Survey Responses, February 2020

Affirming Food Access Challenges

• Systemic poverty, issues with opportunities and access to food are the biggest challenges in Flint

• Oakland County has the highest per capita income in the state. However, that does not mean the county does not have any financially stressed households that are food insecure. For the most part, the problem remains hidden and underreported.

• Food access is also increasingly important for most of our clients (Ottawa County)

• I do see a rise in food prices as everything is rising in costs and wages aren't keeping up for many. I do have a concern in the political atmosphere that some of our families will not be able to afford good food choices for the young ones and also the elderly with little means. (Eaton County)

Dimensions of Food Access

• There are very FEW places to get fresh fruits and vegetables let alone groceries in downtown Ypsilanti

• Access to healthy choices are not obtainable and are priced pretty high where I live (Wayne County)

• Missing: Food access in culturally sensitive ways. many small grocery stores in communities catered to minority food needs and have or are closing. (Saint Clair County)

• I teach cooking/nutrition/gardening lessons to students, and oftentimes students tell me after the lesson "I want to make this at home, but I don't have the ingredients." or some variation of that. (Emmet County)

• Food access is an ongoing battle, and food sovereignty is a far off objective. . . so long as the most accessible food retailers are liquor stores and gas stations, our food is neither secure nor anywhere close to sovereign. (Wayne County)

Dimensions of Food Sovereignty and Education

• Agricultural and food literacy are missing

• I'm guessing that education is included in both health equity and in food access, but that seems like a component that is extremely necessary.

• Under food access it is also necessary to educate those in need about pathways to good healthy food, so that could be specifically called out.

• Would also like to see ways that [we] can teach the community how to grow their own food

• Need to emphasize equitable opportunities to engage in the food system

• Ingham County has a large number of refugee families that are not being fully engaged to shape the way the food system works for them.

Suggested Strategies

• Working with different food production models to increase access and potential entrepreneurial opportunities

• Need to address national policies and procedures, which don't currently support these priorities

• Suggestions: Access to double up food bucks at health stores, organic produce at markets, low income neighborhoods have access to information in many languages on how to access food systems.

• Increased access to food pantries, mobile food pantries

• The Birmingham-Bloomfield-Troy parts of Oakland county are affluent in terms of food access, with several supermarkets and organic food stores throughout. In Troy at least, there are plots of land you can rent to grow your own food, or care for animals, at the Charles L. Bowers School Farm, as well as a few discussion events at local libraries about horticulture and gardening.

Capacity for Behavior Change

• With issues surrounding land acquisition and farm viability, we're seeing a decrease in the number of growers, and the growers who remain have done so despite anticipation of continuing struggles. The risk associated with fighting for food security, accessibility, and sovereignty remains a disproportionate burden on those who are most vulnerable and have the lowest capacity for economic resiliency.

• I think what's missing is the emphasis on the consumer. Most people I know don't have time to focus on cooking, shop based on the lowest price, and although they are obviously a part of a food system, spend very little time thinking about it not because they don't care, but because other priorities are more pressing.

Survey Responses, February 14 – March 23, 2020 Selected comments from 38 total responses

Grower/Farmer/Producer, Oceana County - Difficulty of switching to a new system:

“I would say in my immediate neighborhood, I don't know how any farmer makes it, including myself. It's nice to think about those lofty goals, and I wish I could actually sell to my neighbors instead of targeting high end clientele in cities, but... it's just not how things work around here.

I think everyone around here would agree that those overarching principles are important. What it looks like on the ground, though, is likely to look very different depending on who you talk to. It's kind of like this: imagine you are an astronaut orbiting the earth in a capsule and someone comes over the intercom and says "hey, we just decided that, actually, it would be a better idea if you jumped ship because this thing your riding around in isn't really the best thing anymore." But the reason you are in the capsule in the first place is because you listened to the experts say it was the best thing. And if you get out, you don't have any way back to earth and you'll surely die trying. So you keep orbiting in the same capsule because it's what you know. And besides, the thing still works, everyone else you know is in one, too, and there is evidence to suggest that maybe staying in your capsule will let you come out on top. It's not that you don't care about these other things, it's just that you're trying to make it and it seems like jumping to another ship that isn't even remotely close to you with all the buttons in different places and different toggle switches that do things you don't even care about doesn't seem like a good business decision especially when your daughter's in college and the other one is about to go. That's all. It's hard to change a system.”

Non-profit professional, Kent County - Problem of farmland loss:

[Farmland is being lost to development and county officials are not demonstrating any interest in implementing protections.]

Non-profit professional, Wayne County - Challenge of access to resources for urban farmers:

“Some of the barriers include: equitable access to land/space within the city, and start-up funds,(or accessing resources for small businesses), for urban farmers looking to scale up their businesses (not only in terms of production, but also in terms of creating employment opportunities).”

Religious Leader, Kent County - conflict between equally promoting food and farm businesses of all scales and sustainability

“. . .an emphasis on regional food systems - with global and national as background, not foreground - is essential in order to be able to maintain the focus on the Green/Sustainable value.”

Survey Responses (4/30/2020)

Labor & Fair Wages

• Fair wages and econ Opportunity remains elusive for migrant farmworkers, primarily due to isolation, transiency and access issues. Their good health and stability (education, diet) suffers from low and stolen wages. Our Fair Food Program at Migrant Legal Aid is the only worker-designed, concentrated monitoring of conditions in Michigan and Kent County with the opportunity to intervene immediately with support of retail and other members. However, the program is underfunded and not a priority in the Michigan state budget or with local foundations. More promotion of the program with corresponding funding is sorely needed. Given that the farmworkers are nearly as valuable to MI as the autoworkers, the state should support the Fair Food Program of MLA with an annual grant. labor is not treated well and is being replaced by workers who travel up to 3,000 miles on a work visa to harvest produce that moves 15 miles to the vendor. That is not local food. Growers using foreign workers on visas should not be allowed to define their food as local. (Kent County)

• I think it mostly aligns with my vision. I'd like to see producers/farmers/farmworkers called out a bit more specifically. Similar with food service workers. Especially given the high number of farm bankruptcies and the immigration issues ag and food systems are facing. (Washtenaw County)*

• Immigration - This might be a non-starter politically but is probably the most immediate issue in the food system. (Washtenaw County)*

Education, Professional Development & Economic Opportunities

• Where does general food education fit into this? For example: Tribal food distribution managers might need basic training on food systems and nutrition. Where can they learn about the food systems and issues related to their work? (Muskegon County)

• Agricultural and food literacy. Labels, production methodology, the use of technology and so forth. (Saint Clair County)*

• I think a great emphasis on equitable opportunities is important. Everyone may have the opportunity to engage in the food system but is it an equitable opportunity?? (Wayne County)*

• I think education (youth/college students/regulators/legislators/adult/general public) in regards to the food system should be listed as a priority. I know in some regards it may be thought of as a strategy, but if it is not listed more prominently I feel it will not get the focus it deserves for the charter to be meaningful. (Oakland County)*

• One issue or challenge that may be useful to address is that of knowledge. Even if the Good Food System addresses the structural challenges and barriers, if people are not informed or knowledgeable about these opportunities, it may not be as impactful. Especially for areas and groups that are historically under-served. (Ingham County)*

Survey Responses (6/2/2020)

"I'm guessing that education is included in both health equity and in food access, but that seems like a component that is extremely necessary.; We have a lot of migrant farm workers in our community, and so health equity and fair wages are areas where we could see a lot of improvement for that population." - Ottawa Co.

"Food access in culturally sensitive ways. many small grocery stores in communities catered to minority food needs and have or are closing." -Saint Clair

"While health equity is listed as a priority, I think it is more of an overarching theme with each of the other priorities impacting how equitable the food system is. Each priority area is an ELEMENT of an equitable food system." - Ingham Co.

"I really appreciate the inclusion of spiritual health. It's an essential component to the food system and one that has been overlooked in the past." - Religious leader, Kent Co.

" Health Equity (which we wanted more focus on "increasing diverse decision-makers to ensure health equity"... more of a focus on health sovereignty.)” -Non-profit Professional, Ingham Co.

"We are a long ways away from health equity -- and good food is the biggest solution along with dismantling institutional racism." -Non-profit Professional, Kent Co.

"Health Equity does not match the needs of people in the community, probably due to the size of the county and due to the physical and, mental challenges many people face." - Wayne Co.

I'd say coming from a more rural and remote setting on the Keweenaw Peninsula that food accessibility and health equity leave some room for improvement, but awareness has grown and progress is happening. These priorities look to be in alignment with our needs overall, in my opinion. - Grocer or Food Retailer, Keweenaw

We have heard many times how COVID-19 is exposing weaknesses and reinforcing emergent trends. Within the food system for example weaknesses may include accessibility and health equity; trends may include encouraging food security through supporting local purchasing or gardening, or accelerated online purchasing and food delivery. - Grocer or Food Retailer, Keweenaw

Survey Responses (6/26/2020)

“Sustainable ecosystems should be further explored, because sustainability definitions change and are even now being challenged. How about the food system should prioritize those producers practicing elevated levels of sustainable farming (no-till, no broadcast herbicides or pesticides....)”-Washtenaw Co.

"How can food waste reduction strategies be integrated?" -Oakland Co.

"Explain sustainability in simple terms" -Saint Clair Co.

“We are still not quite making the mark as it relates to farming with chemicals that are dangerous to the environment." -Ingham Co.

"Climate Change: is adversely affecting the grower's ability to predict and rely on the usual harvest production records for future planning. It also adversely affects the migrant farmworker's security in wages that are seasonal and climate dependent. Sustainable ecosystems: without a Drain Commissioner and board of commissioners who understands land and water conservation, no county can achieve this. Without farmland preservation and proper planning, food and water and air systems remain at risk." -Kent Co.

"Conversations/strategies for climate change resilience and the role of a localized food system are not as widespread as they could be and might need to be. A change I think we need to be prepared for is a reduction in consumption of global food sources, especially considering the environmental impact of transporting internationally sourced foods on climate change. " Wayne Co.

"Missing: riparian rights and a greater focus on ecology and stewardship. WIthout water, we're screwed." -Ingham Co.

“Add protects native flora and fauna" - Emmet Co.

"Our community. . . sells food with extremely high amounts of plastic packaging, which often ends up littering our public places." -Non-profit professional, Kent Co.

“I would consider making the final sustainable ecosystems one about regenerative agriculture - not just "protects" - since we also need to rehabilitate our soils, water, etc." -College/University Educator, Washtenaw Co.

"I think there will be issues of local v. climate change. Local beef, local tomatoes from a hot house, or local out of season is not good for greenhouse gas emissions. Some of the best things we can do with our diet our drastically reduce red meat and eat seasonally. Transport is generally 10% or less of greenhouse gas emissions of a food item. Local and climate mitigation have the potential to be at odds and fracture alliances. (really consider using the words climate disruption or climate crisis. it is much more urgent that we do something that climate change conveys)" -College/University Educator, Washtenaw Co.

"MUCH MORE needs to be done to encouraging food system practices that mitigate climate change (farming, transportation, waste)." -Kent Co.

"There are groups working to protect air, water and soil, especially as we continue to see coastal damage from erosion." -Ottawa Co.

"I think it's important, however, that these more progressive goals be the heart of the updated charter - we need to be more bold, in particular, around food sovereignty (democratizing our food system decisions with those who tend to be left out of spaces of power) and environmental resilience/climate change/regenerative forms of agriculture - so kudos for making these more explicit parts of the new charter. " -College/University Educator, Washtenaw Co.

"Sustainable Ecosystems (Reworded at Resilient & Regenerative Ecosystems, & adding "animals and people" in the results field)" -Ingham Co.

"Climate change mitigation and sustainable ecosystems are areas where we need to continue to develop. There is some progress in this area but again, we are still not quite making the mark as it relates to farming with chemicals that are dangerous to the environment. " -Ingham Co.

"Consider using the words climate disruption or climate crisis."-College/University Educator, Washtenaw Co.