Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The 2021 meeting of the NC1198 Ag of the Middle group was held from October 4th - 5th, 2021, virtually due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting spanned two days. Day one started with a welcome to new members and introductions. Kate Clancy provided an overview of the history of the Ag of the Middle group - including reminding us that it is the 15th anniversary of the group! We determined to have a celebratory event this spring in conjunction with the Agriculture, Food Systems and Human Values convening in Athens, GA. Subsequently we approved the minutes from our 2020 meeting, and confirmed future leadership transitions. Next, we had a discussion regarding the upcoming 5-year proposal that is due should the group want to continue. We agreed upon the objectives for the new proposal and finalized a writing plan/timeline. After a short break we devoted an hour and a half to COVID-related research updates - our group has played active roles in both research and Extension related activities to support farmers and ranchers, communities, and economies during this challening/disruptive period. Following another break we split into breakout groups on emerging topics, including labor and supply chain resilience. Then, Lauren Gwin and Michelle Miller provided updates regarding the Inter-Institutional Network for Food and Ag Sustainability, INFAS (https://asi.ucdavis.edu/programs/infas) group and opportunities for collaboration. We ended the day discussing how our work is important to policy - led by Scott Marlow - and then discussing communication strategies including website updates, additional in-person meetings or conference presentation opportunities, establishing reading groups, migrating to slack, etc. Many members stayed on the zoom for an informal happy hour/catch up at the end of the formal day 1 agenda.

Day 2 started with Melissa Bayley from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service talking about the USDA's supply chain work. Nichelle Harriott from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition then joined us to talk about cultivating research advocates and to provide a Federal legislative update, including discussing NSAC's Farm Bill platform. Following a break Andy Green from the USDA talked about his team's work on competition and fairness. We wrapped up the meeting with a state policy update from Kate Clancy and Lauren Gwin. 

Our national team of researchers have made significant progress towards accomplishing the objectives of the NC1198 Ag of the Middle project. 

Colorado: Becca Jablonski and colleagues have been doing a significant amount of work looking at the performance of mid-scale farms and ranches selling through local food markets. First, they worked with the USDA Risk Management Agency to understand utilization of Federal crop insurance programs by operations that sell through local food markets. To do this they leveraged the Ag of the Middle network - including holding listening sessions with producers throughout the US, advertised by members of this group. Results show that small and mid scale producers are much less likely to take advantage of Federal insurance programs regardless of the market channel that they utilize. In other words, small and mid scale producers are much less likely to use Federal insurance programs. Results are published in Agricultural Finance Review. Second, they have been exploring utilization of alternative financing options, although with a focus on beginning operations. Finally, they have looked at profitability impacts of sales through local food markets. They find that there are local food producers with operating profit margins in the green zone (low risk) across all market channels, byt that producers participating in direct markets are more likely to have an operating profit margin in the red zone compared to those participating in intermediated channels. They are in discussions with other members of this group about how to dissiminate results, including integrating findings into beginning farmer and other TA / training programs. 

California: The UC Davis/ UC ANR team focused on five main areas of research and outreach related to the Agriculture of the Middle and our NC 1198 project objectives.  These five areas address all Objectives.  They include: (1) farm to school/ farm to institution procurement from regional producers (especially via food hubs); (2) new market development and training for small, mid-scale, beginning and immigrant producers and food hubs; (3) agritourism as a strategy for small and midscale farmers to add value to their operations; (4) food and environmental justice and food security for consumers and economic health for midscale farmers; and (5) food policy/ food system assessment. The multiple projects allowed us to continue to examine perspectives and practices through the supply chain and understand challenges of farmers, distributors, processors, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers who participate in these values-based supply chains.  In addition to the externally funded projects described below, SAREP distributed ~ $80,000 in small grants to Extension and community stakeholders in California engaged in strengthening sustainable agriculture and food systems.  The first 3 areas are described under Objective 1.

Farm to school/institution procurement. They continue to work with institutional buyers, helping to create new relationships between them and small/midscale producers, food hubs and values-based supply chains.  UC SAREP is partnering with the UC Davis Health’s Center for Precision Medicine and Data Sciences to increase purchasing of California grown specialty crops by the medical center. We are also collaborating with Healthcare Without Harm on a national project to build markets between regional legume growers and hospital systems, focusing on high protein specialty crops (beans, nuts). We are currently recruiting small-scale bean producers in California interested in learning how to sell to healthcare and other institutions. Technical assistance and support will be provided to assist with meeting institutional purchasing requirements. 

New market development and training for small/midscale producers and food hubs. SAREP and UC Davis food safety academics have been working with food hubs statewide to provide training and technical assistance on FSMA compliance. They have also been working with elderberry growers to establish markets for elderberries that are currently part of hedgerows on their farms.

Agritourism and small/ midscale farms. We are evaluating our work on a Western Extension Risk Management project to conduct agritourism “intensive”, multi-day workshops in two regions of the state. We also began a new USDA FMPP funded project to strengthen California local food networks with agritourism and direct sales.  In this first year, 8 webinars on marketing topics and 1 workshop/ field day have been held with agritourism partners in 4 regions of the state. 

California has also done a significant amount of work in Food and environmental justice in agricultural and urban communities. SAREP is leading a 6-part webinar series called “Building social equity into Agriculture and Food Systems Extension.”  The first 2 webinars dealt with farmworkers and immigrant farmers. The next 2 webinars are focused on “Retracing the roots of sustainable agriculture” and showcase indigenous perspectives and practices (#3) and leadership and perspectives of farmers of color in sustainable agriculture (#4).  The final two webinars (November/December) will focus on land justice.  SAREP continues to work with extension advisors and community organizations in Sonoma and Marin counties to explore opportunities to make farmers markets more inclusive.  Additional focus groups were conducted to understand how consumers in these communities thought about and were able to access farmers markets during COVID.  We are currently completing in-depth analyses of both quantitative and qualitative data gathered through consumer and vendor surveys as well as the focus groups.

Wisconsin: Their work to diagnose the Upper Midwest regional food flow (2013-2016) is now published in Frontiers. It describes the multiple contributions that midscale supply chains play in meeting public goals such as improved labor conditions, reduced GHG emissions, and building community wealth. Our current project is looking at how transportation affects food access in rural and urban communities. There is considerable research done on food access in urban areas, but little on rural areas, and nothing that addresses it from a transportation (distribution) perspective. Midscale supply chains function in the context of national supply chains. To better understand the role that midscale supply chains play, we partnered with Megan Konar at the University of IL to quantify national perishable food flows, and linked this project with a larger project on regional food system resilience led by Hikaru Peterson, University of Minnesota. In the coming months we will analyze the empirical findings using a statistical network analysis for meat and dairy. Megan’s lab is investigating the GHG emissions associated with the national flow of perishable products, with a journal paper in process. Our work on national food flow for perishable products led to research on the role of big data, information asymmetry and food supply management policy, and a journal article in JAFSCD on this topic. 

Specific to the policy and communication objective, Lauren Gwin and Kate Clancy led annual meeting discussions to build connections between researchers and policymakers, building the capacity of project members to investigate, address, and communicate policy issues surrounding mid-scale supply chains. For example, we heard presentations from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service on their supply chain work that was mandated by the White House. Additionally, we had a session from the National Sustainable Ag Coalition on cultivating research advocates, and on state policies. 

Many of the 1198 working group are actively involved in the Inter Institutional Network for Food and Agricultural Systems (INFAS). Policy work through INFAS has included NSAC training and active participation in the events leading up to the United Nations Food Systems Summit in September. A specific activity was to work with international farm labor organizations to identify ways that agroecology relates to farm labor. This network has actively coordinated interactions, commentary, and input with the United Nations Food Systems Summit (Sept 23, 2021).

Wisconsin: Our work on national food flow for perishable products led to research on the role of big data, information asymmetry and food supply management policy, and a journal article in JAFSCD on this topic. 

SAREP in California continues to work with food policy councils, particularly the one in Sacramento.  We participated in a USDA AMS Partnership grant to facilitate ~ a dozen food system partners to agree on a set of food systems goals for the region and then developing protocols for gathering input from their communities.  SAREP also worked closely with food system consultants to provide expert advice on legislation to establish Farm to Community Food Hubs.  AB 1009 passed September 14, 2021: Bill Text - AB-1009 Farm to Community Food Hub Program. (ca.gov) .  Bill signed by the governor Sept 23, 2021.  $15M appropriated.  Additionally, SAREP is working with two food system consultants/strategists on expanding funding for California’s Farm to School program (currently $10M).  SAREP is part of the evaluation team.

In addition, Dr. Brinkley’s team at UC Davis has added five new county community food system guides that aim to highlight the transparent market ties within local food systems. The guides are produced in partnership with the California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, the Edible Schoolyard Project, and the California Alliance of Farmers Markets. The data we collect represent general trends in local, transparent food supply chains. To gather information on fresh food sales and donations, the research team conducted a web scrape visiting every farm and market webpage to note fresh food sales and donations.

Conference presentations:

• Miller, Michelle. “Optimizing agricultural systems scale and structure to reduce climate change impacts”,  Special Session Symposium--the Role of Food Production in Climate Change: Finding New Ground. Tri-Societies International meeting (American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America). November 9, 2020

• Miller, Michelle. “The Power of Connectivity: Broadband Expansion in Rural Communities.” Foodtank / Refresh broadband panel. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/231-food-tech-panel-discussion-the-power-of/id1434128568?i=1000507544891 February 2, 2021

• Miller, Michelle. “U.S. Food Flows: A Cold-Chain Network Analysis of Freight Movements to Inform Local and Regional Food Issues”, USDA-AMS-TSD workshop. February 16, 2017

• Miller, Michelle. “U.S. Food Flows: A Cold-Chain Network Analysis of Freight Movements to Inform Local and Regional Food Issues”, Transportation Research Forum. April 7, 2021.

• Miller, Michelle. “The Next Normal: Restructuring food supply chains”, third in a webinar series “COVID19 and the Food System: Understanding Impacts Exploring Solutions”, offered by the Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security at the University of Missouri. April 15, 2021

• Miller, Michelle. “Impact of COVID-19 on food systems: international experiences of vulnerability and resilience”. The USA representative, along with representatives from Sweden, Philippines, Brazil and Mexico. Webinar sponsored by the Stockholm Resilience Center. August 27, 2021

• Miller, Emily M., Mary Hendrickson and Philip H. Howard. “The Missouri School: Examining Power in the Agrifood System to Suggest Alternatives.” Presented at Big Ag & Antitrust: Competition Policy for a Sustainable and Humane Food System. Yale Law School, New Haven, CT. January 16, 2021.

• Stevens, A. W. “Land Tenure and Profitability Among Young Farmers and Ranchers.” Presented at the 2021 Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting, August 3, 2021.

• Stevens, A. W. “High Stakes: Managing Risk and Policy Uncertainty in the Market for CBD Food Products.” Presented at the 2021 Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting, August 2, 2021.

• Feenstra, “Engaging actors from farm to fork: Sustainable, equitable food distribution,” organizer and speaker at this session of the Universities Fighting World Hunger Summit, March 26, 2021

• Feenstra and Brodt, “Marketing and business management for organic farmers,” presentation with Sonja Brodt as part of the Introduction to Small Scale Organic Farming (for Inland Southern California Farmers), December 15, 2020 (zoom all day workshop)

• Conner and Feenstra, “Critical success factors for Agritourism: Results of a national survey,” co-organizer and speaker at the Agriculture-Urban and Rural session at the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society Conference, June 9-15, 2021

• Feenstra and Van Soelen Kim,“Farmers Market LIFE: Using participatory research to expand the customer base of farmers market shoppers – Focus group results,” co-organizer and speaker at the Full Access to Fresh, Green Markets session at the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society Conference, June 9-15, 2021

• Feenstra, Van Soelen Kim and Leff, “Using participatory research to expand the customer base of farmers’ market shoppers,” with Julia Van Soelen Kim and Penny Leff, recorded presentation for the Urban Food Systems Symposium, live summaries and Q& A, October 28, 2020

• Feenstra and Capps, “Conducting a food system assessment in Butte county,” presentation to the Butte County Food System group, with Shosha Capps, November 19, 2020

• Feenstra and Capps, “Conducting a food system assessment in Sacramento County,” presentation to the Sacramento Food System Partnership Project, with Shosha Capps, October 29, 2020

• Tanaka, Keiko. 2021. “Leveraging Our Expertise to Support Sustainable Solutions,” a panel organized at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Southern Rural Sociological Association (Virtual), February 2021.

• Brinkley, C. Food Banks and Local Food Networks, American Sociological Association (ASA), online-due to COVID-19, August, 2020

• Fitzsimmons, J.A.; Peterson, H. H., Lavoie, N.L., Lass, D., King, R.. Farmers' Preferences for Market Channels. Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting Annual Meeting, Austin, TX. 8/1/2021        

• Fitzsimmons, J.A., Kinchla, A.K. How Did COVID-19 Impact Origin-Identified Food Preferences? Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association Annual Meeting, 6/15/2021

• Fitzsimmons, J.A., Kinchla, A.K. Improving Access and Motivation for Small and Medium Processors in the Northeast to be in Compliance with FSMA’s PC Rule. USDA FSOP Roundtable, 2/4/2021            

• Fitzsimmons, J.A., Kinchla, A.K., Wormald, C.W. Improving Access and Motivation for Small and Medium Processors in the Northeast to be in Compliance with FSMA’s PC Rule. Northeast Center to Advance Food Safety, 2/16/2021

• Wormald, C.W., Fitzsimmons, J.A., Kinchla, A.K. Improving Preventive Controls Prerequisite Education Programs to Address Food Safety Knowledge Gaps for Small and Medium Sized Food Processors. Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting, 7/19/2021

• Wormald, C.W., Fitzsimmons, J.A., Kinchla, A.K. Improving Preventive Controls Prerequisite Education Programs to Address Food Safety Knowledge Gaps for Small and Medium Sized Food Processors". International Association for Food Protection Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ. 7/18/2021

• Invited Presentations to Community Groups, Students and Stakeholders:

• Miller, Michelle. “Optimizing food systems”, PLATO. October 28, 2021

• Howard, Philip H. “Concentration and Power in the Food System: Who Controls What We Eat?” Keynote at Organic World Congress. Rennes, France. September 8, 2021.

• Howard, Philip H. "Focus Tour: Seed Diversity." Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University. March 24, 2021.

• Stevens, A. W. “Contemporary Food Policy,” lecture for Wither the State, Participatory Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO). April 20, 2021.

• Feenstra, Leff, “Home Cooks Convening,” Oversaw and helped facilitate this 2-day zoom convening for micro-enterprise home cook operations. October 20-21, 2020.

• Brinkley, C. Keynote for the University of Pennsylvania ‘Farm of the Future’ symposium, September, 2020, https://vimeo.com/467473880

• Brinkley, C. Dr. “Food Shortages in a Pandemic” Robert mondavi Institute Savor Lecture series. May, 2020 https://savor.ucdavis.edu/savor-food-shortages-pandemic

• Journal articles and book chapters

• Jablonski, B.B.R. and C. Payton Scally. 2021. Beyond GDP: Measuring Rural Assets and Why It Matters. In Investing in Rural Prosperity. Federal Reserve Board.

• Schmit, T.M., B.R. Jablonski, A. Bonanno, and T. Johnson. 2021. Measuring stocks of community wealth and its association with food systems efforts in rural and urban places. Food Policy.

• Jablonski, B.B.R., J. Hadrich, and A. Bauman. 2021. The role of Federal crop insurance for farms and ranches that sell through local food markets. Agricultural Finance Review.

• Didero, N., M. Costanigro, and B.R. Jablonski. 2021. Promoting farmers market via information nudges and coupons: a randomized control trial. Agribusiness: An International Journal.

• Long, A.B., B.R. Jablonski, M. Costanigro, and W.M. Frasier. 2021. The Impact of State Farm to School Procurement Incentives on School Purchasing Decisions. Journal of School Health. 91(5): 418-427. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13013

• Jablonski, B.B.R., J. Casnovsky, J.K. Clark, R. Cleary, B. Feingold, D. Freeman, S. Gray, L. Schmitt Olabisi, X. Romeiko, C. Walsh, A.E. van den Berg. 2021. Emergency food provision for children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic: Examples from five U.S. cities. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13096

• Clark, J., B.R. Jablonski, A. Irish, S. Inwood, and J. Freedgood. 2020. A Contemporary Concept of the Value(s)-added Food and Agriculture Sector and Rural Development. Community Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/15575330.2020.1854804

• Jablonski, K.E., J.A. Dillon, J. Hale, B.R. Jablonski, and M.S. Carolan. 2020. One place doesn’t fit all: Improving the effectiveness of sustainability standards by accounting for place. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 4:145. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.557754

• Jablonski, B.B.R., A.G. Bauman, and D. Thilmany McFadden. 2020. Local food market orientation and labor intensity. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. 43(3): 916-934. https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13059

• Peterson, H., G. Feenstra, M. Ostrom, Tanaka, C. Brekken, G. Engelskirchen. 2021. “The Value of Values-based Supply Chains: Farmers’ Perspectives.” Agriculture and Human Values. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-021-10255-5

• Prescott, M. R. Cleary, A. Bonanno, M. Costanigro, B.R. Jablonski, and A. Long. 2020. A systematic review of the impact of farm-to-school activities on student outcomes. Advances in Nutrition. 11(2):357-374. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmz094

• Robinson, K., Conner, D., Baker, D., Tuck, A., Abrams, L., McAneny, A., Frankenfield, R. and Warner, C. (In Press). College Student Demand for Humanely Raised Livestock Product: Evidence from Vermont. Journal of Food Service Management and Education 15 (2).

• Becot, F., Parker, J. Conner, D., Pivarnik, L., Richard, N. and Hirsch, D. (2021). Financially able and willing to invest in food safety practices? The example of produce growers in New England states (USA). Food Control 119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107451

• Miller, M. (In Press). Identifying critical thresholds for resilient regional food flows: a case study from the U.S. Upper Midwest. Frontiers.

• Miller, M. (In Press). Big data, Information asymmetry and food supply chain management. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development.

• Howard, Philip H., Francesco Ajena, Marina Yamaoka & Amber Clark. 2021. “Protein” Industry Convergence and Its Implications for Resilient and Equitable Food Systems. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (Social Movements, Institutions and Governance section) 5, 684181.

• Stevens, A. W. and K. Wu (2021). Land Tenure and Profitability Among Young Farmers and Ranchers. Agricultural Finance Review.

• Stevens, A. W. (2021). Nontraditional Credit in the Wisconsin Dairy Industry. Agricultural Finance Review.

• Stevens, A. W. and D. W. Bromley (2021). Rural Counties That Rely on Dairy and Animal Agriculture Saw Higher Unemployment Rates due to COVID-19. Choices, 36(3).

• Stevens, A. W. and J. M. Pahl (2021). High Stakes: Managing Risk and Policy Uncertainty in the Market for CBD Food Products. Applied Economics Teaching Resources.

• Peterson, H., Feenstra, G., Ostrom, M., Tanaka, K., Anderson Brekken, C., and Engelskirchen, G. (2021). The value of values-based supply chains: Farmer perspective. Agriculture and Human Values https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-021-10255-5.

• Dahlquist-Willard, R., Espinoza, M.L.R, Yang, M., Engelskirchen, G., and Feenstra, G. (2020). Challenges and opportunities for small farms marketing dried moringa products in California’s Central Valley. Western Economics Forum. 18(2): 61-64. https://waeaonline.org/western-economics-forum/

• Feenstra, G., Gupta, C., Campbell, D., Van Soelen Kim, J., Sowerwine, J. and Munden-Dixon, K. (2021). Understanding food policy councils: Lessons for extension partners. Journal of Extension, 59(3), Article 9, https://doi.org/34068/joe.59.03.09

• Pesci, S and Brinkley, C. (2021). Can a Farm-to-Table restaurant bring about change in the food system?: A case study of Chez Panisse. Food, Culture & Society

• Brinkley, C.; Pesci, S; Manser, G. (2021) Growing pains in local food systems: a longitudinal social network analysis on local food marketing in Baltimore County, Maryland and Chester County, Pennsylvania Agriculture and Human Values

• Brinkley, C. and Visser, MA (2021). Socioeconomic and Environmental Indicators for Rural Communities: Bridging the Scholarly and Practice Gap Economic Development Quarterly

• Francis, K. and Brinkley, C. (2020) Street Food Vending as a Public Health Intervention. California Journal of Health Promotion

• Extension and outreach materials

• Hill, A., and B.R. Jablonski. 2021. Documenting selected potential impacts to CO farmers and ranchers of SB21-08 7 Agricultural Workers’ Rights. Policy Brief. https://foodsystems.colostate.edu/research-impacts/agricultural-labor/

• Gill, M., and B.R. Jablonski. 2021. Impact of Time Restriction Changes on Market Choices and Food Security. Local Food Systems Response to COVID: Consumer Food Insights. https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/LFS-CFI-03.pdf

• Hill, A., and B.R. Jablonski. 2021. Documenting Potential Impacts to CO Farmers and Ranchers of SB21-087 Agricultural Workers’ Rights. Colorado State University Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics Fact Sheet.

• Thilmany, D., A. Bauman, E. Love, and B.R. Jablonski. 2021. The Economic Contribution of Health Food Incentives. SPUR, Fair Food Network, and UC Davis. https://www.spur.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/economic_contributions_incentives_2_2_21.pdf

• Love, E., D. Thilmany, A.G. Bauman, B.R. Jablonski. 2020. The Economic Contribution of Nourish Colorado’s Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program. Colorado State University Regional Economic Development Institute Report.

• Jablonski, B.B.R. Food Security. Local Food Systems Response to COVID: Consumer Food Insights. https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/LFS-CFI-03.pdf

• Sullins, M., B.R. Jablonski, and S. Ehrlich. 2020. Voices from the Field: Stories of Colorado Producers Responding to COVID-19. Colorado State University Task Force on Colorado Food Supply Fact Sheet. https://foodsystems.colostate.edu/covid19/

  • Includes 6 fact sheets highlighting producers’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Thilmany, D., B.R. Jablonski, B. Angelo, S. Low, and D. Tropp. 2020. Mitigating Immediate Harmful Impacts of COVID-19 on Colorado Farms and Ranches Selling through Local and Regional Food Markets. Colorado State University Task Force on Colorado Food Supply Fact Sheet. https://foodsystems.colostate.edu/covid19/

• Love, E., D. Thilmany, and B.R. Jablonski. 2020. Colorado Potato Markets During COVID-19 and Producer Implications. Colorado State University Task Force on Colorado Food Supply Fact Sheet. https://foodsystems.colostate.edu/covid19/

• Hill, R., A. Hill, D. Thilmany, B.R. Jablonski, J. Bayham. 2020. Workforce changes and the Food Supply Chain: Understanding and Mitigating the Effects of COVID-19 on the Agricultural Workforce. Colorado State University Task Force on Colorado Food Supply Fact Sheet. https://foodsystems.colostate.edu/covid19/

• Jablonski, B.B.R., D. Thilmany, A. Bonanno, and A. Bauman. 2020. Farm to School Environment. Local Food Economics Fact Sheet. eXtension Community Local Regional Food Systems.

• Prescott, M.P., R. Cleary, B.R. Jablonski, A. Bonanno, M. Costanigro, A. Long, and A. Bauman. 2020. Kids Win: Farm to School Activities and Student Outcomes. Local Food Economics Fact Sheet. eXtension Community Local Regional Food Systems.

• Jablonski, B.B.R., A. Bonanno, S. Mendis, D. Thilmany, A. Bauman, and L. Christensen. 2020. Communities Win. Local Food Economics Fact Sheet. eXtension Community Local Regional Food Systems.

• Thilmany, D., B.R. Jablonski, B. Angelo, S. Low, and D. Tropp. 2020. Mitigating immediate harmful impacts of COVID-19 on farms and ranches selling through local and regional food markets. Prepared for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

• Comments regarding the Executive Order 140147 on “America’s Supply Chains” specifically for the Production of Agricultural Commodities and Food Products published April 21, 2021 in the Federal Register, comments submitted June 22, 2021.

• Sarah Lloyd & Miller, Michelle. “Food systems, disruptions and resilience”, Wisconsin Public Television, University Place. First aired September 30, 2021. https://video.pbswisconsin.org/video/food-systems-disruptions-and-resilience-3t4ld4/

• Hendrickson, Mary M., Philip H. Howard, Emily M. Miller and Douglas H. Constance. 2020. The Food System: Concentration and Its Impacts. A Special Report to the Family Farm Action Alliance.

• Howard, Philip H. Giant Meat and Dairy Companies are Dominating the Plant-Based Protein Market. Civil Eats. September 22.

• Howard, Philip H., & Mary Hendrickson. 2021. Corporate Concentration in the US Food System Makes Food More Expensive and Less Accessible for Many Americans.” The Conversation. February 8.

• Updated CA Food Hub Network website, with new food safety resources for food hubs: Food Hubs & Values-Based Supply Chains | Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program (ucdavis.edu)

• Brinkley, C (2021) “Taking it to the Street: Food Vending During and After COVID” The Conversation

• Brinkley, C. (2020) Why community-owned grocery stores like co-ops are the best recipe for revitalizing food deserts, The Conversation, September 2019, https://theconversation.com/why-community-owned-grocery-stores-like-co-ops-are-the-best-recipe-for-revitalizing-food-deserts-122997

• Brinkley C. et al. (2020-21) County Community Food Guides in partnership with Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Edible Schoolyard, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.

  • Santa Clara County Expanded Community Food Guide (2020). In partnership with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.

  • Yolo County (2020)

  • Los Angeles County (2020)

  • Santa Clara County (2020)

  • Sacramento County (2021) in Partnership with Valley Vision and the Sacramento Regional Community Foundation to inform the Sacramento Region Food System Action Plan (2021)

  • El Dorado County (2021) in Partnership with Valley Vision and the Sacramento Regional Community Foundation to inform the Sacramento Region Food System Action Plan (2021)

  • R 10. Placer County (2021) in Partnership with Valley Vision and the Sacramento Regional Community Foundation to inform the Sacramento Region Food System Action Plan (2021)

• Becot, F.*, Inwood, S.M. Jackson-Smith, D., and A. Katchanova. 2020. “The Status and Changing Face of Ohio Agriculture: Summary of Ohio Farm Trends 1997-2017.” SENR Technical Report. https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/the-status-and-changing-face-of-ohio-agriculture-summary-of-ohio-farm-trends-1997-2017-pdf/

• Wormald, C.W., Kinchla, A.K, Fitzsimmons, J.A. Introduction to Preventive Controls Webinar,

• Wormald, C.W., Fitzsimmons, J.A., Kinchla, A.K, Von Achen, C. 2020. Practical Implementation ​Food Safety Planning Workshop,

• Wormald, C.W., Kinchla, A.K, Fitzsimmons, J.A. 2021. Food Safety Plan Development Working Group Sessions, 8-Session Curriculum

• Fitzsimmons, J.A., Kinchla, A.K, We launched a website host by University of Massachusetts Amherst Center for Agricultural Food and the Environment to provide a clearinghouse for Value-Added foods: https://ag.umass.edu/value-added-food/nifa-planned-extension-initiative/improving-access-motivation-for-small-medium- pro cessors-in-northeast-to-be-in

• Fitzsimmons, J.A., Kinchla, A.K, University of Massachusetts Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE) Website Spotlight Stories. June 10, 2021. "How does Food become value-added?" https://ag.umass.edu/news-events/highlights/food-transformation