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Food System f r1le dY`-
growing our tocat food system
Join the Network!
Joining means that you are signing on in support of the effort to collaboratively strengthen our food system.
Mission: The Rogue Valley Food System Network establishes a collaborative community of
leadership to develop and advocate for a healthy and sustainable food system in Josephine
and Jackson Counties.
Vision: The Rogue Valley is celebrated for its strong, vibrant regional food system character-
ized by abundant local food production, equitable food access, environmental sustainability,
economic vitality, and healthy community.
Objectives: on reverse side
I want to join as a:
❑ Individual Supporter
❑ Partner Organization/ Agency/ Business
1/ we agree to the mission, vision and objectives of the Network
Sign Date
If you are joining as an organization we encourage you to decide as a board and record it in your minutes.
Contact Information
Name: Phone:
Affiliated Organization:
Email:
❑ I want to receive email updates
if you have interest in receiving email updates about specific topics please let us know what topics:
❑Community Gardening ❑ Local Food Infrastructure
C3 Cooking Skills Education ❑ Local Food Marketing
❑ Healthy Food Retail ❑ Other, please specify:
For more information contact:
Hannah Ancel, Community Food System Coordinator, ACCESS • hancei@accesshelps.org • 541-618-4019
Visit: www.rvfoodsystem.org
91 Like the Rogue Valley Food System Network on facebook
Food System
growing our local food system
Objectives
1. Foster collaboration, communication, and education among institutions, organizations,
community members, and decision-making bodies on issues central to our regional
food system.
z. Coordinate regional fundraising and development designed to research, design, imple-
ment, and assess activity fostering a sustainable and just local food system.
3. Research and evaluate the programming, policy, science, and culture impacting the
economic, environmental, and social state of our food system.
4. Work collaboratively with regional decision-makers to propose and promote regional
policies supporting the core mission and vision of the Rogue Valley Food System Net-
work.
5. Partner in the delivery of community outreach programming designed to foster a re-
gional ethic of pride and care for our community food system and to distribute
thoughtfully researched materials for informed decision making.
I I Lt rc
Summary
Rogue Valley Food System Network
Mission: The Rogue Valley Food System Network establishes a collaborative community of leadership to
develop and advocate for a healthy and sustainable food system in Josephine and Jackson Counties.
Vision: The Rogue Valley has a strong, vibrant regional food system that results in abundant local food
production, equitable food access, a healthier community and economic vitality in our communities.
Objectives:
1. Foster collaboration, communication, and education among institutions, organizations, community
members, and decision-making bodies on issues central to our regional food system.
2. Coordinate regional fundraising and development designed to research, design, implement, and assess
activity fostering a sustainable and just local food system.
3. Research and evaluate the programming, policy, science, and culture impacting the economic,
environmental, and social state of our food system.
4. Propose and promote regional policies supporting the core mission and vision of the Rogue Valley Food
System Council.
5. Partner in the delivery of community outreach programming designed to foster a regional ethic of care
for our community food system and to distribute thoughtfully researched materials for informed
decision making.
How you can get involved...
Three levels of Rogue Valley Food System Network membership:
1) Council Members- Elected to be the decision making body to uphold the mission, vision & objectives
2) Partners -Organizations, agencies, or businesses that support the work and participate on a focused task force
3) Supporters- Individuals that support the Council and want to work on a focus task force
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Executive Summary
How did we get here?
Many community efforts have been working on pieces of our food system for several years. Over the last year the
food system planning process has been hearing from the community about what they would like to see the big picture of
food in our region look like. We have engage over 400 people in community gatherings asking participants what they see
as assets, barriers, challenges, and opportunities in their food system. We have engaged another 650 community
members through surveys and interviews. This process has been guided by a steering committee made up of
representatives from varying sectors of the community. Through hearing from the community in these various ways we
have attained a sense of the collective vision for our food system.
What is the Rogue Valley Food System Action Plan?
The Rogue Valley Food System Action Plan provides a starting point that builds upon the existing work of the
community to move toward the collective community vision and shared goals of our food system. This plan is a request
for involvement from each sector of the community to form partnerships that are crucial to finding sustainable strategies
to attain our goals and realize the vision.
Envision a Sustainable Food System in the Rogue Valley....
From the synthesis of community input and local recommendations the draft Rogue Valley Food System Vision framework
was developed around four goal areas: local food, social equity, healthy eating, and economic vitality.
The visual below represents the guiding principles for the continued conversation of our food system. This draft
framework represents a big picture look at the food system and is intended to be used as a starting point for the
development of a food system action plan to address the needs and opportunities under each area.
s
Leadership & Collaboration Work together across Local Food - Build infrastructure and increase local
sectors to move projects forward. food production
Goal 1: Make food system information more readily
available to all community members, and increase Goal 3: Ensure that county and statewide land use
partnerships across sectors to improve our community's regulations support and enhance opportunities for
overall food security. agricultural businesses.
1.1 Form a Food System Council 3.1 Gain representation on the county Agricultural Task
1.2 Develop a food system website Force
1.3 Develop a list-serve for information sharing 3.2 Engage the farming and local food communities in
1.4 Electronically map the resources in each sector of our the redefining of agricultural land use
food system 3.3 Participate in local and statewide policy discussions
1.5 Create a physical central location for food related to promote opportunities for agritourism
organizations to be housed 3.4 Educate and support producers on land-use issues
about what is currently allowed on their land and
provide support through the appropriate process.
Goal 4: Develop and use existing infrastructure to
transport local food from the farm to the market to
extend the seasonal availability of local foods and add
a~ value through the production of specialty foods.
4.1 Support regional businesses that have capacity to
fill the role of providing distribution and facilities.
4.2 Support the development and marketing of a local
food brand.
4.3 Utilize existing facilities with certified kitchens and
storage space to process/store surplus local foods.
4.4 Look into the feasibility of developing a physical
"food hub" with cold storage capacity
Healthy Eating- Provide nutrition education for consumers 4.5 Provide meat locker space making the purchase of a
to help them make a healthier choice whole/half animal more feasible for consumers
4.6 Support local meat marketing efforts
Goal 2: Expand reach and scope of current education
programs to engage a greater audience and increase Goal 5: Develop and implement education, training,
consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. and business development support for aspiring
2.1 Develop and implement a train the trainer model to farmers and ranchers.
offer demos and classes at food pantries, agencies with 5.1 Create "next step" opportunities for graduates of
residential programs, and other community locations RFC's Forms Next program and OSU Extension Small
2.2 Outreach to the Hispanic Community and offer Farms Growing Agriprenuers program
programming in Spanish 5.2 Expand RFC Forms Next program to communities
across the state
Action at a Glance
Social Equity - Provide access to food and food Economic Vitality - Promote a thriving local economy
security for all
Goal 6: Develop avenues to make fresh, healthy foods Goal 8: Increase the percentage of food consumed that is
more accessible and affordable in parts of the produced in Jackson and Josephine County to double what
community where these foods are not readily available it is now in five years.
and residents have limited resources to acquire 8.1 Identify stores that are willing to purchase locally
healthy foods. produced foods
6.1 Increase access to healthy foods at retail locations 8.2 Identify what producers need in order to meet the
6.2 Expand outreach efforts of SNAP and WIC benefits requirements of stores and make it worth it to the
usage at the Growers Markets producer
6.3 Offer SNAP Incentive Match Programs at area 8.3 Support producers to become certified under the Good
growers markets Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification
6.4 Explore the possibility of a mobile farm stand to 8.4 Coordinate production and distribution to ensure a
serve limited access neighborhoods consistent supply of local products to stores.
6.5 Partner with healthcare providers to help educate 8.5 Provide tools to help local grocery stores make the
about the benefits of eating fresh, whole foods and connection to local farms
the resources in the community to access those 8.6 Increase sales of locally produced foods to restaurants.
foods 8.7 Increase sales of locally produced foods through
institutional buying (schools, higher education,
Goal 7: Provide support to existing community gardens hospitals, etc.)
and increase access to garden space for interested
community members.
7.1 Network existing community gardens to provide
support and resources needed
7.2 Develop additional gardens making more garden ti
space available to the community
7.3 Partner with city planning departments to map
available spaces
7.4 Develop additional community gardens and
volunteer teams with local churches
7.5 Support and encourage school gardens
7.6 Promote edible landscaping in public spaces
7.7 Advocate for the right to garden for residents
7.8 Provide education and supportive resources for
home gardeners
7.9 Educate grocery stores and SNAP recipients about
using benefits to purchase fruit /vegetable plants
and seeds For more information contact:
Hannah Ancel, Community Food System Coordinator, ACCESS
541-618-4019
hancel@accesshelps.org