Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

As part of the Ag of the Middle Annual In-person meeting, we organized three panel sessions, as well as an annual meeting. The minutes are summarized below. 

Ag of the Middle panel 1:

Mary Hendrickson, Gail Feenstra, Kate Clancy

2003-2004 – series of meetings on Ag of the Middle, funded by SARE, every SARE region was represented (1 researcher, 1 farmer, and 1 nonprofit from each region) – unleashing of ideas to support ag of the middle. Early meetings set the course for how Ag of the Middle has done since. Farm involvement early on has set the tone for Ag of the Middle moving forward.

Literature/Timeline Threads:

• Literature on problems of the disappearance of midsized farms (Marty Strange, etc.)
• First in England and then in US – farm declining share of the retail dollar
• Competition and concentration (Doug, Mary, Phil)
• Values-based supply chain, alternative supply chain/agriculture
• Sustainable food systems

• Kirschenmann, Stephenson, Lyson - decision to bring together the sustainable ag directors from Universities from across the country (way before Kelogg) - got to talking a lot about agriculture of the middle
• 1993- first USDA “systems” grant
• Multistate projects existed for many decades prior to creating the Ag of the Middle project (e.g., Local food systems in a globalizing environment - led by Lyson).
• 50% of AOTM members came from the Local food systems group
• SAWGs were very important to the development of ag of the middle
• WIllingness of CIAS @ the University of Wisconsin to take on a major role - including the website. 

3 components when Ag of the Middle started

1. Association of family farms - Kirshmann and Yee really wanted mid-scale operations to work together. 
2. Research team - national cadre of researchers dedicated to supporting ag of the middle (always included an advocacy component) - led by Stephenson, Lev, Clancy, King until decision was made to have a rotating chair. 
3. KATE ADD

Insights on Opportunities for AOTM in 4 parts:

Part 1: AOTM research buds and blossoms

• Kirschmann paper “why worry about Ag of the Middle”: https://www.leopold.iastate.edu/files/pubs-and-papers/2004-06-why-worry-about-agriculture-middle.pdf 
• USDA funding track
• Funding retreat

Part 2: Early case studies

• Organic valley/CROPP, Red Tomato, etc.
• Because they were on the website, several individuals started using them in the classes

Part 3: Integration with regional research project

• Research and education support for the renewal of an agriculture of the middle - hatch funded
• Clancy wrote “A priority research agenda for ag of the middle”
• Research topics: Impacts, incentives, scale, value chains

Part 4: Research proliferates

• Proposals developed at AOTM middle
• Reflections
• Extension guides were practical translation of the research - but outreach is a challenge. 
• How did the research inform policy and practices? 
• Incentives for manufacturers to carry the information about farm input suppliers aren’t strong enough. 
• Limited supply chain infrastructure in regions

Literature that came out of Ag of the Middle

• Food and the midlevel farm (2008)
• 2012-2013 - Hardesty/Feenstra - evaluation research across multiple ag of the middle enterprises
• Special issue of JAFSCD in 2013
• Encyclopedia articles
• Since 2017 - research and publication on value-based supply chains from a TransAtlantic perspective, fair labor, specialty foods, values-based supply chain, rural wealth creation, creation of regional food flows
• Most recently - COVID, domestic fair trade, value added retail

Now Multi-state group is starting its 4th renewal:

• Project focus has shifted over time, but always included local, state, and national policy
• Interesting to walk through the objectives and how they have changed over time. 

Policy working group existed from the start

• NSAC briefing at each annual meeting. 
• Kate has always provided a Federal policy update

Ag of the Middle Session II

Michelle Miller, Lauren Gwin, Keiko Tanaka, Hikaru Peterson, and Sarah Lloyd

Linking concepts

Want to move beyond certifications/labels

Potential for improvement: how does this work connect to climate change?

Problem statement: “Agriculture of the Middle is Disappearing”

Research questions: How can we renew AOTM and allow small and mid-sized farms to flourish?

How do marketing entities work with small and mid-sized farms? 

Methods: 

• Case studies; interviews-based
• Anthropological approach
• Databases
• Survey
• Analysis of secondary data

Place matters

• Want to see more representation from researchers that are less represented - including the Rocky Mountain regions. 

Regional Food Systems

• What historical and contemporary dynamics - sociocultural, political, and economic - share the capacity for building and maintaining vibrant regional food systems? 

Business and Market options

Note that this isn’t the figure Sarah presented, but an adapted version of it. 

• The middle part of this was an original Ag of the Middle figure (originally Stephenson et al.). 
• Spend a lot of time thinking about the “troubled” or “danger” zone.
• Who has the resources and the soft skills of organizing? Critical for strategic alliances and food value chains. 

Sarah is a “card carrying pragmatist” because “shit costs money”. 

Critical for researchers and Extension to engage in policies:

1. We are good at evaluating policy
2. We do provide relevant research that can (or does) inform policy modifications or new policies
3. Through research we can inform where policy needs to go.

To be effective:

1. Be clear what your policy related goals are. 
2. Know the pathway for changes and have connections. 

Three kinds of academics:

1. Those who get this.
2. “My research is important…policymakers should do what I say.”
3. “I can’t do policy, I’m at a public University” or “its too scary” 

AOTM provides training on communicating with policymakers - what can you do legally? How do you write a policy brief? This can empower folks to weigh in on policy. 

Updates on Federal policy at the AOTM meeting:

• Getting backstory from agency staff
• Update on Farmbill, but also beyond

Moving forward…. National Sustainable Ag Coalition (NSAC) and INFAS - cultivating research advocates. NSAC provides guidance to researchers about the things they are hearing on the Hill that could use some research. Or, “you have results, who do you call”? Also, when to engage. 

Also, policy isn’t just at the Federal level - really interesting and innovative things happening at the state level. Great to have this group with connections to get insight into what is working in different places. 

Discussion re: technological change - “we” seem to take the technician environment as a given, but really there has likely been a lot of change that likely makes it more difficult for mid-scale farms. 

Ag of the Middle Annual Meeting:

Findings: What have we learned from 15 years:

• The early years: Case studies
• Useful to define what is a values-based supply chain.
• Value chains are not “pure” – hybrid value chains (Bloom and Hinrichs; King et al. 2010).
• Conventional supply chains also include high levels of trust in many cases.
• Why wasn’t the association of family farms successful? 
• National group of family farmers; 
• Top down…cooperative was imposed on the group of farmers
• Not a particular commodity, but marketing “family farmers”, which may mean something different in different places. 
• Incomplete structure of markets
• “Everything stops when you talk about price”
• What is our role as academics in describing the story correctly? 
• We have not gone deep enough in the areas where we are expected to do the work, and we go deep in areas we aren’t expected. 
• COVID
• Mission-oriented businesses had trust built and were well positioned at the beginning of COVID

Under what conditions (history, locations, cropping systems, etc.) are farmers willing to be in cooperative models? Or, under which other outcome happen? 

Ideas for outputs:

• Update the King et al. (2010) USDA ERS report using case studies and secondary data (that is much improved from 2010)
• Funding for Kate Fitzgerald(?) to help us develop policy briefs
• Labor specific piece
• Teaching modules that incorporate case studies
• Lesson plans to talk about case studies
• Update website
• Including updated data
• Two page fact sheet on terms / glossary - including sample language of how this language can be used in papers and grant proposals (would benefit from someone with expertise in communications)
• Invite extension folks to say what they think about “ag of the middle” and what are the tools they would need to add this to their work. 
• Webinars for Extension professionals. 
• Updated document on what we have learned so far - briefs (including failures - make them constructive) 
• What are the opportunities to collaborate more with INFAS? 
• INFAS has funding to provide support. 
• Shared frameworks - be vulnerable about blindspots (especially at land grant universities)

Early AFRI – some takeaways –

Kate – Case studies – led to the notion hybrids, chose the case studies to represent companies in the areas where we lived, lot of knowledge over a long period of time, challenges, brought all the groups together helped with sharing….  Companies that were very proprietary and didn’t want to be public…interest at USDA was very helpful….

Marcy – importance of case studies helped us conceive of what a VBSC was a different concept – how to use them for teaching…. Rob K was great at that, and students read the case studies and followed them through the visit…..

Lauren – where do we find the parallel case studies of the non VBSC written in the same way – only knowing direct marketing… don’t have the background (vertical integration bad)…  Kate – one of the thing we found out EFSNE – conventional supply chains function with the same kinds of trust that naively thought didn’t exist, internalized that in the work. 

Clare – hybridity – VBSC are not pure, farm to institution… working through conventional distributors… used the template from the case studies… how it mapped on to these weird value chains…

Single family vertical integration…  Tommy

Transparent pricing – that’s when the conversations stopped, the importance of overt mission (Covid-19) credibility that built up…

Structure of markets – and our basic understanding of what family farmers… can’t get apple growers to work with potato growers in the same state – the incomplete analysis worries me, and what is our role as academics in describing and narrating the story that we understand collectively.. drumbeat and what happens when the supply chains crashed, and how capitalism is problematic when you have a community good… deep enough in the areas when we are expected to do the work…

When do you stick together in these VBSCs?   

•         Climate change, when they had to stick together….  Growers lost lots of apples…Duress…. Cooperation that happened then…
•         Group or summarize conditions under which this happened, but it is movement organizing… because you have to have leadership and process…. What resources were brought to the table…
•         Brian G. – coops are successful are having the right leader and leadership….

Rob K. 2010 – stories with quantitative data – product….. can we create something like this….

Failures and what didn’t go well… ready to share more on that side of things…

Frameworks that give us way to talk about structures – give a framework… power of social science and economics… what are the vulnerabilities that aren’t included in the frameworks….where did they

Lunch Break:

Tricia K. – talked about the White House Conference on Nutrition and Hunger – and talking about transportation with food and agriculture  – who can come supply info about the supply chain for us…. Opening all the boxes and putting the parts together – who will it help….we have a lot of information and sharing that information with state, federal and local governments is important:

1.       Concentration and consolidation – RFI open right now…. Food price effects (meat), viability for producers, regional food systems is one of the solutions…
2.       Investments in infrastructure – direct grants; Food supply chain guarantees; Technical access about how to get into USDA programs etc.
3.       RFI on fertilizer right now… competition in the fertilizer, seeds and other inputs, and retail.

AMS team – lots of great information has come out, at the beginning of the pandemic what do we do to help, CO State, Penn State  and UKY are leads on this project, to bring together network sector actors…. 17 partners and 3 universities – some consumer research, there was resilience happening, then what next in terms of recovery and resilience… network of networks analysis – there is funding and more room for other networks and partners…. Really interesting mix of people…. 

•         Conversations at sessions and the lessons learned discussions could be useful to include AOTM as part of the networks…. Priority next step to fit this group into the network…
•         Melissa Bailey led the report on Supply Chain Vulnerabilities and Recommendations…  having more of the compiled work around supply chains would be useful (the underlying data) but it was maybe more qualitative than quantitative.
•         American Rescue Plan investments - $3.6 billion and 2 lines explaining supply chain and funding followed that
•         Heard regionalized food systems, investments in infrastructure, and infrastructure that can serve a region – lots of values built into these grants
•         Disaster assistance and relief…. Not creating pathways not helping the small and medium-sized farmers, how can we quantify some of these things…. 

Michelle – some counties don’t have a transportation plan, and then might not have shovel ready list for the state department?

ARP was so much money; meat and poultry 1 is for shovel ready, and meat poultry 2 is not….  Better tools at the federal level for the infrastructure because could see it coming; interagency taskforce for rural partners network – have embedded staff and a strikeforce…. What should the model look like? Barriers to access $2 Million – very large project with HBCUs evaluating what are the barriers to different communities for the AMS programs; network model; have a little more money than we every have, upped the GS level to keep AMS staff; Lauren – grant accessibility – federal relief programs for farmers, lot of specialty crop farmers (OR) haven’t done crop insurance, can’t find their way in the door for FSA – OR legislature created a disaster relief program, administered by ODA, one of the goals is to get more people plugged into ODA system but they want them to plug into the federal level; competitive RMA NIFA; LAMP regional food systems partnership grants… value chain coordination; investing in meat and poultry infrastructure…. 

Action Items:

•         Websites – website committee, student project meetings might be useful
•         Extension -- ?
•         Meeting – Qualtrics to put out some suggestions, having virtual and in-person meetings? In-person meetings with some folks; bring in some diversity – slack groups; perhaps organize in work groups so that we can pull things together and maybe make it virtually; webinars?

1.      Investigate key factors that influence economic performance and viability of mid-scale farms/ranches and their supply-chain partners.

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. 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.

California: This year, our 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.  Our 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.  We 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.  We 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.

2.      Identify and assess the possibilities of mid-scale supply chains to contribute to community goals and needs

Wisconsin: Our 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.

3.      Identify and assess the environmental and natural resource contributions of mid-scale supply chains.

Wisconsin: 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.

4.      Examine and assess governance structures and mechanisms of mid-scale supply chains and their role in mediating, communicating, and implementing values around food quality, economic performance, social equity, and environmental sustainability.

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.

California: 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.

5.      Build the capacity of project members to investigate, address, and communicate policy issues surrounding mid-scale supply chains.

Lauren Gwin and Kate Clancy led annual meeting discussions to build connections between researchers and policymakers. 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 NC1198 participants responded to the Administration’s call to provide comments on supply chains and competition.

• MN:

• WI: [url coming soon]

• ..Mary?

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.

California: Food policy/ food system assessment.  SAREP 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 webscrape visiting every farm and market webpage to note fresh food sales and donations.

Outputs:

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

Multi-state AOTM partnerships:

Apple to glass: improving orchard profitability through developing regional craft ciders 6/1/18 - 4/30/22

• Marcy Ostrum, Washington State, lead PI

• Phil Howard, Michigan State

• David Connor, University of Vermont

• Michelle Miller, University of Wisconsin

U.S. Food Flows: A Cold-Chain Network Analysis of Freight Movements to Inform Local and Regional Food Issues  8/18/20 - 1/31/22

• Michelle Miller, University of Wisconsin, lead PI

• Andrew W. Stevens, University of Wisconsin

• Lindsey Day Farnsworth, University of Wisconsin

• Hikaru Peterson, University of Minnesota

• Zhaohui Wu, Oregon State University

• Plus additional academics and practitioners not affiliated with AOTM

Lessons from COVID-19: Positioning Regional Food Supply Chains for Future Pandemics, Natural Disasters and Human-made Crises  9/15/20 - 9/14/22

• Hikaru Peterson, University of Minnesota, lead PI

• Michelle Miller, University of Wisconsin

• Andrew W. Stevens, University of Wisconsin

• Lindsey Day Farnsworth, University of Wisconsin

• Zhaohui Wu, Oregon State University

• Plus additional academics and practitioners not affiliated with AOTM

Impacts and Implications of Transportation Networks on Food Distribution and Accessibility: Rural vs. Urban 8/5/21 - 8/31/22

• Michelle Miller, University of Wisconsin, lead PI

• Plus additional academics and practitioners not affiliated with AOTM

Sacramento food System Assessment and Partnership Project 9/29/20 - 3/29/22

• Gail Feenstra, UC SAREP, subcontract to Sacramento Food Policy Council/ GreenTech.

Strengthening California Local Food Networks with Agritourism and Direct Sales 9/30/2020 - 9/29/23

• Gail Feenstra, UC SAREP, lead PI

• Plus ANR extension agents and agritourism organizations in 4 regions

Expanding Opportunities in Hospital Food Service for Small and Midscale California Specialty Crop Growers 11/1/20 - 4/30/23

• Gail Feenstra, UC SAREP, subcontract with UC Davis Medical Center

Farm Succession and Transfer Dynamics: Sustaining an Agriculture of the Middle in the U.S.   2021-2023.

• Hinrichs, C., Penn State Lead PI

• Joannides, J., Renewing the Countryside

• Ostrom, M. University of Washington

• Fitzsimmons, J.A., University of Massachusetts Amherst

• Ruhf, K., Land for Good

Publications:

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.

• Hikaru Peterson, University of Minnesota

• Sarah Lloyd & Michelle Miller, University of Wisconsin

• 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

Grants:

Listed here are the major grants, both new and ongoing, involving NC-1198 project members.  Several members have also written and submitted other grant proposals with collaborators from outside NC-1198 on issues related to AOTM that are not listed here. 

• Bruce, A.B., I. Leslie, and J. Carson. Increasing Consumer Participation in Alternative Food Networks to Support Small and Medium-Sized Farms. U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, $299,723, 2022-2025

• Jablonski, B.B.R, Sullins, J. Martin, C. Gifford, and T. Bass. Strengthening Opportunities Along the Meat Supply Chain to Promote Sustainable Agriculture in Intermountain States, Western SARE Research and Education, $349,994, 2021-2024

• Jablonski, B.B.R. Exploring the Scale, Scope and New Supply Chain Linkages in the Local Food Sector, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, $166,000, 2021-2024

• Jablonski, B.B.R., M. Carolan, Z. Plakias, J. O’Hara, and A. Chaifetz. The Impact of Farm to School Legislation on Farmers, Supply Chain Businesses, Rural Communities and Economics, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, $499,574, 2021-2024

• Jablonski, B.B.R., and J. Hadrich. Profitability of U.S. Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, $116,998, 2020-2022

• Jablonski, B.B.R., M. Sullins, and D. Thilmany. Meeting risk management training needs for direct market/short supply chain producers. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Extension Risk Management Education, $50,975, 2020-2021

• Inwood, S.M. Plakias, Z., and Clark, J. and Ohio Emergency Management. “Ohio Emergency Management food System Research Proposal.” OSU InFACT Linkage & Leverage Grant. 2021. $34,866.

• Schuster, E., and S. Lyon Planning Committee and Project Team: Gwin, B., Hill, M., Hunt, T., Inwood, S.M., and L. Shoup. 2020. “Non-Conventional Partnerships Can Secure Food, Environment and Rural Economies.” OSU InFACT Linkage & Leverage Conference Grant. $9,360.

• Breger, D. Fitzsimmons, J.A., Mupambi, G., Clay, C., Sandler, H., Cole, E. Impacts of Dual- Use Solar on Crop Productivity and the Agricultural Economy in Massachusetts and Beyond. U.S. Department of Energy. $1,819,996. 2021 – 2024.

• Fitzsimmons, J.A., Kinchla, A.K. Improving Access and Motivation for Small and Medium Processors in the Northeast. USDA FSOP. $368,120. 2019-2022

• Davidson, R., Cornman, K. Kinchla, A., Fitzsimmons, J.A. Exploring the Feasibility of a Massachusetts Shared-use Dairy Processing Facility, USDA AMS. $175,353.00. 2019-2022.

• Nolden, A., Fitzsimmons, , Kahl, K., Kinchla, A. Consumer and fisherman attitudes towards sustainable local seafood, NSF ADVANCE. $15,000. 2019-2021

• Fitzsimmons, J., Nolden, A., Kahl, K., Kinchla, A. Sustainable Local Seafood. $7,500. 2021-2022