At our spring meeting on May 10^th at the Arlington Central Library, we had a lively discussion about changes in local food delivery systems. We explored food hubs and regional trends, and discussed how we get nutritious food to all. 

An important part of the Wallace Center’s mission is supporting food hubs. What is a food hub? The USDA definition is “a centrally located facility with a business management structure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and/or marketing of locally/regionally produced food products.” The USDA has compiled a registry of food hubs that currently numbers 220. According to Ellie, there are closer to 400 operating food hubs nationally with about 22 in the DC area.

Michigan State did a 2017 survey of food hubs with 119 hubs responding. There are fewer food hubs being added each year, but the ones that do exist are more profitable, viable and are showing more longevity than previously. 42% are nonprofit and 37% are for profit. To learn more from the 2017 survey and to find further food hub resources, check out Wallace Center’s Food Hub Portal: http://ngfn.org/resources/food-hubs/food-hubs

The discussion moved to food hubs in the DC region with an introduction of the panel:

Dalila Boclin, Food Access Director, Community Foodworks. Community Foodworks is a nonprofit using the “convening power of farmers markets” to “help farmers get the most bang for their buck.” Community Food Works is using 3.5 of their 14 farmers markets as pop-up food hubs where bulk, wholesale orders can be picked up, generally by small concerns that cannot use a larger distributor, such as faith-based groups and daycare centers. Community Foodworks serves as the middleman.

Chris Guerre, Owner, Maple Avenue Market. Chris and his wife Sarah own a farm, located in the Shenandoah, and brick and mortar market in Vienna. They grow and sell year round and have had a 10-year, small-scale partnership selling produce to Arlington County Schools.

Topics covered:

Pricing—

Dalila: We are grant-funded and nonprofit, so we do not raise prices.

Katy: Depends on the crop. If everyone has curly kale, it goes for market price with little markup. If a farm has a known brand, such as Little Wild Things City Farm, they can ask higher prices. Also depends on the customer—larger institutions and volumes require a smaller markup.

Chris: Pricing is tricky, especially because we buy from other farmers. We have had a CSA for 10 years that includes all products in our store and operates as a discount: $550 gets you $650 worth of products from June through October. Many farmers don’t believe that CSAs should be discounted.

Is there something about this region that allows an alternative approach to food hubs to work?

Dalila: A dense urban area is a plus when you can make 30 stops within 50 miles. CFW places a value on serving disadvantaged customers first. CFW currently serves 45 daycare centers at about $15 a drop.

Katy: Coastal Sunbelt serves many restaurants and other institutions that are hard to convince to pay more for local. But that is a Coastal goal, to get mainstream food institutions to go local.

Chris: In this area, there is no shortage of markets for local items.

Affluent people use farmers markets—do others?

Katy: Coastal Sunbelt gives produce to food banks and does a lot to encourage people trying to get into farming. It also works with underserved school populations. It tried to work with Baltimore City, but the schools had no way to process the produce.

Chris: Food access has been an issue for them since 2008. They work with Carlin Springs Elementary School, which has the highest number of free and reduced lunch students; went there exclusively for one year. He also wants the food in their store to be affordable to families.

How can we increase the biodiversity of products grown? How can we increase the interaction between customer and farmer?

Katy: We are trying to bring farmers and restaurants together. If they meet, they develop a relationship and restaurants are willing to try new things. We have to start small. Biodiversity is one of the beauties of local food.

What about waste? Is there a lot?

Chris: We grow on about 2 acres. There is definitely waste. Not just what doesn’t sell but what is not saleable. AFAC is great at getting leftovers from the markets.

Katy: Waste is a challenge. Bumper crops are especially hard. We need ample notice to take on more. Processing is one avenue, but the labor adds to the cost.

Delila: A lot of waste occurs on the farm itself. “Local frozen” could add capacity to food hubs.

How can consumers support their work:

• Buy local.
• Join a CSA.
• When you think local is too expensive, think about what went into it, the farmer’s costs.
• Ask in the mainstream for local. Push them to want to add that value.
• Be collaborative, not “all or nothing” local.
• Grow a garden.
• Work with kids.
• Start a nonprofit.

For updates on the Potting Kit Giveaway, go to our Facebook event page.

In addition to promoting gardening in small spaces, Rooftop Roots built raised beds on Marymount University's campus, which will be maintained by Marymount's Food For Thought campus group. This garden is a Plot Against Hunger plot and the produce will go to AFAC families in need.

The Marymount Farmers Market, a local producer-only market, opens for the season on May 26th. Each of the vendors grows, bakes, roasts, cooks, or prepares all of their products within 125 miles of Arlington County.  

When: Saturdays 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, May 26^th through Thanksgiving

Where: Marymount University surface parking lot, near the intersection of Glebe Rd. and Old Dominion Dr.

Follow Marymount Farmers Market on Facebook.

The Arlington Food Assistance Center’s “Plot Against Hunger” program will host a Spring Garden Kickoff on Saturday, February 10^th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The event will take place at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207, home of AFAC’s largest Plot Against Hunger garden.

The Kickoff will feature:

·         Information about how Plot Against Hunger gardens provide fresh produce for AFAC clients and how to start one yourself

·         Short presentations on techniques for starting a garden, irrigation/mulching, pest control, and safe body mechanics for gardeners

·         Displays on compost bins, container and window sill gardening, cold frames, growing mushrooms, and more

·         Hands-on tables to practice basic gardening skills

·         Exhibit tables for Northern Virginia Extension Service, 4-H in the Schools, Master Gardeners, and other local organizations

Free vegetables and herb seeds, seed pots and trays, coffee grounds and other compost, and containers for packaging produce donations will be available to AFAC gardeners.

Light refreshments will be served. 

All are welcome.  RSVP to https://afac.org/spring-garden-kickoff

Flyer attached.

Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture presents

CLIMATE CHANGE, AGRICULTURE & OUR FOOD

What will change? How can we adapt?

Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 7:00-8:30pm

Arlington Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington

(Near Virginia Square/GMU, Ballston/MU Metro Stations)

Networking & Display Tables at 6:30 pm.

New FOUA Board Members will be elected at this meeting.

Free and open to the public.

Check our Facebook event page for updates

Panel

Moderator: Tod Wickersham, President, Beneficial Results LLC

Ø Changing Climate & Food Plants – Kirsten Conrad, Cooperative Extension Agent DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Ø Changing Climate & Insect Populations – Don Weber, USDA Research Entomologist DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Ø Adaptive Growing Techniques for our Gardens and Agriculture in General – Tod Wickersham DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Q & A and Group Discussion

Our Mission: Facilitating community collaboration to promote sustainable food systems for Arlington. Sponsored by Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation.

What Healthy Soils Mean to You – And Beyond

Saturday, September 16, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Arlington Central Library

Panelists:

• Betsy Nicholas, Executive Director, Waterkeepers Chesapeake & Maryland Fair Farms Campaign (fairfarmsnow.org)
• Nina DeRosa, Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (mgnv.org)
• Nicole Broder, Urban Farm Fellow, Tricycle Gardens, Richmond, VA (TricycleUrbanAg.org

www.ArlingtonUrbanAg.org

Facilitating community collaboration to promote sustainable food systems for Arlington - Sponsored by Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation

July 29, Saturday - Help at Marymount Farmers Market to staff a FOUA table and the Market’s table. Get an insider’s view of running a market and promote FOUA. Time slots are 8 – 10 am, 9 – 11 am or 11 am – 1 pm. Contact Audrey Morris at agmorris1@yahoo.com. The market runs Saturdays 9am - 1pm May 27 through Nov. 18.

August 18 – 20 – Arlington County Fair. Help staff a table promoting FOUA and Arlington County urban agriculture activities, for a 2-hour time slot on Friday or Saturday, August 18 - 19. Contact Audrey Morris at agmorris1@yahoo.com.

Do you have an Urban Agriculture issue or program to present that is innovative, reaches new audiences, is resourceful, or uses small budgets to achieve a big impact? Submit a proposal for either a seven-minute presentation in a 7 x 7-minute 'popcorn' style forum, or to facilitate a table at a workshop.

Submit a proposal with this form => https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfc0rIkN9JABEzlXCa5tTPbna90iK57hpeeAUPXn_zN1JNCoA/viewform?c=0&w=1

More info attached to this blog.

Summit website: https://vafb.swoogo.com/urbanag2017/36853