eNEWS
November 2009 > Gainesville residents encouraged to complete survey, participate in next steps
Florida Organic Growers (FOG) encourages Gainesville residents to complete a Community Food Assessment Survey so their input can be included in the next steps of the Community Food Planning Project FOG has been working on since May. In addition to the survey, FOG hosted two “Your Community, Your Food” meetings in Sept. to gather input from the public. The events were attended by 68 diverse stakeholders including local food growers/producers, non-profits, the University of Florida, Santa Fe College, dietetic/nutrition providers, faith-based organizations, local vendors and businesses, the Board of County Commissioners, food assistance providers, Alachua County Poverty Reduction Program and many concerned citizens. The overarching goal for the planning project and committees is to ensure that future efforts increase food security for low-income Gainesville residents.
FOG staff is in the process of narrowing down what the community perceives to be the major barriers in increasing access to food by low-income Gainesville residents using input gathered from the surveys and recent meetings, the public discussion FOG hosted March 23, and recommendations from the Alachua County Energy Conservation Strategies Commission (ECSC) and Alachua County Hunger Abatement Plan. Four planning committees will begin meeting mid-November to focus on these issues, which thus far include increasing community/urban gardening and local farming initiatives, increasing educational opportunities and improving methods of getting food from local farms to local institutions. Policies limiting Gainesville residents' abilities to produce and consume local foods will also be addressed.
Planning committees will meet three or four times in fall 2009 and spring 2010 to create goals, objectives and a road map that begin guiding Gainesville toward a sustainable local food system. Those who have expressed interest in this planning process will soon receive an invitation to participate in this next step.
The project is supported by a one-year USDA Community Food Planning Grant FOG received in May 2009 to support the process of identifying our community’s needs for a more sustainable food system.
For more information about FOG's Community Food Planning Project call 352.377.6345, email fog@foginfo.org or visit www.foginfo.org/usdacommfood.
RESOURCES
FOG Community Food Planning Project
FOG Community Food Survey