The FSC-GNV met on April 19 2022. The topic of this meeting was Economic Development & Supply Chain Initiatives. Contact information for the attendees below may be provided upon request. Please email foodsystemscoalitionGNV@gmail.com for assistance connecting to FSC-GNV participants. To download and share these meeting notes, access the PDF version HERE.

Check out the About page of our website to learn more about the FSC-GNV. Also, download this one-page outreach flyer to share with others. If you have volunteer opportunities, let us know here.

Partner News andUpdates for April 19 2022

City of Gainesville Updates for April 19 2022

Joint City/County Food Systems Policy Board

• At the meeting on 4/14, the County expressed concern with the Healthy Corner Stores Initiative that had been deemed a priority of the board. After analysis, the County is not sure it would meet the mark for what the County Commissioners are looking for in regards to food systems work.
• The two City Commissioners that sit on the board (Duncan-Walker and newly, Ward) were not present in the meeting at the time of that discussion. Karissa is meeting with Commissioner Ward to get his input as a new board member.

Urban Agriculture Ordinance

• Huge thank you to the FSC members who assisted with the drafting of the urban agriculture ordinance.
• The first reading of the ordinance by the City Commission will be on May 5th.
• The draft version was discussed by the City Commission a month or so ago. The CC asked Staff to edit the language to include hydroponic growing, therefore being more inclusive of innovative growing practices.
• Under the ordinance, almost all parts of City land are approved for agriculture. The exception is if the site exceeds 5 acres.
• If the ordinance passes the first reaching on the 5^th, it will be brought back later in the month for a second reading, likely 5/19. The ordinance will be a law on decision that day, meaning it will go into effect immediately.

Unsolicited Proposal Process

• On 4/14 the City Commission adopted an unsolicited proposal process for a 6-month pilot.
• We now have a process for accepting projects that come to the City in that manner.
• Vendors who indicated an interest in updates around that process have been notified of the decision. Vendors can now follow the steps in the policy to submit projects or proposals.
• When a nonprofit submits a proposal, the fees included in the policy are waived. For-profit entities must pay the fees.

NSF Grant Partnership

• The City is currently working on a proposal with UF researchers from the Transportation and Engineering department for an NSF grant around the implementation of transportation solutions to food access concerns. Hopefully, they will receive an implementation grant to roll out solutions.
• Grace Grows is a partner in this work, as the Community Food Project contains a wealth of information about solutions from community residents.

Grace Grows

• The Community Food Planning Project has been completed in the southeast Gainesville community. The project was completed using community-based participatory action research and an assets-based approach to identifying solutions to food security and food sovereignty in the SE community.
• Based on the findings, GG has put together data and a final presentation. This will be updated soon, as the team is working to analyze the more nuanced data that will inform programming. The deliverables will then be shared out.
• Also from the project, Grace Grows created a Community Engagement Toolkit detailing the process for how they did the work in the Community Food Planning Project. The website has an assets map and presentation available to view, if interested.
• Please reach out to Grace Grows if you would like to chat about it the project or data more.
• GG does not want to own the implementation of the solutions identified through the project. All community members and entities can work toward those together.
• More updates are to come after the deeper data analysis is complete.

GRACE Marketplace

• This is the time of year that GRACE received the least donations.
• Currently, they are short on bagged lunches for people. If anyone knows of any organizations or groups that could help with that, please reach out. These lunches are for folks who are experiencing homelessness and are working so they cannot make mealtimes. Sandwiches, snacks, and drinks are ideal.
• You can view a flyer with more information here.

Alachua County WIC

• The new Farmer’s Market starts April 20 at the Department of Health.
• There will be three growers there tomorrow.
  • Credit and debit are payment options.
  • Nicoya accepts SNAP and Fresh Access Bucks as well.
• Microtransit hours from the City have been extended to get people to the Farmer’s Market.
• Two benefits of the program – Increasing access to fresh fruit and vegetables AND hopefully drawing folks to the services available at ADOH.

UF College of Public Health and Health Professions

• Feel free to reach out to Emma with any opportunities to partner around public health initiatives or volunteer opportunities.
• Emma is going to discuss with the department around hosting a food drive to assist with bagged lunch needs for GRACE.

Fresh Access Bucks

• They are currently finishing up site visits for the year. The central Florida region is complete.
• FAB is done adding new outlets for the year. They typically add 5 new outlets and 3 retailers per year, a milestone that they have almost reached for the year.
• Question – how does FAB work with CSA?
  • It is often on a case-by-case basis.
  • A SNAP-user with pays with SNAP dollars for the first purchase of the month. FAB covers the second half of the month, provided it’s all Florida-grown produce. Does not account for value-added products.
  • It is illegal to charge SNAP customers in advance. Growers can take an order by phone but cannot ask for payment until the person comes for pickup or delivery.
  • Non-SNAP participants can be charged for a whole season in advance.
  • Some farmers ask customers to sign something in good faith, committing to the season.
    • Hopeful that conversations around this will continue with the UF/City partnership project – mobility hub which includes space for a grocery store. Want to ensure FAB is available in that space.

Alachua County Department of Health

• DOH is currently providing in-person education in Hawthorne around SNAP, eating healthy on a budget and choosing MyPlate at the health center to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. That program ends in September.
• The team is attending the Farm to School event this weekend with ACPS at the Farm-to-School site.
• DOH is working to update the Community Health Improvement Plan for Alachua County. One of the items in the plan includes food security – the FSC meetings and minutes will be included in that.
• Feel free to send updates to include in CHIP, if you have them.
• Age-friendly Alachua Program
  • This is not a funded initiative but started a few years ago as part of an AARP and WHO network.
  • Alachua County joined in 2019.
  • This includes programs to help people age in place. Also works to ensure that Alachua County is a friendly community for all ages and abilities.
  • The initiative requires a 5-year action plan which is currently being aligned with the CHIP. DOH is partnering with aging groups and the county to continue to add new activities to the plan.

Neighborhood Revitalization Coalition

• The Neighborhood Revitalization Committee is a coalition of local organizations that have been meeting for years to share information about the work they are doing in East Gainesville. This meeting is a space where coalition members / nonprofit organizations will share information about their work and needs around community service and additional opportunities to provide support. Students and faculty will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about how to get involved in the community. If interested, the organization will also look to “match” students and faculty to organizational needs, based on stated availability, interest, skills, and subject matter expertise.
• Meetings are every other Tuesday 12-1 pm.
• If your organization would like to present or you are interested in volunteering, feel free to join.

Zoom information: Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87367166284?pwd=aW81aFRwc01ETU9weHVnS1VIQ3FEZz09

Meeting ID: 873 6716 6284

Passcode: 497029