EVV Area Food Council meeting notes 8.1.2019

Present: Blythe Battram, Urban Seeds; David Brenner, Vanderburgh Farm Bureau; Casey Williams, Purdue Extension; Andrew Smith, Purdue Extension; Arlinda Payne, EVV Chapter Black Nurses Association, Memorial Baptist Church; Helen Azarian, EVV Public Library; Lacy Wilson, Purdue Extension; Bill Hemminger, UE garden master; Robin Mallery, Urban Seeds; Ashley Tenbarge, St. Vincent; Lisa Myer, St. Vincent

Discussion:

  1. Market on Main
    1. Social connection–benefit, draw to venue
    2. SNAP utilization less this year at new location than last year
      1. Different clientele at MoM?
      2. Suggestion to share market info to TriState Food Bank to connect with backpack program students (Patchwork and Dream Center)
      3. Outreach has been made to local Family Services office to share fliers for SNAP at the markets with clients
      4. Suggestion to attach a Power of Produce voucher to the backpack flier
  1. Community Bulk Food Buying Club — Casey
    1. Initiated from Promise Zone’s access  healthy food workgroup
    2. Modeled after Top Box, Chicago
    3. Funds to Urban Seeds per Welborn’s HEAL grant
    4. Average ~ 40% lower cost per shopping trip
    5. Boxes of all/any foods
    6. Hire Coordinator – 12 hours per week @ $15 per hour, up to 20 hours in year 2
    7. Deaconess purchasing power for food procurement
    8. TSFB p/u and deliver to receiving sites
    9. Referring sites/agencies
      1. Work with families who are motivated
      2. Food Bank and pantries do not/cannot engage in financial transaction
    10. Casey reviewed the rough process, which is being finalized
    11. Grow into a membership program for new families in 2ndyear
    12. Local farmers will be brought in as able
  1. Community/Incubator Kitchen, indoor grow
    1. PZ annual / federal convene meeting in April to review best practices presented the idea
    2. Farm on Ogden as example
      1. Incubator farm and incubator kitchen
      2. Shared kitchen to mitigate food waste
    3. TSFB became available as they are moving to a new site
      1. Fridge/freezer
      2. Indoor grow in additional warehouse space
    4. Shared kitchen
      1. Food rescue
      2. Question: Who pays for heating/other costs
        1. Grants are plentiful from HUD, USDA
        2. Passive income from kitchen space rental — home producers, chefs, caterers; and from leased space for indoor farming
    5. Big questions:
      1. How do we distribute food effectively? Capacity is only one piece of the opportunity – a bigger issue is HOW do we engage consumers to actually buy/enjoy food that is grown or sold affordably?
      2. Is convenience food the ONLY way to go? How do we invite families in to the paradigm of cooking from scratch – low cost fresh food and SNAP frozen food?
    6. Many details to be worked out with many partners
  1. PZ flow chart by Julie McCullough, PhD
    1. Detailed flow chart mapped by Julie to capture food system opportunities (attached below)
    2. Solicitation of volunteers for any or all of these opportunities, many of which were talked about today
  1. Open Agenda
    1. Trauma Informed Nutrition Care & Education workshop offered in September
      1. Included in HEAL grant per Welborn to bring TINC&E to Evansville
      2. ~30 participants — educators, agency staff, Food Bank, pantry volunteers
      3. Links: https://www.leahspantry.org/leahs-pantry-team/qa-with-monica-bhagwan-about-our-trauma-informed-work/ and https://www.leahspantry.org/what-we-offer/resilience-building-nutrition-education/
    2. Memorial Baptist Health Fair this Saturday August 3rd, 10 – 2, – 100 participants, 25 vendors
      1. Funded by UpGrade grant
      2. Focus on healthy eating
      3. Screenings will be offered
    3. International Food Day event, hosted by Urban Seeds, October 16th 3:30 – 5 PM
    4. Next EAFC meeting October 23rd

Julie’s flow chart:

 

 

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