Food processing used to be Montana's #1 employment, and Montanans produced 70% of the food they consumed. Now the food processing industry is nil in the state, and we consume less than 10% of our own state produced food. We depend on a tremendous amount of fossil fuel, extensive transportation networks, and a small number of food distributors, retailers, and food services to move food from afar to our plate.     But how secure is that food system?

 

Mission of the Community Food Project (CFP)

Sustainable Living Systems received a grant in the fall of 2007 for a Community Food Project (CFP).  A CFP grant is from the USDA and is for communities to plan and create a local food system that provides community food security.  This grant is a Planning Project, which is the first step in the Community Food Security process.

Community Food Security means that....
...all people in the community at all times have access to
safe, healthy, and affordable food through a sustainable food system.

    The mission of this Planning Project is to build a team (Coalition) of individuals and organizations, including low-income residents, that will work together to complete an Assessment of a broad range of the community’s food related assets, opportunities, needs and challenges. We will focus on documenting and analyzing those factors that hinder local production and processing of food and its distribution to those in our community who need or want it.

    Using this information, the team will create a report that presents what we have learned in a succinct format and will then enter into facilitated discussions aimed at arriving at a Plan. The Plan will consist of very specific goals and recommendations for actions, programs, facilities and policies to ensure that the food needs of low-income people are met, to increase the food related sustainability and self-reliance of the valley, and to create an economic environment where diversified farming and processing of locally produced food is stimulated and encouraged. It will be oriented toward establishing a permanent Food System Council to encourage project continuity and sustainability. This Plan, when implemented, will improve food security for all in the community and is consistent with the goals of the USDA grants program.

Our Objectives

• Improve access to fresh, healthy, locally produced food for low-income folks, schools, various institutions, seniors and residents in the valley.
• Provide improved markets with a fair return for farmers’ products to support agriculture in the valley.
• Stimulate the start up of new businesses in food production, processing and distribution.
• Identify infrastructure & facilities needed for a secure community food system.
• Identify policy changes that will enhance and support the above goals.

Our Plan of Action

1. Expand community awareness of the project and build a community Coalition to guide the proejct .

2. Conduct a Community Food Assessment of the Bitterroot Valley food system, including production, processing, distribution, and consumption:

• Document the production of fruit, vegetables, and other foods in the County.
• Document the amount of these local foods which are actually consumed in the Valley, including those moving through school lunch programs, food banks, and other services to needy people.
• Create a listing of all the food-related services in the county that benefit producers, including slaughterhouses, certified kitchens, wholesalers, storage availability, financial assistance for farmers, and opportunities for new farmers.
• List and describe government funded food programs operating in the county that benefit citizens and those that are used in area schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.
• Create a listing of all the food retail and donation outlets in the Valley and map their locations.
• Identify constraints to local food production, processing and distribution.
• Investigate barriers, obstacles, and opportunities for getting locally grown foods into the schools and other area institutions.
• Compile an inventory of the land used for production in the Valley.

3. Engage in policy evaluation.

• Identify the policy changes needed to improve access to local foods.
• Initiate a discussion with the County about land use planning to support local agriculture.

4. Develop a Plan for better food security in the Bitterroot Valley to improve access to fresh, high quality, affordable, and locally produced food for all residents and for low-income families, provide improved local markets for farmers’ products, and stimulate the start up of new food-related businesses.