POLICY & PLANNING BRIEF November 2010

Strengthening Buff alo’s Food SystemTo Promote Healthy Eati ng Among Children Food sustains us and gives us joy. The food children eat in Buff alo comes from a complex food system. The food system includes the farmers who grow our food as well as the businesses that process, transport, market, and sell food. In additi on to the entrepreneurial private sector, the government too plays a role in our food system through policies, laws, incenti ves, and regulati ons at local, state, and federal levels. Our food system depends on the availability of natural and human-made resources – such as soil, water, land, and labor - and infrastructure to grow, process, and distribute food. In summary, our food system includes a diverse set of processes, stakeholders, regulati ons, and resources that enable the producti on, processing, distributi on, consumpti on, and disposal of food. Buff alo’s food system presents signifi cant barriers that limit children from eati ng well. Healthy Kids, Healthy Communiti es-Buff alo (HKHC-Buff alo) aspires to improve Buff alo’s food system to enable all children to have access to nutriti ous, aff ordable, and culturally appropriate food. This policy brief documents the current state of the food system within the city of Buff alo. Within Buff alo’s food system, parti cular components are worthy of immediate att enti on by our policy makers and the community at large. Children live, study, and play in food environments that limit healthy eati ng. Many residenti al neighborhoods, especially those with a high density of children and low income households, are underserved by food retail establishments that sell healthful foods. Similarly, the food environment in the vicinity of schools is dominated by convenience stores that mostly adverti se and sell high calorie, low nutriti on foods.

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communiti es - Buff alo

Healthy versus unhealthy food opti ons for children in the city of Buff alo 1

Buff alo’s Food SystemFood Producti on

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Buff alo is fortunate to have a signifi cant amount of land available for growing food within and surrounding city limits. Within the city of Buff alo, a sizable number of community gardens and a smaller number of urban farms off er opportuniti es for growing food. Esti mates suggest that there are 16 private and 146 public community gardens in the city. Of the public gardens, 90 are located on land leased from the city and 56 are pending for lease. Urban farms within the city include Wilson Street farm, Massachusett s Avenue Farm and Curbside Croft s farm. Surrounding Buff alo, within Erie County, are a number of farms that grow crops and raise livestock. Erie County is home to 1,215 farms; the average size of a farm in Erie County is 123 acres. Erie County farms are an important part of the local economy. The total market value of products sold from Erie County farms in 2007 was over 117 million dollars, a 27% increase since 2002. Of the total products sold, livestock sales consti tute a majority (64%) of the sales (over 75 million dollars) while crop sales make up for the rest (over 41 million dollars). The average sales per farm in 2007 were 96,322 dollars, an increase of 34% from 2002. Our local farms face considerable challenges. The number of farms and farmland is declining over ti me. Farming conti nues to be an economically challenging profession. For a sizeable proporti on (48%) of Erie County farmers, farming is not their primary profession; for many farmers second jobs are a means to sustain their families economically. Partly due to economic challenges, few younger individuals are entering the profession of farming. The average age of farmers in Erie County is 57 years old. Local farmers also report the limited availability of seasonal labor to be a signifi cant challenge.

Food Processing The city of Buff alo has a rich legacy of food processing dati ng back to its days as a key player in the grain industry in the United States. Buff alo is home to 41 food manufacturing

Food Distributi on Food grown and processed reaches consumers through the private sector as well as the non-profi t sector. The private sector includes wholesalers and retailers, while the non-profi t sector includes emergency food services such as food banks and food pantries. Food wholesalers operati ng within the city of Buff alo is limited to 33 establishments. The sector is important to the local economy with annual sales of over 33.7 million dollars, about 17% of all sales within the wholesale sector of Buff alo’s economy. Food wholesalers in Buff alo employ 919 individuals and have an annual payroll of 29.3 million dollars. Strengthening the distributi on sector such that it reconnects local and regional farmers and local processors with local retailers (and consumers) has the potenti al to further promote economic development, as well as increase availability of healthful produce within the city of Buff alo. The state of the food retail environment directly impacts the consumers in the city of Buff alo. In Buff alo, children and their families can purchase food from 750 food businesses. A majority (69.6%) of these are restaurants followed by convenience stores (11.1%) (see Table 2 and Figure 2). Grocery stores and supermarkets generally provide the healthiest food opti ons compared to the other food desti nati on types. Figure 3 illustrates that most neighborhoods throughout the city have no access to healthy food opti ons. Of parti cular concern are

Calendar Year 2009 Average Monthly Stati sti cs

Agency City Pounds Meals Households People% of Total Pop.

Served*Meals / Pop.

Served149 Buff alo 4,954,478 417,133 14,220 34,762 13.4% 12

Table 1: Distributi on of Food by the Food Bank of Western New York

Source: Food Bank of WNY, Cumulati ve Category Totals* Based on total city populati on esti mates from the 2006-2008 American Community Survey

establishments, about 11% of all manufacturing establishments in the city. These establishments employ 2,192 individuals with an annual payroll of 93.8 million dollars. Local and regional food producers frequently report the limited availability of small-scale food processing services in the city of Buff alo. There is a signifi cant opportunity to promote food-based economic development in the city by promoti ng additi onal food processing businesses in the city - especially small scale food processing - and link it to local and regional food producers.

POLICY & PLANNING BRIEF November 2010

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Buff alonians can purchase food from 750 food businesses. A majority of these are restaurants and convenience stores.

The total market value of products sold from Erie County farms in 2007 was over $117 million, a 27% increase since 2002.

Food Desti nati on

% of Total

Restaurant 69.6%Convenience 11.1%Bakery 5.9%Grocery 5.9%Meat and Fish 2.8%Candy and Nut 1.6%Supermarket 1.2%Fruit and Veg. 0.7%Natural 0.7%Specialty 0.5%Dairy 0.0%

Table 2: Buff alo’s Food Desti nati ons

Data Source: Reference USA and phone/site visit verifi cati on

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the cross-hatched red and orange neighborhoods. These neighborhoods do not have access to healthy food opti ons within walking distance and the majority of neighborhood households do not have access to a vehicle to obtain healthy food from distant supermarkets and grocery stores. In an emergency, children and their families in the city of Buff alo can rely on The Food Bank of Western New York to meet their food-related needs. The Food Bank of WNY directly distributes food to other emergency food organizati ons and agencies (such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters). During the calendar year of 2009, the Food Bank of WNY distributed nearly 5,000,000 pounds of food to the 149 agencies located within the city of Buff alo (See Table 1). On average, these agencies served 417,133 meals to 14,220 households (or 34,762 people) per month. Of the nearly 35,000 people served in the city of Buff alo, 38% were under the age of 18.

Food Disposal

Figure 2: Food Desti nati ons by Type

Data Source: NYS GIS Clearinghouse and Reference USA

Figure 3: Access to Food Desti nati ons within a Quarter Mile Walking Distance

Note: S = Supermarket; G = Grocery Store; Others = Convenience Store, Meat & Fish, Fruit & Veg., Candy & Nut, Bakery, Natural, Specialty

POLICY & PLANNING BRIEF November 2010

About 27% of the nati on’s edible food (or 300 pounds of food per person) is thrown out annually. Two-thirds of these losses are fresh fruits and vegetables, fl uid milk, grain products, and sweeteners. Food waste is the single largest contributor to the nati on’s solid municipal waste (smw) stream. Approximately 12.5% of the nati onal smw stream is food waste. The city of Buff alo produces 139,900 tons of smw yearly suggesti ng 17,488 tons is food waste. This food waste could potenti ally be diverted from the landfi ll through food recovery, recycling, and composti ng; feeding the hungry and protecti ng the environment.

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About 12.5% of the nati onal solid municipal waste stream is food waste. Buff alonians throw out 17,488 tons of food annualy.

Food Environments: Surrounding Buff alo Schools

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POLICY & PLANNING BRIEF November 2010

Children can also obtain food from retail stores located in the vicinity of their schools. The type of food desti nati ons available in the schools’ vicinity can enable or constrain children’s choices to purchase healthful or unhealthful snacks. In Buff alo, the food environment surrounding schools is a cause for concern. A majority of Buff alo’s 105 public and private schools (63.8%), which serve 30,031 students, are not within close proximity to any retail food stores. Of the remaining schools, most are located within a quarter mile of convenience stores. Specifi cally, 25 schools serving 10,220 students (23.53%) have access to convenience stores that likely carry unhealthful food opti ons. Figure 4 illustrates the food environment surrounding schools in Buff alo.

Figure 4: Buff alo Schools’ Food Environments

Data Source: NYS GIS Clearinghouse, Reference USA, and Great Schools

Figure 5: Schools’ and Students’ Access to Food Desti nati ons by Store Type

Figure 6: Students Visiti ng a Convenience Store Aft er School

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By comparison, only three in the city are located within a quarter mile (or, 5-minute walking distance) of supermarkets. The 768 students in these schools, comprising a mere 1.77% of the city’s total student populati on, are in close proximity to healthful food opti ons. Additi onally, 15 schools in the city are located within a quarter mile of grocery stores that may also off er healthful food opti ons. These schools serve 5,845 students, or 13.46% of the city’s total student populati on. In summary, only 17 out of 105 schools, collecti vely serving 6,485 students, or 14.93% of the city’s student populati on, are within close proximity to healthful food desti nati ons.

63.8% of Buff alo schools are not within a quarter mile of any food desti nati ons.

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POLICY & PLANNING BRIEF November 2010

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communiti es - Buff alo

A Tale of Two Neighborhoods:Congress and Riverside The failings of the local food system are felt acutely by children living in the city of Buff alo. To document the realiti es on the ground, four youth leaders from the HKHC-Buff alo partnership audited the food environment in two selected neighborhoods in the city of Buff alo. The fi rst neighborhood (Congress) has a high density of children (9.44 children per acre) and a high percentage of children living below the poverty level (100%). The second neighborhood (Riverside) has a lower percentage of children living below the poverty level (13.87%) even though the density of children (8.79 children per acre) living in this neighborhood is similar to that of Congress.

A dismal food environment exists in both neighborhoods. If children and their families in the Congress neighborhood were to obtain food within their neighborhood, they would be unable to fi nd a supermarket or grocery store within walking distance of their homes. Instead, the neighborhood has two convenience stores and one restaurant. Convenience stores prominently adverti se candy, pop, beer, lott o, and ATMs, with no adverti sement for healthful food or drinks. The quality of products within the convenience stores off ers few opportuniti es for healthy eati ng for children in the Congress neighborhood. Food stores in the neighborhood received a low nutriti on rati ng of 12 and 13 (on a scale of 0 to 57). Low nutriti on, high calorie foods such as pop, candy, chips, and ice cream were prominently displayed at the entrance of the stores.

Figure 8: Case Study Neighborhoods

Data Source: NYS GIS Clearinghouse

Figure 7: Food selecti on within neighborhood stores

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On the positi ve side, youth leaders reported two community gardens (one of which is private) in the Congress neighborhood that may off er opportuniti es for residents to grow and consume healthful foods. The youth leaders also appreciated the many private fl ower gardens in the neighborhood but were concerned about the vacant lots and uneven sidewalks. They suggested a greater variety of stores, demolishing vacant buildings, and providing public garbage cans. In contrast to the Congress neighborhood, the Riverside neighborhood off ers more food opti ons to children and their families. The neighborhood is home to one supermarket, fi ve convenience stores, one food pantry, and two restaurants. Like the convenience stores in the lower-income Congress neighborhood, the convenience stores in Riverside scored low on food quality as well (9, 11, and 13 respecti vely). Processed foods such as candy, chips, and Litt le Debbie cakes were prominently displayed at the entrance of the convenience stores. However, unlike the Congress neighborhood, children and families within the Riverside neighborhood have access to a supermarket within walking distance. The supermarket off ers food that is of bett er quality than convenience stores in Riverside (or, Congress). Youth leaders gave the supermarket a relati vely higher quality score of 22. Unlike the convenience stores that display pop, beer, subs, and tobacco, the supermarket prominently displayed ramen noodles and cereal.

The youth reported that convenience stores prominently adverti se candy, pop, beer, lott o, and ATMs, with no adverti sements for healthful foods or drinks.

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Conclusion

1. Vegetable photograph provided by Growing Green Youth. Photograph taken on August 4, 2010.; Candy photograph provided by Kailee Neuner. Photograph taken on October 8, 2010.2. Grassroots Gardens of Buff alo. Esti mates as of September 7, 2010.3. USDA. 2007 Census of Agriculture Report.4. USDA. 2002 Census of Agriculture Report; 2007 Census of Agriculture Report.5. USDA. 2007 Census of Agriculture Report.6. US Census Bureau. 2007 Economic Census.7. US Census Bureau. 2007 Economic Census.8. US Census Bureau. 2006-2008 American Community Survey Three-Year Populati on Esti mates. 9. Reference USA. Retrieved March 2010 from htt p://www.referenceusa.com; New York State GIS Clearinghouse. Retrieved June 2010 from htt p://www.nysgis.state.ny.us. 10. Food Bank of Western New York. Buff alo Food Agencies. Retrieved August 2010.11. Food Bank of Western New York. Food Bank Cumulati ve Total. Retrieved July 2010.12. Paul Sullivan, city’s Director of Refuse and Recycling; Waste Management; Kantor, L. S. et. al. (1997). “Food loss: Esti mati ng and addressing America’s food losses.” ; USEPA and USDA. (1999). “Waste not, want not: Feeding the hungry and reducing solid wastethrough food recovery.”13. Compost photograph provided by Buff alo ReUse. Photograph taken by Caesandra Seawell on July 27, 2008.; All other photographs provided by Kailee Neuner. Photographs taken on October 8, 2010.14. Reference USA. Retrieved March 2010 from htt p://www.referenceusa.com.; Great Schools. Retrieved September 2010 from htt p://www.greatschools.org.; Buff alo Public Schools. Retrieved August 2010 from htt p://www.buff aloschools.org.15. Photograph provided by Growing Green Youth. Photograph taken on October 21, 2010.16. The four youth leaders are: Natasha Frazier, Ashley McGuffi n, Iliana Rodriguez, and Isis Rodriguez. The youth leaders are graduates of the Growing Green program, an urban agricultural training program that provides leadership skills and meaningful employment to youth in Buff alo. The youth leaders were assisted by Zoe Hollomon and Sean Mulligan of the Massachusett s Avenue Project.17. The Congress neighborhood is defi ned as the area accessible within a fi ve minute walking radius from the center of the corresponding block group (Census Tract 60, Block Group 4) shown in Figure 8.18. Surveys were conducted at both of the convenience stores to determine residents’ access to healthy food. The survey focused on the availability of multi ple common healthy food items and their relati ve price compared to unhealthy alternati ves. The stores were scored based on a zero (no healthy food available) to a 57 (healthy food available and reasonably priced) range.19. The Riverside neighborhood is defi ned as the area accessible within a fi ve minute walking radius from the center of the corresponding block group (Census Tract 58, Block Group 5) shown in Figure 8.20. Photograph provided by Kailee Neuner. Photograph taken on October 15, 2010.

POLICY & PLANNING BRIEF November 2010

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communiti es - Buff alo

Notes

The food system in Buff alo limits people’s access to aff ordable and nutriti ous food. The city is located within a region that has a producti ve, but declining number of farms. Within the city it is not easy to obtain aff ordable, healthful produce within the city, especially in some neighborhoods on the East and West sides. The food environment that children are exposed to around their homes and schools is dominated by convenience stores and restaurants. There is a considerable opportunity to improve the city’s food system through innovati ve policy and planning. Three potenti al policy strategies that can contribute to improving the food environment in the city of Buff alo are: a) establishment of healthy corner stores in underserved areas of the city, b) facilitati ng a ti ghter connecti on between local and regional farmers and area food retailers, and c) removing zoning, regulatory, and land use barriers that limit producti on, processing, and retail of healthful foods within the city of Buff alo. Collecti vely, these policy strategies have the potenti al to improve access to healthful foods as well as promote economic development by strengthening the food business sector within the city of Buff alo. Future policy briefs will document how these and other policy strategies may be uti lized in the city of Buff alo.

For more informati on contact: Healthy Kids, Healthy Communiti es AssessmentKailee Neuner, Research Coordinator Department of Urban and Regional Planning School of Architecture and Planning University at Buff alo

108 D Hayes Hall, 3435 Main Street Buff alo, New York 14214 kmneuner@buff alo.edu 716-829-5234

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or any of the following partners:

*Buff alo City School District*Buff alo Niagara Medical Campus*City of Buff alo Offi ce of Strategic Planning*Green Opti ons Buff alo*Massachusett s Avenue Project*Wellness Insti tute