch” Market Match there.

    

   Tresa’s working to build our communications and social media presence (#marketmatchks) and beginning to think about the strategic future for Market Match within and beyond Douglas County. Eileen talked with County Administrator Craig Weinaug and Commissioner Nancy Thellman—they support continuing Market Match as a unique program of Douglas County, at least for one more year. Talking about going to state-wide funders, we have marketmatchks.com domain. Talked with Greens & Beans about coordination—they’re focused on staying in KC metro. We’re finding enthusiasm in the funding community for the program. Most of the money needs to be spent this year. We’re investing a lot of money in infrastructure—domain name, marketing materials, etc. Tresa’s time is limited, but we could hire more support if needed. Eileen wants to see what really pushing into program development this year can lead to.

    

   Let Eileen know if you’re interested in participating on strategic conversations about Market Match’s future.

    

3. Homework presentations on peer community farmers’ markets (3-5 minutes per person) – 7:30PM

    

Does that community have a food policy council, and if so, how do they interact with the farmers markets?

Has the community undergone a farmers market planning process?  Any tips? Advice? Pitfalls to avoid?

Austin, TX (912,791) and Burlington, VT (42,284)

Jill Elmers

• One market in city plaza area, blocked off. Over 100 vendors, producer-only (a little arts and crafts). Team with the Burlington Arts [group] with parallel juried art fair. Market organized as a non-profit run by a steering committee (producers from different product type), previously run by city. Some collaboration with the Intervale Center.
• Have a food group. Organization came together to merge non-profits, volunteers, producers. Lots of F2S work, not clear connection with the market.
• Winter market Nov – April at center. Bustling, interest in season extension.  

Ithaca, NY (30,515)

Marlin Bates

• 10 markets in Tompkins County, 5 by Ithaca Farmers’ Market association (c-corporation).
• Group interested in forming FPC.
• Moved market in 1985 to new facility, hesitated because people were used to the market. $85K to build structure, covered, 100 stalls. People will follow good markets.
• Looking to do an economic impact assessment.
• $300,000 year operating budget from vendor fees.
• Board of 12 people and 2 full-time co-managers; pay rent to the city, parking will be their biggest issue going forward.
• Bigger central market “touristy” so prepared foods and crafts do better, but keep produce vendors to 60%.
• Winter market.

Asheville, NC (87,236)

Carol Gilmore

• Tourism site for Asheville has a header for “Local Food Culture” and it opens up “Foodtopia” page with subpages, “foodtopians” are chefs. Run by Chamber of Commerce. 17 local tailgate markets; 11 with information. Markets identified regionally in areas. Most one day a week, sometimes two.
• Western North Carolina FM. Owned/operated by NC Dept. of Ag. Deli, retail, wholesale. 3800 sq ft.
• Asheville-Buncombe Co. Food Policy Council—community council, not appointed by local government. Focus in founding is food security (Asheville is 9th hungriest city in the nation). 2035 goal is to have the county self-sustaining for a week. Volunteer-organized.
• Developed a “Food Master Plan”
• Work closely with the city on local food economy; developed “Food Action Plan” passed in 2013
• Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (were one of our consultants for the FM Coordination Study). Have many great resources. Local Food Guide.  
• Asheville City Market—manager has expertise, has done feasibility studies and site analysis. Could be good to speak with?

Louisville, KY (602,011)

Brenna Wulfkuhle

 Postponed

Roanoke, VA (99,428)

 

 

Also has information about Abington

Pattie Johnson

• City market downtown, since 1882. In big square. Destination market. Can add vendors. Produce, artisans, year-round. In the heart of the valley, but extremely rural. City-run market. Need to apply to be a vendor, always a waiting list; very well run. There are some other markets around the city for those who can’t get in—but they’re separate. Paid (?) market manager.
• Have an active Friends of the Market group, do a lot of work to make it work.
• Large region for Mennonites and Amish; some families have been coming since 1904 as vendors. Have associated events, but no FPC. State support.
• Salem, VA market also year round. Pavilion, city-run, vendors must be licensed. Has to be done within 100 miles of Salem, emphasize the localness of it.
• Do EBT and CC

Bloomington, IN

Sandra Lawson  

 Postponed

Raleigh-Durham, NC (Raleigh: 431,746); “Research Triangle” (2,037,430)

Tyra Kalman-Crouch

• Their own cities/counties. A three county area is often considered the region. 27 markets.
• Durham Food Prosperity Council. On the road to becoming a FPC? Awaiting email response.
• Waite Co., Raleigh county seat; no FPC (would like one); 16 markets. Very new market non-profit without staff. Meetings facilitated by gov’t dept. Advocates for health work with area FM and do cross-promotions (Roll and Stroll)
• Dept. of Ag didn’t know about FPCs. Difficult to understand geography.
• No FPC in Orange Co., markets interact.
• Tri-county FPC does exist; but lack of interaction
• (Jill—don’t like to talk among the counties)

Columbia, MO (115,276)

Pep Selvan

 

(Jen: fabulous model for a winter market)

• Two markets at very different scales.
• Had been using fairgrounds before torn down. City build activity/rec center, allowed FM to come back and use open space. Also cooking classes.
• Wanted to aggressively grow; 2003—mutany.
• One third of the organization said too complicated,  go elsewhere for separate market (Boone CO. FM). Simple one page market. Board of farmers, founding venders are the “charter members” and have precedence. Three charter members and one non-vendor to decide new vendors. 20 vendors.
• The Columbia group continued to organize at the park, built a stage. Vendor application, inspection of farmers’ property, had 80 spaces, 4000 customers per market. Vendor fees 3x the smaller one. Found abandoned mall off of I-70 and made a winter-market, with some canning. 80 vendors. SNAP program.
• Both groups do a good job of controlling quality of the product; must raise livestock for 50% of time, no re-sale.
• Held markets same day, same time.
• MGMT structure: websites demonstrate difference in scale/professionalism. But Columbia Market has one full-time staff, tried to get funding for their own year-round facility, gave up this year because they couldn’t find. One part-time employee during busy season. AmeriCorps VISTA as support. Terrific volunteer program to support market. 7 member board with 2 year terms.
• No FPC.
• Sistered with local food bank, split into two groups to support morally.
• CFM connections to other parts of the community good, but they don’t organize. Some success with grants to get started and organized.

Tulsa, OK (398,121)

Elizabeth Stewart

 

(Handouts)

• 2 FM run by organization in hip part of Tulsa (think of KC plaza). Very organized, catering to a sophisticated market. Swallowed up other markets. Long waiting list to be a vendor. Need to go through a vetting process on how they grow, that it’s from OK.
• BOD of 21, with three part-time staff. Operating budget of $55,000. Highly secretive who the people are.
• 2009 started a match program.
• No active FPC yet; had a quasi-council concerning hunger.
• 2-year strategic plan with 4 areas of focus: marketing, education, accessibility, diversity. Didn’t want to be seen as elitist. Promoting SNAP matching and hosting cooking classes.
• Big issue is where to move the market—construction pressure. Move for a year or find a whole new site? Grad student made a feasibility study of 6 different sites. Internal conflict?
• Issue about dogs at the market—to many pooping near the food. Now not allowed. Ensuing community conflict. [This is debated every year locally, too.]

Boulder, CO (103,166)

Jason Hering

• 3 markets, main since 1987 (Wed & Sat), another 2 day, another one just created (5 total market times); small winter market, ED and more staff listed, but unclear how many they actually do. In different areas (downtown, fairgrounds); main market on low-traffic street that they close.
• SNAP double project launched last year
• Several produce-specific events held during the area.
• Sunday evening, family style meals for 60 people, charge $40/ticket for adults, held regularly to raise money.
• Food and Ag Policy Council since 2007 through county commission. Strategic Commission 2008-2012. 10 voting members and 1 staff. No clear connection to the markets.
• Lease open spaces to farmers like Common Ground.
• Colorado Food System Advisory Council. Funding through 2018. Volunteer run, 15 members from state and local stakeholders. Track what’s happening in the state. Awaiting response to inquiry about FM studies. 6 other FPCs, 30 other like organizations.

 

• < >

  No one is doing feasibility studies / market analysis about FM

  • The graduate student in OK did one

  • Is it about framing and cooperation of markets and community?

• Large pavilion as nice compromise between big construction and parking lot

• What is the grocery store context? How does that influence local foods?

• Northeast Kansas Food Hub Feasibility Study next steps – 8:20PM(Marlin Bates)

  Food hub group continues to meet with 5 producers, piecing together what’s needed to build the business. They continue to work with staff support for implementation of feasibility studies, including KU Small Business Development Center. There’s now a greater sense of urgency to tackle needed tasks. A subgroup is working on a Value-Added Producers Group, from USDA Rural Development fund (who funded our feasibility study). Rural Development has in-state staff to give feedback, score with local priority points.

   

  1. Value-Added Producers Grant: Increasing FPC KHF funding to $40K for match (Eileen Horn)

     Kansas Health Foundation implementation money is meant for a policy implementation. FPC has struggled for 3 years to figure out the right use; needs to be for a policy, which is where our work generally ends. In April the council decided $20K to keep $20K for FM study (or other need), but it may not fit because funds need to be used as implementation money.

      

     Grant requires 1:1 match. Producers’ time, support time, and value of commodity to be moved in 3 years can be cited to reach $250,000 (max request)—but the USDA does want some cash match.

     Eileen suggested that FPC puts full $40K into the match for this grant—helps to show cash on paper; Rural Development said that this scale of money is sufficient. KHF is able to give funds to a 501(c)6.  The Chamber of Commerce will receive the funds and then pay for the marketing services and business start-up fees for the food hub.

      

     Elizabeth moved to release full $40,000; Emily seconded; all in favor. (As a founding producer of the food hub, Jill refrained from the discussion.)

     
     
      

• Subcommittee progress reports – 8:30 PM

  • < >

    Beekeeping in the city

    1. Emily Ryan drafted a letter to get the city commission to review their Code and consider incorporating an exemption for beekeeping.

    2. Planning assistant director Amy Miller suggested that a citizen could bring the issue forward, or FPC could. Regardless, the FPC can volunteer to do research and include our initial findings with a letter.

    3. Group discussed that if we show what other communities have done, don’t have to out the local bee keepers. City Subcommittee has done background research on other recent policy changes other municipalities have made to allow for safe beekeeping.

    4. Group agreed to continue with supporting the interested community members in this effort. Those with ideas for good experts (entomologist, pediatrician, gardener, etc.) to be included as supporting resources should let Crystal and Helen know, as City Subcommittee continues to work to move forward with this initiative.

  • County

    1. Branding for incubator kitchen

       1. Using FPC funding to hire Chris Millspaugh to rebrand and plan strategic marketing of the kitchen. Canceled monthly meeting given this process. Will work with Chris and his process in the mean time and review initial design ideas at July meeting.

  • Community

    1. Buy Local Campaign update

       1. August will be Buy Local month with 7 area grocery stores. Funding ($25,000) is through the CDC PICH grant the LDCHD received, with Design Brilliance (cost of $11,000) hired as our branding and marketing consultants.

       2. We will be building stand-alone webpage and coordinate social media elements across the stores and community partners. Looking to make it feel grassroots and present a variety of “challenges” so folks can engage, have fun.

       3. Helen is drafting the directory of produces (over 30) and grocers. We’ll do a “soft launch” next week and have a printed copy distributed in July.

       4. Looking to support in-store tasting and other events to highlight campaign/challenge at stores.

       5. Will meet with KU researchers next week to plan for evaluation, which will include intercept surveys (FPC volunteers will be needed).

       6. We have more funding for 2016 and 2017, want to think about how this pilot year can grow and enhance other food system efforts. Beyond stimulating consumer demand, the campaign is intended to help connect buyers/farmers and help farmers scale up while food hub develops. Will look to restaurants and institutions for future collaboration.

    2. Chefs Challenge (volunteers needed!)

       1. MGV and MFV taking over the event management next year, with Carol leading the transition this year. Chefs from the Burger Stand, Hank Charcuterie, and Bird Dog Bar. Judges are mayors of Lecompton, Eudora, and Baldwin City. Event runs 5pm to 7:30 on July 29. Hoping to have publishable recipes from chefs. Vegetable to feature will be eggplant! (If weather cooperates.)

       2. Need six volunteers – Contact Carol Gilmore if you’re interested (carol.gilmore@att.net). It’s a lot of fun and you get to eat!

           

• Public comments – 8:40 PM

• Matt Schwabauer & Katie Hobson – Starting a human-grade cricket farm.

  • Met Jen recently and learned that they may confront regulatory issues. Want to process the crickets into a dried flour.

  • During the cicada event, Jen found that human consumption of insects are not included in State Dept. of Ag. (Entomophagy is the word for insect consumption.)

  • The entrepreneurs are looking at properties, making a business plan, need a space to raise their crickets. It takes 5000 crickets to make one pound, dried weight. There are multiple companies across the country—Bitty using it in baked goods, XO using it in bars. You mix with other flours for cooking. Part of the motivation for this food innovation is to be sustainable about inputs for nutrition output. Most farms are indoors and they are planning for indoor production.

  • Marlin points them towards Dept. of Ag. Need to do nutritional analysis? Better processing control school? Is this a processed product?

  • They agreed to keep FPC in the loop and let us know if there’s a role to play.

  • 80% of the world eats insects. KU professor writing about the explosion of insect food companies, many starting recently. They’re planning to reach out to these new companies.

     

• FPC member updates – 8:50 PM

• Adjourn full council meeting – 9:00 PMBottom of Form