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February 18, 2021Flow of Food, From Farm to Plate: The Greater Capital Region Food System Assessment Released
Capital Roots released a multi-year research report that provides guidance for the Greater Capital Region to increase support for local producers and consumers lacking food security on February 17, 2021.
The Greater Capital Region Food System Assessment examines the 11-county regional food system and focuses on the local food system sectors of consumption, distribution, processing, and production.
A few key findings:
• Healthy food access can be increased by supporting healthy food distribution to existing retail small food outlets in low-income, low-supermarket access communities in the majority of the Capital District.
• Investing in Processor Supported Agriculture will increase the amount of food purchased from local farms by the region’s processing businesses, which, in addition to commercial companies, include small food vendors, caterers and restaurants.
• Many farmers in our region are setup for their primary markets to be direct-to-consumer and many find it challenging to effectively enter the wholesale market business. At the same time, wholesale food buyers are setup to buy from large-scale national and international producers and struggle to source local food. In order to grow the local food economy, both sides must re-adapt to doing business together.
• Processors in our region would benefit from small business supports, like incubator spaces, technical training and stronger connection to local food distribution.
“This Assessment is long overdue for our Region. It is a commitment to the local food movement as it provides data-driven information and solutions that support low-income consumers, broadens farmers’ regional distribution network and builds economic resilience.” said Amy Klein, CEO at Capital Roots. “It addresses opportunities to increase food security and healthy food access. It identifies opportunities to promote economic development within the local food processing industry to support regional farmers and create jobs for underemployed residents of our region.”
This comprehensive food system assessment consists of two parts: a community food security assessment based on four counties of consumption (Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady) and a local food economy assessment based on the 11-county regional foodshed (Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, Washington). The assessment will help the region understand the capacity for locally produced food to fill gaps in underserved urban and rural markets, including distribution infrastructure needs and local food processing opportunities.
The project’s Steering Committee consists of a vast network of partner agencies, farms, businesses, educational institutions, and individuals representing all food system sectors. The Committee guided the assessment process from 2016 to 2020 with Capital Roots serving as the lead organization. NYS Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “The pandemic has brought much uncertainty for all of us, but it has also brought a renewed appreciation for agriculture. Throughout this public health crisis, our industry has shown great resilience and innovation and programs like Nourish NY have been a lifeline for our farmers and our communities. We now have an opportunity to take a look at the entire food system in New York State, identify any gaps in the supply chain, and evaluate how we can ensure a strong local food system for the future and increase access to food for New Yorkers facing food insecurity. While we are doing this statewide in coordination with our Council on Hunger and Food Policy, the Capital Roots’ Food System Assessment provides valuable data and focused direction to take these steps in the Capital Region.”
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Mike Hein said, “Our efforts to address food insecurity are indelibly linked with identifying and understanding the nutrition needs of low-income New Yorkers. Based on a tremendous community outreach, the Greater Capital Region Food System Assessment provides phenomenal insight into the equity and economic resilience of our regional food systems. With this data-driven assessment, we can better recognize those approaches that are most effective at reducing food insecurity and improving nutrition among low-income households.”
The Greater Capital Region Food System Assessment was made available on Capital Roots website after its official release on February 17, 2021, featuring Richard Ball, Commissioner, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets; and Barbara Guinn, Deputy Commissioner of New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
