DigIn! Conference March 8 2014 Erin White

AHA DigIn! Conference, March 8, 2014

Urban Food Clusters and a Proposed Food Corridor for Raleigh


CLUSTERS CORRIDORS

http://ecosistemaurbano.com/portfolio/ecological-reconfiguration-of-an-urban-center/



global issues:


ASPO USA http://peak-oil.org/peak-oil-reference/peak-oil-data/

global issues:


global issues:


“the loss of 2,700 farms (since 2007) is troubling at a time when worldwide demand for food continues to grow. We also know that North Carolina is gaining about 100,000 people a year, which will only increase the pressure on farmland.”Steve Troxler, quoted on NC Dept of Ag and Consumer Services webpagehttp://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/release/2014/2-14ag-census.htm

regional/national issues:


http://www.agreenerlifeagreenerworld.net/2013/09/editorial-how-to-stop-food-waste.html

40% of US food



1 in 6 Americans faces hungerFeeding Americahttp://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/child-hunger-facts.aspx




Obesityhttp://www.maxmasnick.com/2011/11/15/obesity_by_county/


regional/national issues:Obesity costs North Carolina $17.6 Billion annually.

In 2010 North Carolina ranked 10th most obese state, and 5th worst in childhood obesity.- Eat Smart Move More NC


local issues:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WalMart_Supercenter_Albany.jpg


Food deserts in Raleigh

local issues:

http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas.aspx#.UoKW6hayQwM


http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2013/11/why-it-so-incredibly-difficult-fight-urban-inequality/7519/

“incredible wealth and advantage thrive alongside increasingly intractable pockets of concentrated disadvantage”

local issues:


local issues:


Local/urban food brings solutions




from “Cities, Poverty, and Food: Multi-Stakeholder Policy and Planning in Urban Agriculture”,Marianne Dubbeling et al.





http://www.cityfarmer.info


http://www.momzoolife.com/category/the-homestead/harvest/





Home gardens

Community gardensFarm training

Municipal compost

Community composting

Co-op groceries

Farmers marketsFarmstands

Local aggregatorsUrban farms

Vertical systems

Cottage industry

Food incubatorsFestivals

City Food markets

Farm to table

Food Banks

Farm to School



http://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=3541


FOOD BUSINESS INCUBATOROFFICE SPACEJOB TRAININGURBAN FARMINGPRODUCTION KITCHENTEACHING GARDENFARM STAND http://www.crossstpartners.com/Baltimore_Food_Collaborative_Campus.html


Clusters work because related organizations and institutions gain mutual advantage through proximity and interconnection.



Harlem Children’s Zonehttp://urbanschoolfoundation.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/entrepreneur-in-focus-geoffrey-canada/


5 points for anURBAN FOOD INNOVATION CORRIDOR


Point 1: focused area

A focused area, small enough to work and big enough to inspire, that can expand as needed.



Location depends on reading the city through multiple disciplines: appropriate choice of location is essential




reading your place


reading your place


reading your place


reading your place


“we have been able to grow the worker pool by attracting a good deal of the graduates from the local colleges with a great quality of life at an affordable price. In turn, it’s attracted companies in search of talent.” -Harvey Schmitt, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce


2010: 403,892 population


2030: 800,000 population


“Raleigh must figure out where to put 120,000 dwelling units and 170,000 jobs in the next 20 years.”http://raleighpublicrecord.org/news/2013/02/11/raleigh-planners-look-to-roi-for-future-growth/


“urban farming and local food movements are increasing in popularity and profitability as the eco-conscious Millennials and the health-conscious boomers increasingly demand to know what’s in their food and where it comes from” -Nate Abrams, www.policymic.com


http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2013/11/why-it-so-incredibly-difficult-fight-urban-inequality/7519/

“incredible wealth and advantage thrive alongside increasingly intractable pockets of concentrated disadvantage”

local issues:


“when any of our systems are broken, the pain is usually felt first – and worst – in those communities that historically have been excluded from opportunity and access.” -Hesterman. Fair Food


http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas.aspx#.UoKW6hayQwM

Food deserts in Raleigh


Point 1: focused areaPoint 2: existing assets

If we build off of existing food assets, markets, organizations, and needs, we can go further with less






Point 1: focused areaPoint 2: existing assetsPoint 3: food projects are tools

Local and urban food gives us a toolbox with multiple benefits, that can link diverse neighborhoods using food system opportunities.




from “Cities, Poverty, and Food: Multi-Stakeholder Policy and Planning in Urban Agriculture”,Marianne Dubbeling et al.



Home gardens

Community gardensFarm training

Municipal compost

Community composting

Co-op groceries

Farmers marketsFarmstands

Local aggregatorsUrban farms

Vertical systems

Cottage industry

Food incubatorsFestivals

City Food markets

Farm to table


What might happen on the Corridor?Fresh food distributionHealthy corner storesHome garden + community garden programsUrban farmsCommunity kitchensComposting centersEvents and ArtWalking trails, signs, mileageCatalytic investments: hubs, incubators, schoolsFarm to restaurant, farm to schoolFarmers markets (more)Branded district + agri-tourismLots more . . .

What tangible benefits might result?Food accessFood jobsGarden opportunitiesPhysical activity and obesity preventionCrime reductionCivic participationSolid waste reductionStormwater managementVacant lot maintenance savingsActive public spaceGreenhouse gas reductionsSense of placeCommunity social capitalHigher home ownershipIncreased property valueStronger local economy


Point 1: focused areaPoint 2: existing assetsPoint 3: food projects are toolsPoint 4: think clusters

Clustering food projects together provides mutual benefit through proximity, and shared marketing and branding opportunities


http://www.local8now.com/news/headlines/Rogero-vows-to-press-ahead-with-Urban-Food-Corridor-198483091.html


http://www.intervale.org/what-we-do/mission-vision/


http://eventful.com/burlington/venues/intervale-center-/V0-001-001509410-9 http://www.intervale.org/free-public-tours-at-the-intervale-center/


Point 1: focused areaPoint 2: existing assetsPoint 3: food projects are toolsPoint 4: clustersPoint 5: let communities fill the vision

The corridor is a framework - imagine an open scaffolding – where projects, organizations, and communties define their own patterns of flexibility and self-expression

















http://www.foodtechconnect.com/2011/07/14/usda-launches-online-food-hub-resource/


http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2010/food-justice-at-earthworks-urban-farm/


What’s a Food Corridor Process?


Stakeholderoutreach

Partnerships + capacity building

Local actions






thank you

Documents

DigIn! Conference March 8 2014 Erin White