1. Appalachia Accessible Food Network
Susan Beaudry
Director of Programs
Osteopathic Heritage Foundations
Carrie Carson
Food Partners Access Coordinator
Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet)
September 24, 2018
Bring copies of one pager
Farm to School Handout

2. Overview & Partners
A collaborative project to accelerate the distribution of local foods into Appalachian Ohio communities by strengthening access, production, and consumption components of a local food value chain, creating availability to healthy food for all

3. Mission
To improve the health and quality of life in the community through education,
service and research consistent with our osteopathic heritage.

4. Funding Approach Strategic, Proactive Grantmaker
Focus on Mission-Related Targeted Funding Priorities
Request for Proposals and Invitations to Submit
Multi-Year Investments

5. Corresponding rate for non-Appalachian counties was 33.3%
In Appalachia extractive industries that create boom and bust economic cycles play a large role
Appalachian counties collectively: 39.3% below 200 percent of the poverty level
Corresponding rate for non-Appalachian counties was 33.3%
Athens has highest rate of food insecure, most of the Appalachian region is not far behind

6. Poverty is a root cause of food insecurity.
Map from Feeding America

7. Addressing Obesity and Healthy Food Access in Southeast Ohio
Impacting Southeastern Ohio
History of Project and Partnership
Healthy Food Access

8. Agriculture—one of the most promising opportunities for Appalachia
Growing regional and local food systems creates job opportunities, revitalizes local economies, spark entrepreneurial ventures, and strengthen local capacity—leading to increased access to fresh, healthy local foods
Agriculture has been names one of the most promising sectors for Appalachia by the Appalachian Regional Commision and others-- This project builds on regional assets to create sustainable, regionally controlled wealth while addressing food access needs for food insecure.

9. What is a Value Chain? Shared Values Environmental Economic
Social Sustainability
Overcoming Appalachia’s food insecurity can only be accomplished through collaboration and a systems approach rooted in shared environmental, economic and social values that we call the value chain.
Our project strengthens production,processing, and marketing of local foods and distributes them through demand networks, or food access programs in underserved comuunities which I will talk about more further into the presentation.
Carrie Picking up here
Investing in an affordable and accessible value chain creates consistent supply for healthy and fresh foods in multiple demand networks: Farm to School K-12 programs, Food Pantry & Donation Station Networks and Country Fresh Stop and Small Rural Farmers Markets.

10. Chesterhill Produce Auction
Regional Food hub
Creates Morgan County Destination
Creates economic infrastructure in Chesterhill
Acts as an economic driver
Community engagement
Serves primary food source for many or our food access projects

11. Farm and Food Entrepreneur Education
Season Creation workshop with Green Edge Organic Gardens
GAP Training
Squeaky Duck Farm farm stand planning

12. Buisness Incubation
ACEnet assists food businesses with business planning, marketing, regional brand access, financial management, and manages a shared-use kitchen, the Food Ventures Center.

13. Community Kitchen Athens Food Venture Center Kitchen equipment
Thermal Processing Room
Warehouse storage, cooler and freezer space
Expanded processing space in Nelsonville Farm and Food Enterprise Center– value added meat and produce
CASA
Dutch Creek straining mead
Vino de Milo?

14. Farm to School Serving 6 districts, 13 schools
Almost 6,000 students reached
More that 15,000 servings of local fruits and vegetables in 2017
$7,000 dollars invested in local farmers in 2017

15. Country Fresh Stops 9 locations in underserved communities
Partnership with store owners and institutions
Also a marketing strategy
Shrivers Pharmacy, L&S Drive Thru
Camden Clark Medical Center
O’Bleness Hospital

16. Connecting local food system w/ emergency food providers
More than 40 pantries in six counties served
Only source of local foods for pantries in region
More than $6,000 invested in local food system

17. Results
5,154 students served 15,188 servings of fresh local produce in 6 school districts
9 retail and institutional partnerships formed in Country Fresh Stop Program
Over 90,000 pounds of local produce distributed to more than 40 food pantries and agencies through Donation Station
Expansion of markets for 150 farmers at the Chesterhill Produce Auction
Construction of new meat and produce processing space in Nelsonville Food Hub