The document discusses the benefits of local food systems and trends in local food nationally and in New Orleans. It highlights the work of organizations like Grow Dat Youth Farm and the New Orleans Food Policy Advisory Committee (FPAC) to envision just and sustainable food systems. FPAC has released two reports with recommendations to expand access to healthy food retail and improve school food. Food hubs are also discussed as coordinating local food distribution and increasing market access for small producers.

1. The Grow Dat Youth Farm
Local Food
envisioning just and sustainable food
systems in New Orleans and beyond

2. Why local?
Potential benefits of local food systems
● Increased transparency and oversight of food production
● positive environmental impacts
● addressing inequities in access to food
● freshness and taste: on average, locally-harvest produce is
sold within 24 hours of being harvested
● grown in NOLA, sold in NOLA - supporting local economy
through jobs, local businesses, agri/food tourism
● opportunities for community building and education

3. Envisioning a just and sustainable food system:
● commitment to equity
● democratic processes
● participation of diverse stakeholders
● knowledge of spatial and historical inequities
● allowance for 'local might not always be better'
Definition of socially just food system: one in which power
and material resources are shared equitably so that
people and communities can meet their needs and live
with security and dignity now and into the future (Activist
Researcher Consortium, 2004)
Patricia Allen, 2009

4. Local Food Trends: National Growth
Community gardens: Estimated 18,000 Community Gardens
throughout the United States and Canada. (American
Community Gardening Association)
Farm to school: National Farm to School program established
by the USDA in 2000. By 2009, there were over 2,000 programs
in 40 states (National Farm to School Network)
Small-scale farms: The number of farms in the U.S. grew 4%
from 2004-09 and new farms have more diversified
production, fewer acres, lower sales and younger operators.
U.S. farmers are increasingly demographically diverse: 2007
Census counted nearly 30% more women as principal farm
operators, Hispanic operators grew by 10%, and American
Indian, Asian and Black farm operators increased as well.
(USDA)

5. Local Food Trends: National Growth

6. Local Food Trends: Local and Regional Growth
Green = farms
Red = farmer's markets
Source: LocalHarvest.org

7. Local and Regional Growth: example from Crescent City
Farmer's Market
● Crescent City Farmer's Market
(a project of marketumbrella.org)
was established in mid 1990s.
● Now has three locations attracting
140,903 shoppers per year with
a gross of $6.66 million.
● CCFM's combined economic impact is estimated to
be $11.66 million for its vendors, host
neighborhoods, and surrounding region.

8. Fertile Ground: Local Food in New
Orleans
● long history of public markets in
the city
● strong traditions of urban
gardening (Backyard Gardeners
Network)
● prevalence of mobile vending:
truck farm stands and door-
to-door sales (Mr. Okra)
● robust food culture, domestic
and restaurant-based
● local heirloom foods
(mirlitons, creole tomatoes,
seafood)

9. The New Orleans Food Policy Advisory Committee
FPAC
MISSION: The Food Policy Advisory Committee (FPAC) was formed by the New
Orleans City Council to identify ways that our city and state officials can support
equitable access to fresh healthy food. The Committee includes a diverse group
of leaders from the public, private, and civic sectors.
FPAC 1: “Building Healthy Communities: Expanding Access to Fresh Food Retail”2008: Report
contains 10 practical recommendations to increase access to grocery stores, markets, and other retail
outlets that sell healthy food. The City Council unanimously passed a resolution expressing support for
the FPAC recommendations and instructing a task force to work toward their implementation. The City
of New Orleans identified $7 million in disaster Community Development Block Grants (d-CDBG) funds
for the Fresh Food Retail Incentives (FFRI) program
FFRI awards to:
● the iconic Circle Food Market in the Seventh Ward
● DaFresh Seafood Market in Central City
● redevelop former Schwegmann's site in Mid-City: Whole Foods affordable
store announced last month
FPAC 2: “Stepping Up to the Plate: Transforming School Food in New Orleans” 2010: Report
released containing 8 recommendations to improve and transform school food, the local economy, and
sustainable agriculture in the region.

10. Branching Out, Looking Forward
Food Hubs:
USDA working definition: “a centrally located facility with a
business management structure facilitating the aggregation,
storage, processing, distribution, and/or marketing of
locally/regionally produced food products.”
By actively coordinating these activities along the value
chain, food hubs are providing wider access to institutional
and retail markets for small to mid-sized producers, and
increasing access of fresh healthy food for consumers,
including underserved areas and food deserts.

11. Food Hubs

12. Food Hubs

13. Food Hubs by Region
USDA, Regional Food Hubs Resource
Southwest: Louisiana, Arkansas, Guide, 2012
Texas and Oklahoma

14. Jeanne Firth
jeanne.firth@gmail.com
Grow Dat Youth Farm
www.growdatyouthfarm.org
New Orleans Food Policy
Advisory Committee
www.nolafpac.org