A Deeper Dive into Food Security

It’s the holidays, and I’m sure you’ve already had a variety of requests from charities and non-profits asking you to help families in need this season. For some of us, food insecurity can seem non-existent because it is not our personal everyday experience and is often not visible. For others, it is an experience (even after overcome) that is a part of our everyday thoughts.

Food insecurity is a complex problem that is both difficult to understand and difficult to solve. The underlying causes of food insecurity include things such as poverty, unemployment or underemployment, access to healthy food, etc., all of which are often deeply interconnected.

For over 20 years, the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) has put out an annual report for the state of food security in the U.S. These reports are a great resource for helping begin to understand the magnitude and complexity of food insecurity. The 2017 report is forty-four pages in length and provides a deeper dive into one of our country’s most challenging issues. It may or may not shock you that over 15 million households (11.8%) in the U.S. were classified as food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food for all their members due to a lack of resources. While the number of food insecure households has declined since 2011, this number is above the pre-recession (2007) level of 11.1%; we should not gloss over this fact. Further, 5.8 million households (4.5%) were classified as having very low food security, meaning the food intake of some household members was reduced and normal eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year due to limited resources.

As a bit of a self-admitted data nerd, I love statistics. However, I recognize how quantitative data can remove or mask the human element or experience of a phenomenon. While all of the numbers listed above are powerful and help us understand the magnitude of food insecurity, they can fail to remind us that food insecurity is also a lived experience. In the 2017 report, the USDA ERS conducted a qualitative survey of households classified as having low food security, which represented 5.8 million households nationwide. From their survey, the following experiences were reported:

  • 99% reported having worried that their food would run out before they got money to buy more.
  • 97% reported that the food they bought just did not last and they did not have money to get more.
  • 95% reported that they could not afford to eat balanced meals.
  • 96% reported that an adult had cut the size of meals or skipped meals because there was not enough money for food; 88% reported that this had occurred in 3 or more months.
  • 93% reported that they had eaten less than they felt they should because there was not enough money for food.
  • 68% reported that they had been hungry but did not eat because they could not afford enough food.
  • 48% reported having lost weight because they did not have enough money for food.
  • 30% reported that an adult did not eat for a whole day because there was not enough money for food; 24% reported that this had occurred in 3 or more months.

You might be thinking, what does this mean for our families in Ohio? When looking at the average prevalence of household food insecurity from 2015-2017, Ohio ranks 13th for the highest food insecurity with 13.7% of households classified as food insecure; that’s approximately 640,000 households. To give you some context, New Mexico is ranked number one with 17.9% of their population classified as food insecure and Hawaii is ranked 51st with 7.4% of their population classified as food insecure. In terms of very low food security, Ohio ranks 11th with 6.1% of our population (285,000 households) in the more severe range where meals are often skipped. Again for context, Louisiana ranks number one with 7.1% of their population having very low food security and Hawaii is again ranked 51st. While it may be difficult to admit, Ohio is not faring so well.

A deeper dive into food insecurity can be overwhelming for many. The data can be daunting and the complexity of the issue can leave us feeling helpless. But remember that small acts of kindness can have meaningful community impacts. As someone who gets to see the impact of grassroots level food security work every day in my job, I encourage you to engage in a service project in your community this season to help feed families in need. Whether you donate items, money, or more importantly, your time, you can help join the fight against hunger.

Amanda OsborneWhat will you do to help fight hunger in your community? To learn more about food insecurity contact Amanda Osborne, educator, community development (CD), OSU Extension-Cuyahoga County.


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Feeding the World – One Community at a Time

“Local Foods”… What does this really mean to residents of Ohio? As Ohioans, it seems we use words like these on a daily basis. But, do we really understand the need? Local Foods can aid in feeding a growing global population, projected to be 9 billion by 2050. We must produce more food in the next 50 years than has been produced in the past 10,000 years combined, all while tillable land is becoming less available.

Local Food 2016-04-14In our ever-changing world, we want the freshest product available with the most economic value. Often, the solution is to meet local producers and buy directly from them. This helps the consumer to not only enjoy local food, but also learn of the economic, nutritional, and social benefits of buying local. Freshness is one of the benefits of Local Foods adding to the experience of the personal connection between growers and producers. According to the 2012 USDA Agricultural Census, Ohio ranks among the top ten states for direct sales to consumers represented by a wide variety of food products. Two resources available in Ohio to aid in the challenge of linking the producer and consumer are: Market Maker and Ohio Proud.

Local foods 2016-04-14Many people are searching for ways to improve their quality of life by eating local food. Consumers now wish to become the producer, not only in the produce sector, but in animal agriculture. This enables the consumer to gain an intimate knowledge of the food source in a hands-on environment. From this there has been an up-turn in economic development strategies to market locally produced foods. Interest groups in many communities aim to increase the accessibility to items for both wholesale and retail customers. These groups are sometimes lacking one essential component… research-based information. OSU Extension is in a position to educate these individuals in raising and growing their own food, as well as in harvesting and storing their food products. This is an excellent opportunity for cross-program collaboration within our system.

In Clermont County, we are especially interested in combining efforts to produce a cohesive change. There are many tools available to aid in this effort. So, contact your local Extension office and get involved in the local foods mission. Be a part of feeding the world today.

(Submitted by Trevor Corboy, Program Coordinator, Clermont County & Miami Valley EERA)

Stretching consumers’ purchasing power at farmers’ markets

Produce 2016-01-14How do you double consumer purchasing power at your local farmers’ market? Follow the lead of markets in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. They have helped SNAP recipients with a free dollar-for-dollar match for every dollar spent (up to $10) using an Ohio Direction Card. In Cuyahoga County, the SNAP incentive program is referred to as Produce Perks, and the additional match provided can be redeemed for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Such programs provide a variety of community benefits. In Cleveland, many farmers’ markets are located in food deserts, defined as areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food that are often composed of predominantly lower‐income populations. In these cases, farmers’ markets provide residents with access to fresh, local fruits and vegetables that are often not offered at common shopping destinations, such as corner stores. Incentive programs help SNAP recipients stretch their monthly food budget and promote the consumption of fresh, local fruits and vegetables. In addition to providing community health benefits, incentive programs help support local farmers by providing them with new a customer base and helps to diversify their revenue streams.

To develop an EBT incentive program at your farmers’ market you must first apply for an FNS (Federal Nutrition Services) number through the USDA, which allows the market to accept Ohio Direction cards. After receiving your FNS number, you will be contacted by Market Link to receive free EBT equipment that will be used for swiping Ohio Direction cards at your market. Funds for the incentive match dollars will need to be obtained. Currently, most incentive programs are funded by local private foundations. However, more recently the USDA offers grants under the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive program to support incentive programs. A dedicated market staff member or volunteer will be needed to manage the program and train vendors on item eligibility with tokens, as well as track all SNAP sales for reporting.

Checklist for developing a SNAP Incentive Program:

  • Obtain an FNS number from the USDA
  • Obtain EBT Equipment from USDA/Market Link
  • Secure funding for incentives
  • Develop token system for tracking EBT and incentives
  • Ensure dedicated market staff or volunteer can manage the program
  • Train market vendors about item eligibility with tokens
  • Develop marketing plan for SNAP outreach
  • Track SNAP sales for reporting

To learn more about developing an incentive program at your farmers’ market, contact Amanda Osborne, County Extension Educator, Cuyahoga County & Western Reserve EERA, at osborne.414@osu.edu or 216-429-8200 ext. 212.

Northeast Ohio Food Trade Show Plans are Underway

Cuyahoga County has received much attention in recent years for the work being done to address food insecurity in low-income urban communities. Think of programs like Produce Perks, which provides a financial incentive for SNAP recipients who shop at farmers markets, or the Summer Sprout Community Gardening Program, which provides free support and technical assistance to over 200 community gardens in the City of Cleveland.  Ensuring that all residents in Cuyahoga County have access to fresh, affordable and nutritious food is one of the centerpieces of our work in Northeast Ohio and has been the driving force behind some of our most successful programs to date.

Food Cluster Cover - 2014-09-25The issue of Food Access, however, is just one facet of the ever-evolving conversation around local food in our region. In 2014, OSU Extension, Cuyahoga County partnered with Bush Consulting Group, The City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition to develop a sustainable food cluster roadmap in Cuyahoga County with a core objective to increase regional jobs, revenue and sustainability by supporting local food and beverage businesses. Published last May, the roadmap identifies a number of market opportunities and provides specific strategies to boost regional strength and competitiveness across the food sector, including the establishment of a Northeast Ohio Food Trade Show. This event will connect regional food and beverage producers with potential customers. As OSU Extension’s Cuyahoga County office begins to broaden the scope of its community and economic development work, preliminary planning has begun to develop such an event.

Beginning with an assessment of current strengths and resource needs, OSU Extension has hired Muse Content Group, a local expert firm in market research, to develop a business model canvas that will inform our planning efforts and provide a blueprint as we move forward with this project. Following delivery of the canvas in late August, subsequent collaborative planning and development is slated to begin. Stay tuned!

(Submitted by Nico Boyd, Program Coordinator, Cuyahoga County & Western Reserve EERA)

Be a local food superhero

Many of us are familiar with TED talks, the now ubiquitous storytelling venue that has attracted over a billion viewers to thousands of talks worldwide. In the 1990s, their “ideas worth spreading” mission led to granting independent licenses called TEDx events, often hosted by cities, universities or non-profits. Once the talks are published online, they become tools that can make impacts in our community development work. A TED talk (or any well-done, brief, online YouTube video) can be used to jumpstart a conversation on job creation, our environment, our health, our future or virtually any topic we may be teaching.

TEDxDaytonOn October 17, 2014, I presented a TEDx talk to nearly 1,100 people at the historic Victoria Theatre in downtown Dayton, Ohio. The talk was entitled, “Be a Local Food Superhero.” My original aim was to inspire attendees, their friends and families to get more involved in supporting local farms and economies by purchasing local foods… noting that they could become virtual superheroes by making simple, deliberate choices in their food purchasing habits.

As I began to think about our work in community development, I quickly realized Extension workers can become local food superheroes as well. Aside from personally participating in the purchase and consumption of local goods, we can use our teaching and partnership platforms to encourage diverse programming around local foods, food security, food justice and a myriad of other food-related topics regardless of our individual program area focus.

The local foods idea cuts across all four program areas and spans rural, suburban and urban populations. Whether serving as youth educators, in agriculture, community development or family and consumer sciences, the opportunities are there. Extension workers have immense potential to positively impact local food consumption through their work. As noted in the talk, the social, community, personal health, environmental and economic impacts are not manipulated statistics. The added value comes through a collective impact. And collective impact can change our world.

The talk was published on January 12, 2015 and may be seen online at: u.osu.edu/raison/local-food/.

(Submitted by Brian Raison, Assistant Professor and County Extension Educator & County Extension Director, Miami County/Top of Ohio EERA)

More healthful foods through Cuyahoga County’s “Double Value Produce Perks” program

Accessible and affordable healthful foods are a critical first step in good nutrition. To help make locally produced foods available to underserved communities in Cuyahoga County, a “Double Value Produce Perks” (Produce Perks) initiative was developed by the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition. The coalition, initiated by OSU Extension and Case Western Reserve University, sponsored a program that offered incentive dollars to customers that used an Ohio Direction Card to purchase food.

Produce Perks Tokens

Photo credit: Amy Thompson

Last year, this program involved 18 farmers’ markets and two farm stands throughout Cuyahoga County and it worked like this:

A customer wishing to use their food assistance benefits could swipe their Ohio Direction Card at a central terminal, located at any of the 20 participating locations’ information booths, and ask to withdraw a desired amount. The market or farm stand would then provide tokens for the transaction in addition to Produce Perks that could be spent on fruits and vegetables. The incentive was a dollar-for-dollar match on every dollar spent (up to $10) using an Ohio Direction Card.

Program highlights from 2014 show promise for continued expansion into 2015. For example:

  • The Double Value Produce Perks EBT Incentive program grew to 20 farmers’ markets and farm stands.
  • One hundred eighty women and their families redeemed $3,920 in vouchers, enabling them to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • EBT sales surpassed 2013 totals, reaching over $39,000.
  • Additionally, Produce Perks brought 260 new food assistance customers to farmers’ markets for the first time.
  • A new aspect of Produce Perks, the Produce Prescription program, was expanded to connect mothers and pregnant women to local farmers’ markets.

For more information on this program or to learn more about initiating a local food policy coalition, please contact Nico Boyd or go to cccfoodpolicy.org/.

 

(Submitted by Nico Boyd, Program Coordinator, Cuyahoga County & Western Reserve EERA)

2014 eXtension Food Security Conference

“Can you believe vegetables are growing in the shadow of an urban high-rise apartment building?”

“I will be more deliberate in including community members—particularly those whose voices are often omitted—in the early, developmental phases of my Extension educational outreach and programming.”

Overview:

Food Security Conference 2014 - reducedThese thoughts are from two participants of the USDA AFRI funded Food Security Conference hosted by the eXtension Community, Local & Regional Food Systems Community of Practice (CLRFS eCoP) and held in downtown Cleveland, September 29 – October 1, 2014. The conference included 104 Extension educators, researchers and community partners from Land Grant Universities and local non-profit organizations from 23 states. Since 2012, this group has grown to become the fourth largest eCoP among nearly 80 in eXtension’s nationwide system.

Key conference goals included:

  • positioning food security as a priority in food system research and practice
  • enhancing Extension’s capacity to work on food security and food systems
  • bringing together University and Extension workers with community food system practitioners to address core competencies for professionals engaged in this work

It also sought to align University research priorities with community needs and to train Food Systems Extension professionals of the future. The breakout sessions focused on skill development, aligning research, developing understandings among the local and regional food system community and building the capacity and value proposition of the CLRFS eCoP. The Cleveland location allowed participants to gain experiential knowledge via urban agriculture tours and conversations with the growers and food security practitioners in the region.

The conference keynote plenary session targeted the role racism plays in food security in America. The CLRFS eCoP identified the need to build Extension’s capacity to address food security through new lenses as a critical initiative for the group. Trainers from The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond led attendees through a training session on “Undoing Racism in Our Food Security Work.” Conference participants were challenged to define racism and its implications for society and to consider how their work might unwittingly contribute or further injustice in the food system.

Click here to read the full article, including descriptions of the urban ag tour stops and links to additional coverage.

The conference was made possible by eXtension and a grant from the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

(Submitted by: Brian Raison, Assistant Professor and County Extension Educator, Miami County and Top of Ohio EERA / Co-leader, eXtension Community, Local & Regional Food Systems Community of Practice.)

Cleveland takes a closer look at its food industry cluster

Food Cluster Cover - 2014-09-25What can we do to help regional food businesses become more competitive? In Cleveland, we start by engaging in collaborative applied research.

There has been tremendous growth and interest in local foods in communities across Ohio, and Cleveland has become an epicenter of innovation. Cleveland is now known for its local policies in support of urban agriculture and local purchasing, the high percentage of farmers’ markets in the city that accept SNAP benefits, its dynamic restaurant and culinary scene, and a growing network of hundreds of community gardens and urban farms. With all of this interest and support of local food in Cleveland, community leaders and stakeholders wanted to have a better understanding of the food industry in Cuyahoga County and Northeast Ohio and identify specific ways public and private partners could support new and existing food businesses and job growth.

The City of Cleveland and the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition (FPC), a collaborative initiative coordinated by Extension professionals in Cuyahoga County, decided to look at its food businesses as an industry cluster. According to the Brookings Institution, an industry cluster is ‘a geographic concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers, service providers and associated institutions.’ Local economic development organizations in Northeast Ohio, including The Fund for Our Economic Future and NorTech, have been focusing their work on industry clusters in AgBio, Advanced Energy, Flexible Electronics and Water Technology.

FPC and the City of Cleveland partnered with a local consulting firm and used a combination of financial analysis and guidance from regional experts and industry leaders to identify what the region’s food businesses need to be more competitive. A broad group of stakeholders from the economic development community participated in the process including financial institutions, food service companies, grocery stores, farmers, food entrepreneurs, regulatory agencies, local foundations and food manufacturers. These working groups identified the regional food assets and developed a series of interventions to support the growth of food and beverage companies by replacing imported products with local food and beverage sources, expanding markets for exported products outside the region and improving operational costs and the region’s attractiveness to new businesses through sustainability initiatives.

More details are available in a new report, A Recipe for Success: Developing a Sustainable Foods Business Roadmap for Cuyahoga County which outlines the process, findings, and strategic interventions. This report is now available on the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition website both as an executive summary and a full report.

(Submitted by Morgan Taggart, County Extension Educator, Cuyahoga County & Western Reserve EERA.)

National eXtension Local Foods Team coming to Cleveland this Fall

Food Security

(Photo credit:
eXtension.org post 12/04/13)

Of the 264 members of the eXtension Community, Local and Regional Food Systems CoP (Community of Practice), 22 are OSU Extension colleagues (including some Master Gardeners). Though we’ve not made the official announcement yet, our USDA AFRI Conference grant of $50,000 has just been approved.

The project is entitled: Building Extension Capacity to Address Community Food Security through Food Systems. In brief, we’ll be hosting a food security conference this fall in Cleveland. Their urban farming, community redevelopment and food security efforts are recognized exemplars across the nation. Folks are very excited about visiting here! Click here for details of the project.

(Submitted by Brian Raison, Assistant Professor and County Extension Educator, Miami County & Top of Ohio EERA)