The San Francisco Food Systems Guidebook

January 2003

Editor: Leah Rimkus

Director: Paula K. Jones

San Francisco Food Systems Council
Funding provided by:
San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section
The Columbia Foundation

Published by:
The San Francisco Food Systems Council
1390 Market St., Suite 910
San Francisco, CA 94102
www.sffoodsystems.org

We welcome limited duplication of contents of this guide for non-profit and

educational purposes. Please credit the source in all copies.
Dear Reader:

Thank you for your interest in The San Francisco Food Systems Guidebook! This is an
exciting time to be in San Francisco doing food systems work. It is our hope that you will
consider becoming involved in bridging San Francisco residents closer to the food system.

The title of this guidebook—The San Francisco Food Systems Guidebook—reflects the mission
of the San Francisco Food Systems Council, an ongoing partnership between the City and
County of San Francisco’s Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health Section and the
San Francisco Foundation’s Community Initiative Funds. Formed as a response to a growing
concern around access to affordable, nutritious food in the City and County of San Francisco, the
Council has been working toward bridging San Francisco residents to locally produced,
sustainable agriculture therefore creating linkages between urban markets and local, regional
farmers.

Part of the San Francisco Food Systems Council’s work is toward community food assessments
that encourage you, a resident of the City and County of San Francisco, to take an active role in
deciding how to approach food systems work in your community. It is our hope that this
guidebook will be used to assist people in examining and exploring ways to become more
connected to the food system and find effective, sustainable solutions to a number of food
problems that affect your community.

The guidebook is a training resource for community groups and everyday people to use in order
to understand local food issues and how to connect a food assessment with structural and
sustainable change. The intention of this guidebook is to provide residents of the City and
County of San Francisco with a workbook of ideas, networks, methods and tools to start
approaching food issues that affect their community. We know that a number of Community
Food Assessment guidebooks exist. Our efforts to produce this particular guidebook, salient to
San Francisco, reflects our commitment to ensuring that local food systems work is community
driven, community relevant and community owned.

The staff at the San Francisco Food Systems Council serves as a resource for connecting San
Franciscans to policy efforts, programming and funding that will ensure a holistic, sustainable
food system. We are staffed by social scientists, planners, community health workers, advocates
and residents that are committed in building community capacity around the food system.

This guidebook was generously supported by funding from the Columbia Foundation and the
San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section. We have made every
attempt to ensure the quality, integrity and content of this guidebook. It is our hope at the San
Francisco Food Systems Council that you will find this guidebook useful in your endeavors to
address food issues in your community.

Sincerely,

Paula Jones, Director Fernando Ona, Board President

EDITOR’S NOTES
Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge those individuals who reviewed and commented on initial drafts
of this guidebook. This includes Cheryl Magid, Karlene Hines, Dyeshia Sampson, Earl
Hampton, and members of SFDPH Health Inequities Research Unit, most notably Irene Yen.

What is The San Francisco Food Systems Guidebook?

This guidebook is a resource tool for persons wanting to start, continue, or bolster food-
related assessments and projects. On the pages that follow, you will find funding sources,
tips for conducting research, links to data sources, methods of data collection, descriptions
and contact information for local and state government agencies, community based
organizations, and more! The San Francisco Food Systems Council works to promote a
systemic ecological approach to the food system. We believe it is important for San
Francisco residents and decision-makers to take a broad perspective of the food system,
acknowledging the interconnections between areas like food, nutrition, agriculture, public
health, and community economic development. We encourage readers to discover the
origins of their food (beyond the store shelf) and consider how this affects society and the
environment at large. By talking about food issues in this way, we hope to convey that
each decision, practice, service, institution, and industry in the vast food system affects all
other components and thus affects the health and well being of San Franciscans.

Who is the Guidebook for?

This guidebook is intended to be a resource for anyone who is interested in or already

working on food-related issues in San Francisco. This might include local residents,
community-based organizations, community activists, schoolteachers, or government staff.
Food related issues could include hunger, food security, public food assistance programs,
charitable feeding programs, pesticide usage, migrant farming, community gardens, food
marketing, food safety, school food service, or composting of food scraps.

How to use the Guidebook?

Use the Table of Contents on the following page to direct you to specific areas of interest.
The guidebook is divided into four major sections (separated by tabs): background,
community food assessment, taking action in your community, and appendices. Because
we are trying to promote an ecological perspective, most sections are organized in terms of
the different stages of the food system, which we label production, distribution,
consumption, and disposal. You can use these terms as reference points to steer you to
your particular area of interest. A glossary, or list of key definitions, is provided on pages
7-9. Terms included in the glossary are italicized throughout the guidebook text.

You can help us!

The last couple pages in the guidebook are feedback forms. Your input will help us
immensely. If you have time, please fill out the follow-up survey and send it to our office.
Additionally, if you have any resources to add to future versions (funders, data sources,
etc.), please let us know by sending in the submissions form.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Background Page
A. Snapshots of the food crisis 1-2
B. Explanations for the food crisis 3
C. Solutions to the food crisis 4-5
D. Examples of community food security 6
E. Definitions of key terms 7-10
F. Planning a community project 11
G. Finding the funding 12-14

II. Community food assessments

A. Description of community food assessments 15
B. Examples of previous Bay Area assessments 16-18
C. Conducting an assessment 19
1. Possible indicators to measure 20-30
2. Possible data sources 31-42
3. Traditional methods for collecting data 43-45
4. Informal exercises for collecting data 46-48
5. Help with analyzing and disseminating 49

III. Taking action in your community

A. Prioritizing and selecting actions 50
B. Involving other organizations 42
1. List of City and County agencies 52-54
2. List of State agencies 55-56
3. List of other key food system organizations 57-62
C. Guidelines for taking action 63
D. Evaluating your work 64

IV. Appendices
A. References 65-66
B. Worksheets 67-72
C. Sample food policies 73-76
SNAPSHOTS OF THE FOOD CRISIS
In California between 1991 and 1996
nearly 4,000 cases of acute pesticide
poisoning among farmworkers were
reported by the state. More alarming is
the fact that many cases go
unreported.1
In a survey of food access conducted
in San Francisco’s Bayview
neighborhood, 55% of respondents
said that safety was a barrier to
purchasing healthful food like fresh
fruits and vegetables.2
A farmer at Heart of the City Farmers’
Market will usually sell peaches at a
lower price than Safeway, but will earn
more take home money since he is not
paying for extra packaging, distribution
and marketing costs.
The average American farmer receives
only 20 cents of every dollar spent on
food in the supermarket.3
The number of calories the U.S. food
supply can provide for each American
increased from 3,300 in 1970 to 3,800
in the late 1990’s - adding 500 per
day.4 The effects are seen on
Americans’ waistlines. Currently nearly
40% of San Franciscans are
overweight.5
1
Pesticide Action Network of North America, 1999
2 Youth Envision: Bayview Hunters Point Food Study, 2001
3 USDA Food Review 2000; 23(3): 27-30
4 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service
5 California Health Interview Survey, 2000
1
In California, 14.1% of low-income
youth (0-12 years) are overweight
compared to 10.7% nationally.6
31% of California teens ages 12-
17 are at risk or are already
overweight. This figure was higher
in Latino (36%) and African
American (50%) teens.7
A single, 24-year-old mother of
three children living in Section
Eight housing in San Francisco
was asked what kind of food she
buys for her family.
“We eat from the 99-cent menu at
McDonalds a lot.“8
Americans can experience up to
70 daily exposures to a class of
toxic chemicals known as POPs
(persistent organic pollutants)--just
by eating.9
Foods that are available and
actively promoted are not equal
across neighborhoods. In a
survey of the South of Market,
Tenderloin and Mission
neighborhoods, 44% of stores sold
malt liquor and/or beer at a
cheaper price than bottled water.
None of the stores surveyed in the
Marina sold malt liquor.10
6 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) 1998 Annual Report
Highlights, 2000. California Department of Health Services
7 California Teenage Eating, Exercise and Nutrition Survey, 1998
8 Interview conducted by F. Ona
9 Pesticide Action Network North America, 2000
10 Alcohol Outlet Survey Report, Youth Leadership Institute, 2001
 Factory farms confine thousands of A study commissioned by the California
animals in a single facility and produce Integrated Waste Management Board
staggering amounts of animal waste. in 1999 found that food was the
Too often, this waste leaks into our number one material that was being
rivers and streams, fouling our air, disposed in California landfills. The
contaminating our drinking water and category included discarded meat
spreading disease. According to the scraps, dairy products, egg shells, fruit
EPA, hog, chicken and cattle waste or vegetable peels, and other food
has polluted 35,000 miles of rivers in items from homes, stores, and
22 states and contaminated restaurants. Overall, it contributed an
groundwater in 17 states.11 estimated 5,893,241 tons, accounting
for 15.7% of the entire waste stream.15

32,554 children in San Francisco are

eligible to receive free or reduced
meals through the National School In a 1998 study of adolescent eating
Breakfast Program, yet 72% of them habits, almost half of 1,200 teens
are not being served.12 surveyed reported eating no
vegetables at all on a typical day.16

When asked about the Food

Assistance Programs she used, a San
Franciscan single mother of two
commented, “Instead of improving husbandry
“They got lots of rules and stuff so you practices, which would make the
have to make sure you know what animals healthier, we just shoot ‘em up
you’re doing and everything. But once with drugs. It’s cheaper that way, and
you got things down you get the hang because this is a competitive business,
of it then it ain’t bad after the first I’ve got to do it, too. But in the
couple of times.”13 meantime the general public is
catching on, and getting afraid of the
residues in the meat. And I’ll tell you
something. I don’t blame them.”17
“I don’t have tons of money to buy
good food all the time. We eat a lot of According to California Food Policy
cheap meals. When I have time, I go Advocates, 87,451 San Franciscans
to Safeway and see what’s on are currently eligible to receive monthly
sale…Even if I did have money to buy food stamps. Of this number 50,301 or
good food like at them health food 58% are not participating in the
places, I don’t have time or the energy program.18
to make it…You know it’s tough to work
12 to 13 hours a day and try to juggle
everything else. Even gettin’ to the
Safeway takes me an hour or more
dependin’ on when MUNI comes, if it
ever decides to come!”14

15 Statewide Waste Characterization Study, California Integrated Waste

11 “The Rap Sheet on Animal Factories,” Sierra Club, 2002
12 San Francisco County: A Profile of Poverty, Hunger & Food Assistance,
Management Board, 1999
16 California Teen Eating, Exercise and Nutrition Survey, California
California Food Policy Advocates, 2002
13 Interview conducted by F. Ona
Department of Health Services and Public Health Institute, 1998
17 Cattleman quoted in Diet for a New America
14 29-year old woman living with husband and two children in San
18 San Francisco County: A Profile of Poverty, Hunger & Food Assistance,
Francisco. Interviewed by F. Ona
California Food Policy Advocates, 2002

2
EXPLANATIONS FOR THE “FOOD CRISIS”
The facts and quotes listed on the preceding pages share something in common: they all
portray people’s experiences within the food system. The food system encompasses the
entire collection of processes that bring food from the farm to your plate. -> Do you still eat
off a plate these days? This system includes, but is not limited to: growing, harvesting,
processing, packaging, shipping, marketing, cooking, disposing, and recycling issues. The
current food system is in what some might call a crisis. Over the past few decades, the
process of bringing food from farm to table has grown ever more complex and has stretched
further and further away from community control.

With this trend comes a mountain of threats and injustices like the ones outlined. The
structure of today’s food system, directly or indirectly, can cause substantial damage –
exploiting workers, polluting and degrading the environment, expanding landfill waste,
facilitating food contamination and poisoning, increasing chronic diseases like obesity and
heart disease…even intensifying hunger! How does your experience, and the experience of
your neighbors, tie into the food system? Consider the following questions regarding the link
between the food system and the well being of your community.

ƒ How much do you know about and care about what you eat?
ƒ Where does your food come from and how does it get to you?
ƒ How does the food system affect the health and well being of your community?
ƒ Would you say that all members of your community are food secure?
ƒ What signs are there that tell you that your community is food (in)secure?
ƒ What would you like your food system to look like in the next 5 years? 20 years?
ƒ What issues prevent you and/or your community from reaching that vision?

In San Francisco, hunger and food insecurity are widespread realities, especially among the
poor and most marginalized groups. Numerous communities lack healthy, fresh food assets
and the ability to exercise free and mindful choices in their own nourishment. Within an
urban region like San Francisco, residents are often completely disassociated from all
aspects of the food cycle - its operations and larger effects. For this reason, the
contemporary food system is thriving off communities’ feelings of indifference, confusion,
and powerlessness.

How does a family eat a healthy diet in a neighborhood that doesn’t have a single grocery
store selling fresh food? How can a low-income resident benefit from a farmers’ market if
food stamps are not accepted? Why would children and adolescents choose healthy meals
and snacks when billboards, commercials, magazines and other messages tell them
differently? How can San Franciscans support safer, more eco-friendly farming practices if
they don’t know where their food comes from? This guidebook seeks to build consciousness,
capacity, and collaboration around food system issues in San Francisco in order to create
community-led and lasting change. The text guides you step-by-step in assessing and
addressing the knowledge, skills, living environment, working environment, social networks,
programs and policies in your community - all of which influence people’s experiences within
the greater food system.

The food system includes, but is

not limited to: growing, harvesting,
processing, packaging, shipping,
marketing, cooking, disposing, and
recycling issues.
3
SOLUTIONS TO THE “FOOD CRISIS”

-> What can be done about this “food crisis” and is anyone doing it? Actually, community
food movements have sprung up across the country in recent years. Residents are coming
together to gain greater control over their food assets. Though the community food security
movement may still be young and unseen by much of the country, it is well rooted in and
remains connected to some of the major social justice movements from recent history.

The anti-hunger movement

The United Nations has always identified access to adequate food as both an individual right
and a collective responsibility. The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed
that "everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being
of himself and his family, including food…” Hunger was first formally addressed by the
United States government during the Depression years. The federal entitlement programs
we know today, like food stamps, started in the late 1960’s when social movements
exposed hunger and poverty across the nation. Over time, Food Stamps, The National
School Lunch Program, The National School Breakfast Program, The Child and Adult Care
Food Program, and WIC guaranteed a minimum base of nutrition for all persons at risk for
hunger. In periods when public funding and support for such food and nutrition services
decreased, private advocacy and charitable organizations stepped in. Since the 1970’s,
private food assistance has grown from a few soup kitchens and food pantries to a network
of 200 food banks, which distribute food to over 50,000 charitable feeding programs across
the country. Today, a whole slew of national and international non-profit organizations like
World Hunger Year, Food First, Bread for the World, Children’s Defense Fund and the Food
Research and Action Center defend and advocate for every person’s right to food.

The environmental justice movement

In 1982 a protest erupted against the proposed siting of a landfill for polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) in a North Carolina county of primarily African American residents. This
event has been cited as the beginning of the environmental justice movement. During the
1980’s and 1990’s “the environment” evolved from a term focused on the planet’s air, land,
water, and wildlife to a term used in a community context to talk about disparities in
income, transportation, health, and the general livability of urban and rural areas. (Gottlieb,
2001) It was during this time that the phrase "environmental racism" was coined to refer to
policies and activities which, whether intentional or unintentional, resulted in the
disproportionate exposure of racial minorities to environmental hazards. Further unveilings
of “disproportionate burden” amongst minority and low-income communities, like unfair
housing conditions and negligence in brownfield restoration, fueled this movement that
fought for civil rights and the protection of healthy living and working environments for all.

The community food security movement

“Food security” was a term that largely replaced “hunger” during the 1980’s. It was a way
to investigate the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food in a community rather
than focusing on physical signs of hunger in an individual. The community food security
movement focused on prevention through environmental and political structures and long-
term community empowerment rather than personal choice, individual responsibility and
treatment. Community food security involves both the public and private sector and strives
to protect the right of all persons to “obtain, at all times, a culturally acceptable,
nutritionally adequate diet through local, non-emergency sources.” (Ashman et al., 1993)

In 1994, a national non-profit called The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) was
formed. This organization was charged with a mission to develop self-reliance among

4
communities in obtaining food and to create a food system that was regionally based and
grounded in the principles of justice, democracy, and sustainability. In 1996 the U.S.
Department of Agriculture endorsed the idea of community food security by establishing a
Community Food Projects competitive grants program. These grants support projects
"designed to meet the food needs of low-income people, increase the self-reliance of
communities in providing for their own food needs, and promote comprehensive, inclusive,
and future-oriented solutions to local food, farm, and nutrition problems." In the program's
first year, thirteen organizations from Maine to Hawaii received a total of $1 million in
funding. In 1999, the Department of Agriculture announced the creation of a new domestic
Community Food Security Initiative that would aid grass-roots efforts to reduce hunger and
improve nutrition. The division was to give technical assistance to those states,
communities, and nonprofit organizations which aimed to develop sustainable local
infrastructures and increase food security.

The hunger, environmental justice, and community food security movements all work to
defend access to and equity of fundamental human rights like food, water, housing,
transportation, and health. Interestingly, cities and counties across the U.S. have
established departments that address the provision and safety of these basic needs, yet no
municipality has ever developed a department focused on food. (Allen, 1999) It is helpful
to remember the roots of this food system movement when seeking and recruiting key
people and organizations to involve in new community initiatives. The proposed solution to
the food system crisis we are experiencing is first and foremost a creation of stronger
linkages between groups working on food, nutrition, public health, agriculture, and
community economic development issues. Whether realized or not, many organizations are
working towards the same vision of healthy, equitable, and sustainable living and working
environments. Once we understand the roles and connections within this vast food system,
we will be better prepared to reach across it and shape it into a new, desired reality.
Throughout this guidebook, there are inspiring stories of communities reaching across the
system, establishing linkages, and applying inventive strategies. We encourage you to read
on and to bring the same kind of inventiveness and energy to projects and programs that
will be meaningful to San Francisco.

The proposed solution to the food system

crisis we are experiencing is first and
foremost a creation of stronger linkages
between groups working on food, nutrition,
public health, agriculture, and community
economic development issues.

5
EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY

Farmers’ markets – Farmers’ markets provide an opportunity for consumers to interact

directly with the people who grow the food they are buying and for farmers to learn more
about what their customers want. Food that is sold and purchased at farmers’ markets
travels a shorter distance from field to table than most food in the grocery store, thus
saving fuel and helping to protect the environment. Farmers’ markets support a more just
and sustainable food system by contributing to the income of small local farmers and
providing fresh, healthy produce to communities at reasonable prices. According to the
2000 National Farmers’ Market Directory, there are currently over 2,800 farmers’ markets
operating in the United States. For more info, visit:
www.dcn.davis.ca.us/~rmacnear/Listing/Full.html. Farmers’ markets in San Francisco:

Ferry Plaza Heart of the City Alemany Farmers Market

Tuesday (10:30am - 2:30pm) Wednesday (7:00am - 5:30pm) Saturday (6:00am - 5:00pm)
Embarcadero & Market Sunday (7:00am - 5:00pm) 100 Alemany Blvd.
Saturday (9:00am - 1:30pm) United Nations Plaza Junction of Hwy 101 and 280
Embarcadero & Green Market between 7th and 8th

Community and school gardens – Community and school gardens are public green
spaces in urban areas used by people of the surrounding neighborhood or school to grow
produce and plants. Community gardens provide spaces for community interaction,
decision-making, problem-solving, creativity and celebration. They also provide
opportunities to learn about food production, develop job skills, generate food-related
businesses, and create links to nearby restaurants and soup kitchens. Gardens can be built
in any type of vacant lot if there are resources available. In 1998, the American Community
Gardening Association estimated that there were 900 community gardens nationwide,
cultivated by two million community gardeners! For more information, visit:

American Community California Department of Education The City Farmer

Gardening Assn. www.cde.ca.gov/nsd/nets/g_index.htm http://cityfarmer.org/
www.communitygarden.org

Community supported agriculture (CSA) – CSAs are farm arrangements in which a

group of people buys shares into the eventual harvest of a farm before the crops are
planted. In exchange for their investment, shareholders receive a box of fresh fruits and
vegetables (and sometimes, other products such as local cheeses, fresh flowers, eggs and
meats), on a weekly basis throughout the harvest season. CSA is delivered to a central
drop-off site in the community. One can “subscribe” on a monthly basis. CSA
arrangements provide a “guaranteed” market for farmers’ produce, keep food dollars in the
local community, and increase urban residents’ understanding of how, where and by whom
food is grown. Today, more than 1,000 CSA’s are supported by members of local
communities. To find a CSA farm near you, contact:

Robyn Van En Center Alternative Farming Sustainable Agriculture

www.csacenter.org Information System Research and Education
(717) 261-2880 www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa www.sare.org/csa/states.htm
(301) 504-6559 (435) 797-2257

6
DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS

Below is a sampling of definitions for key concepts you will find throughout this guidebook.
There are certainly several ways to define these concepts. However, only one or two
descriptions are presented for each term, with special priority given to the most widely
accepted sources. The list is in alphabetical order.

Community Action Model (CAM)

Asset-based model that focuses on the strengths or capacity of a community to create

changes from within. The CAM moves away from projects that focus solely on changing the
lifestyle and behavior of individuals to projects that mobilize community members and
agencies to change the environmental factors that promote economic and environmental
inequalities.1

Community Food Assessment

A collaborative and participatory process that systematically examines a broad range of

community food issues and assets, so as to inform change actions designed to make the
community more food secure.2

The collection of data that will determine whether households in the community have access
to nutritionally adequate, sufficient, and culturally acceptable foods to satisfy their dietary
needs.3

Community Food Security

Condition in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally
adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance
and social justice.4

Ensuring the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food in communities, through the
support and creation of local food production and distribution systems.5

Community food security focuses on food access within a community, especially (but not
exclusively) for low-income people. Ideally, true community food security emphasizes local
sources of production and processing in a food system that supports economic and
environmental sustainability, but the overall emphasis is on improving access.6

[See also food security]

Community Food System

A community food system is promoted as an ideal – a food system in which food production,
processing, distribution and consumption are integrated to enhance the environmental,
economic, social and nutritional health of a particular geographic location. A community

7
food system can refer to a relatively small area, such as a neighborhood, or progressively
larger areas – towns, cities, counties, regions, or bioregions. The concept of community
food systems is sometimes used interchangeably with "local" or "regional" food systems, but
by including the word "community" there is an emphasis on strengthening (or developing)
the relationships between all components of the food system. This emphasis reflects a
prescriptive approach to building a food system, one that holds sustainability – economic,
environmental and social – as a long-term goal toward which a community strives.7

[See also food system]

Food Policy Council

A group that brings together representatives from a wide range of public and private food
and agriculture-related efforts for information sharing, policy advocacy, and catalyzing new
collaborative projects. Typically organized by state or local governments or by a coalition of
nonprofit groups, Food Policy Councils, Networks, or Coalitions coordinate diverse entities in
order to build the community-based infrastructure needed for food security. Community
Food Security Networks and Coalitions can be formed by any group of concerned citizens,
but Food Policy Councils must have the involvement of at least one government agency.8

Food Security

Access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food security
includes at a minimum the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, and
an assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways (e.g., without
resorting to emergency food supplies, scavenging, stealing, or other coping strategies).9

Food System

The food system includes everything involved in creating food, its journey from the farm to
the table, and the things that are left after the food is produced and consumed. The food
system can be defined as the manner in which food is produced on a farm or fishery,
transformed by processing, made available for purchase, consumed, and eventually
discarded. The food system can be described in terms of components including inputs, food
production, food transformation, distribution, food access, consumption, and outputs.10

The term "food system" is used frequently in discussions about nutrition, food, health,
community economic development and agriculture. The food system includes all processes
involved in keeping us fed: growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting,
marketing, consuming and disposing of food. It also includes the inputs needed and outputs
generated at each step. The food system operates within and is influenced by social,
economic and natural environments. Each step is also dependent on human resources that
provide labor, research and education.11

Gleaning

Gleaning is the historic practice of gathering food that is left over after the harvest. In
broader terms, “food recovery” is the collection of surplus food for distribution to the poor
and hungry. Today, these terms refer to the collection of: crops from farmers' fields that

8
have already been mechanically harvested or on fields where it is not economically
profitable to harvest; perishable produce from wholesale and retail sources; prepared foods
from the food service industry; processed foods with long shelf lives.12

Participatory Action Research (PAR)

PAR is a set of research methods that combine research and action. Based on the idea that
local people are the experts on their own lives, PAR allows communities to research their
own problems, analyze them and come up with solutions. PAR has a set of values that
determine that the research process must be democratic, equitable, liberating, and life
enhancing. PAR methodology involves a cyclic, rather than linear process, which generally
begins with building a basis for participation by developing relationships between
stakeholders and negotiating roles and responsibilities.13

Sustainability

The ability of a system or process to be maintained or kept in existence. Something that is

sustainable will not fall apart or sink in the foreseeable future. Sustainable systems should
be able to operate indefinitely. A sustainable food system allows the present generation to
meet its food needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
needs. Sustainable diets do not compromise others’ ability to feed themselves today, or our
own ability to feed ourselves in the future. To be sustainable, food system outputs must not
damage the resources that are required by the food system as inputs. For example, the
natural environment provides many of the resources required for the food system to
operate. But, if the operation of the food system damages the environment or depletes
resources, then it will not be able to continue functioning indefinitely.14

A sustainable society meets the needs of the present without sacrificing the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.15

The notion that the next generation will not be deemed to a lower lever of welfare because
of what is done today. "A sustainable community effort consists of a long-term, integrated,
systems approach to developing and achieving a healthy community by jointly addressing
economic, environmental, and social issues. Fostering a strong sense of community and
building partnerships and consensus among key stakeholders are also important elements
of such efforts.”16

South of Market Community Garden

9
1
San Francisco Department of Public Health, Community Health Education Section, Community Action Training
Curriculum, November 2000.
2
Community Food Security Coalition, What’s Cooking in Your Food System? A Guide to Community Food
Assessment, 2002.
3
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Community Food Security Assessment Tool Kit, July 2002. Page 8.
http://ers.usda.gov/publications/efan02013/
4
Community Food Security Coalition, What’s Cooking in Your Food System? A Guide to Community Food
Assessment, 2002.
5
Ryerson Centre for Studies in Food Security, Distance Learning Course in Food Security and Food Policy, Winter
2002. http://www.ryerson.ca/~foodsec/
6
Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Agriculture, Food and Communities.
www.cals.cornell.edu/agfoodcommunity/
7
Ibid.
8
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Community Food Security Resource Kit, September 2000. Page 5.
www.reeusda.gov/food_secuirty/scgc/resoukit.htm
9
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Community Food Security Assessment Tool Kit, July 2002. Page 3.
http://ers.usda.gov/publications/efan02013/
10
Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Food System: Building Youth Awareness through
Involvement, 1999. Page 14.
11
Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Agriculture Food and Communities.
www.cals.cornell.edu/agfoodcommunity/
12
U.S. Department of Agriculture, A Citizen’s Guide to Food Recovery.
www.usda.gov/news/pbs/gleaning/conent.htm
13
Green LW, George MA, Daniel M, Frankish CJ, Herbert CP, Bowie WR and O’Neil M. Background of Participatory
Research. Chapter in Murphy D, Scammell M and Sclove R. (eds.) Doing Community-Based Research: A
Reader. Amherst, MA: The Loka Institute, 1997. pp.53-66.
14
Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Food System: Building Youth Awareness through
Involvement, 1999. Page 12.
15
United Nations’ World Commission on Environment and Development.
16
Lachman BE. Critical Technologies Institute, Linking Sustainable Community Activities to Pollution Prevention: A
Sourcebook, April 1997. Accessed from http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/overview/definitions.shtml

Community food security strives to link and

integrate diverse fields, including community
economic development, anti-hunger, social justice,
local and sustainable agriculture, public health,
nutrition, and environmentalism.

10
PLANNING A COMMUNITY PROJECT
From the beginning, anyone who expects to affect change in the community food system
will need to have a plan. The Community Action Model (as outlined below) is one that is
used frequently in the San Francisco Department of Public Health. It provides a framework
for involving community members in a strategic planning process. It is important to
remember that no attempt to dismantle health and social inequities can be successful
without full involvement and leadership from those most affected by social, environmental
and economic injustices. This model works towards environmental and social change by
drawing on the strengths that already exist within the community and further building
capacity. The steps below can be used to plan a community food project.

1. Identify and train participants

First, create a community food team by identifying key players in the community food
system and any other residents interested in food issues. Train team members in order
to increase knowledge, develop skills, and build capacity. Using participants’ knowledge
and skills, choose a specific area of focus, project goals and desired outcome(s).

2. Define, design and conduct community diagnosis

Explore the community’s major concerns around food issues, the causes of these
problems, and the resources to overcome them. A community food assessment is like a
report card that will tell you how your food system is doing and what you can improve.

3. Analyze results of community diagnosis

After collecting your data, analyze, summarize and organize the information into reports
and presentations for your team members, for community members, and for outside
stakeholders or policymakers.

4. Select action or activity and implement

Based on the findings from the community diagnosis, develop an action plan to achieve
the desired changes in the community food system. Draw on the strengths and assets
of community and team members. Set up objectives and plan for evaluation.

5. Maintain and enforce action or activity

After completing your activities and actions, ensure that efforts will be maintained over
the long term and enforced by the appropriate bodies. Evaluate the community action
process and celebrate your accomplishments.

11
FINDING THE FUNDING

Every community group has its own individual strengths, weaknesses, and needs. Because
of this, we presume that communities’ initiatives around the San Francisco food system will
all start and progress at different levels. Despite these differences, however, we assume
that all groups need funding sources to start and/or sustain their efforts. Fortunately, there
are public and private foundations and grantmakers who have shown an interest in
community food projects and issues like environmental justice, hunger, health inequities,
and sustainable agriculture. The following is a list of some funders that might sponsor your
initiatives. Be sure to do your research on the foundation before calling. Have a solid idea
of your proposal with a realistic budget, a plan for evaluation and measurable, sustainable
outcomes.

Belton Fund CANFIT Foundation

512 Main Street 2140 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 610
Belton, MO Berkeley, CA 94704
(816) 322-3977 (510) 644-1533
www.belton.org www.canfit.org

Ben & Jerry Foundation Carnegie Foundation

30 Community Drive 555 Middlefield Road
S. Burlington, VT 05403 Menlo Park, CA 94025
(802) 846-1500 (650) 566-5100
www.benjerry.com www.carnegie.org/

C.A.W. Foundation Center for Ecoliteracy

Presidio Building 1016, Suite 300 2522 San Pablo Avenue
San Francisco, CA 29906 Berkeley, CA 94702
www.pacificfoundationservice.com (510) 845-1439
www.ecoliteracy.org

California Endowment Charles Steward Mott Foundation

21650 Oxnard Street, Suite 1200 333 Westfort Street, Suite 1900
Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Detroit, MI 48226
(818) 703-3311 (313) 963-5060
www.calendow.org www.motts.org

California Nutrition Network Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation

1720 South Maple Avenue One Lombard Street, Suite 305,
Fresno, CA 93702 San Francisco, CA 94111
(559) 456-7285 (415) 989-9839
www.cefresno.ucdavis/edu www.cehcf.org

12
 Compton Foundation Fred Gellert Family Foundation
5353 Middlefield Road, Suite 160 361 Third Street, Suite A,
Menlo Park, CA 94025 San Rafael, CA 94901
(650) 328-0101 (415) 256-5433
www.comptonfoundation.org www.fdncenter.org/grantmaker/fredgellert

Deer Creek Foundation Gaia Fund

720 Olive Street, Suite 1975 235 Montgomery Street, Suite 1011,
St. Louis, MO 63101 San Francisco, CA 94104
(314) 241-3228 www.foundationgaia.org

Dept. of Children Youth and their Families Goldman Fund

1390 Market Street, Suite 900, One Lombard Street, Suite 303,
San Francisco CA, 94102 San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 554-8990 (415) 788-7090
www.dcyf.state.ri.us www.goldmanfund.org

Dept. of Health and Human Services Greenville Foundation

714 P Street, Room 1350 283 Second Street East
Sacramento, California 95814 Sonoma, CA 95476
(916) 445-4171 (707) 938-9377
www.dhs.ca.gov/index.htm www.fdncenter.org/grantmaker/grnville

Drucker Foundation Jain Foundation

320 Park Avenue, 3rd floor 23650 Morrill Cutoff Road
New York, NY 10022 Los Gatos, CA 95033
(212) 224-1174 (408) 353-4705
www.pfdf.org www.jains.com/company/gratitude

EPA, National Center for Environmental Research James Irvine Foundation

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue One Market, Steuart Tower, Suite 2500
N.W. Washington, DC 20460 San Francisco, CA 94105
(202) 566-2244 (415) 777-2244
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/ www.irvine.org

Exloco Foundation Jenifer Altman Foundation

3030 Bridgeway, Suite 204, Presidio Building 1016, 1st floor
Sausalito, CA 94965 P.O Box 29209 San Francisco, CA 94129
(415) 332-2112 (415) 561-2182
www.exloco.org www.jaf.org

Foundation for Deep Ecology Jessie Smith Noyes

Building 1062 Fort Cronkhite East 39th Street 12th floor
Sausalito, CA 94965 New York, NY 10016
(415) 229-9939 (212) 684-6577
www.deepecology.org www.noyes.org

13
 Koret Foundation
33 New Montgomery Street, Suite 1090,
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 882-7740
www.koretfoundation.org
SF Mayor’s Office of Community Development
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 700
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 252-3100
www.ci.sf.ca.us/mocd/

Ludwick Family Foundation Share our Strength Foundation

P.O Box 1796 733 15th Street, NW, Suite 640
Glendora, CA 91740 Washington, DC 20005
(626) 852-0092 (800) 969--4767
www.ludwick.org www.strength.org

Mellam Family Foundation TIDES

P.O Box 610091 P.O Box 29903
Redwood City, CA 94061 San Francisco, CA 94129
www.mellam.org (415) 561-6400
www.tides.org/foundation

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation True North Foundation

PO Box 2316 P.O. Box 271308
Princeton, NJ 08543-2316 Fort Collins, CO 80527-1308
(888) 631-9989 (970) 223-5285
www.rwjf.org Contact: Ms. Kerry Anderson – Pres

Rockefeller Foundation UC SAREP

420 5th Street 1 Shield Avenue
New York, NY 10018 Davis, CA 95616
(212) 869-8500 (530) 752-7556
www.rockfound.org www.sarep.ucdavis.edu

SARE USDA Community Food Projects

1400 Independence Ave 1400 Independence Avenue
S.W. Washington, DC 20250 S.W. Washington, DC 20250
(202) 720-5384 (202) 205-0241
www.sare.org http://www.reeusda.gov/crgam/cfp/

San Francisco Department of the Environment Vanguard Foundation

11 Grove St. 383 Rhode Island Street, Suite 301
San Francisco, CA 94102 San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 355-3700 (415) 487-2111
www.sfgov.org/sfenvironment/ www.vanguardsf.org

The San Francisco Foundation

225 Bush Street, Suite 500,
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 733-8500
www.sff.org

14
DESCRIPTION OF COMMUNITY FOOD ASSESSMENTS
A community food assessment is a participatory and collaborative process that examines a
broad range of food-related issues and resources in order to inform actions to improve
community food security. Although federal nutrition and agricultural policies play a key role
in community food security, many decisions that affect a community’s food system are
made at the local level, including funding allocations, open space planning, program
development, and outreach. In contrast to traditional research conducted by universities
and private consultants, community food assessments can be of, by, and for communities
and their members. (This information is adapted from publications by the Community Food
Security Coalition.)

Why do a Community Food Assessment?

ƒ Identify food system and other deficiencies that face the community.
ƒ Inform decision-making, public policy and actions around the food system.
ƒ Improve program development and coordination.
ƒ Increase community participation in project(s) and in shaping the food system.
ƒ Build communities’ capacity to create positive change.
ƒ Ensure that project(s) respond to community resources and needs.
ƒ Help articulate a vision of what needs to get done in the community and how to set
priorities and goals to improve the local food system.
ƒ Identify potential partners, community resources, and opportunities.
ƒ Build new and stronger networks, partnerships, and coalitions.
ƒ Provide data that can be used in future proposals and reports.
ƒ Establish a long-term monitoring system with a clear set of indicators.
ƒ Organize information in a way that policy makers and funders will understand and
respond to.
ƒ Enhance visibility, awareness and understanding of food-related issues.

Components to consider collecting…

• Information on access to food

• Hunger and food security data
• Nutrition data
• Local agriculture data
• Inventory of community food resources
• Policy perspectives
• Socioeconomic characteristics
• Demographic characteristics

15
EXAMPLES OF PREVIOUS BAY AREA ASSESSMENTS
Below is a list of food-related assessments that have been conducted in the San Francisco
Bay Area. These local assessments measured indicators relating to food and/or hunger, but
not necessarily within the context of the greater food system. While some projects were
overseen and conducted by consumer groups or non-profits, the last two involved more
community participatory research. Contact the the specific organization listed to obtain a
copy of the assessment’s report or further details.

The Thin Red Line: How the Poor Still Pay More (1993)
A study of the problems faced by low-income consumers in accessing basic consumer
needs, such as decent affordable housing, quality food, health care, and banking and credit
services. The cities examined were Los Angeles (Mar Vista, Southeast, and Broadway-
Manchester) and Oakland (Rockridge, West Oakland, Fruitvale and Elmhurst). In relation to
food needs, researchers conducted a total market basket survey, which examined the price
of a monthly market basket for a family of four in different market areas. They also
assessed market demand in low-income and middle-income communities by considering
consumers’ driving time to food markets.
Consumers Union
West Coast Regional Office
1535 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94103-2512
(414) 431-6747

Hunger in San Francisco: Fragmented Services, Unmet Needs (1994)

A nine-month collaborative effort to study hunger in the community using a combination of
primary (focus groups and community meetings) and secondary research. The study
examined: (1) the extent of hunger among San Francisco residents, (2) the experience of
the hungry, and (3) the current network and resources of food assistance providers.
Estimates of food insecurity and hunger were based on poverty data from the 1990 U.S.
Census.
San Francisco Food Bank
900 Pennsylvania Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 282-1900

Hunger: The Faces and the Facts (1997)

A study of the ways in which hungry people use emergency food resources in San Francisco.
Staff and volunteers from the San Francisco Food Bank interviewed 433 clients at
emergency food programs such as soup kitchens and shelters. The San Francisco Food Bank
also surveyed 167 non-profit agencies with emergency and non-emergency food programs.
San Francisco Food Bank
900 Pennsylvania Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 282-1900

16
Improving Access to Food in Low-Income Communities:
An Investigation of Three Bay Area Neighborhoods (1996)
An investigation of barriers to nutritious and affordable food experienced by people living in
three San Francisco Bay Area low-income communities – The Tenderloin, Bayview/Hunters
Point, and Fruitvale. The project consisted of initial interviews and meetings with key
government leaders and non-government organizations, members of the food industry, and
residents representing distinct subpopulations within neighborhoods. Researchers
conducted 11 focus group interviews and 45 resident surveys in the 3 neighborhoods. They
also conducted a market basket survey to compare prices at food retailers in and near two
of the neighborhoods. The third part of the study consisted of a comprehensive literature
review as well as meetings and interviews with community food security experts nationwide.
California Food Policy Advocates
116 New Montgomery Street, Suite 530
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 777-4422

Case Study of Food Scrap Reduction in San Francisco (2000)

Pilot food scrap diversion programs were implemented in several school cafeterias. The City
of San Francisco Recycling Program implemented food scrap collection programs at five local
schools. The four participating elementary schools diverted a total of 1700 pounds of
organic waste per week. The fifth school, a private high school, was able to reduce the
number of bins used for collection by 50 percent. With the help of the program's
subcontractor, each of the schools designed a food scrap program that encompassed
education, outreach, organics collection for offsite composting, and some vermicomposting.
California Integrated Waste Management Board
1001 I Street
PO Box 4025
Sacramento, CA 95812-4025
(916) 341-6000

Youth Envision: Bayview Hunters Point Food Study (2001)

Youth driven food security program in Bayview Hungers Point initiated by a partnership
between San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) Environmental Health Section,
the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners (SLUG), and Literacy for Environmental
Justice (LEJ). A participatory action model was used to train youth. Project staff created a
questionnaire focused on identifying barriers to food security and exploring strategies to
increase access to nutritious food. The survey asked questions that were aimed at
identifying where people were getting their food, the barriers to purchasing healthy foods,
and what changes would help people to purchase healthy foods. Seventeen youth advocates
collected survey responses from more than 250 individuals in their neighborhood.
San Francisco Department of Public Health
Environmental Health Section
1390 Market Street, Suite 910
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 252-3800
fernando.ona@sfdph.org

17
Cultivating Health: A West Oakland Food Security Planning Project (2002)
First step of the West Oakland Food Security Planning project includes: (1) a needs
assessment to collect, analyze, and report the demographic socio-economic and health
related issues associated with food security, (2) identify the community resources, strengths
and assets that can be utilized in solving food security involving the residents of the
community, (3) link all the resources inside and outside the community to plan for the
implementation of a food security project.
UC Cooperative Extension, Alameda County
1131 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 131
Alameda CA 94502
(510) 567-6812
cealameda@ucdavis.edu

Questions to consider early on and throughout the process…

• What is the purpose of the assessment?

• Who is the audience for this information?
• What do you want to find out?
• How will the information help the community?
• What is the size of the assessment region?
• How is the region to be divided and will all parts be equally represented?
• What data already exists?
• How much money and time is available for data collection?
• Who will collect and analyze the data?

18
CONDUCTING AN ASSESSMENT
The following pages provide resources to get started on a community food assessment.
This process involves defining the community’s information needs, seeking out secondary
(or previously collected) data, discovering which indicators have not yet been measured,
designing survey instruments, collecting primary (or first-hand) data, and summarizing
findings. The ideas presented in this resource section were drawn largely from assessments
undertaken in other regions and from other community food security literature.

Indicators (pages 20-30) offers you a list of questions to answer about your community
food system. Community indicators are measurements that reflect the status of social,
economic and/or environmental systems and are often used to show changes in systems
over time. Many of the indicators listed here come from the San Francisco Sustainability
Plan of 1997.

Data Sources (pages 31-42) includes a list of resources that have secondary, or already
collected data. These are national surveys, studies and reports that supply numbers on
various indicators of interest. Some studies present national or statewide data, while others
provide county or even neighborhood statistics. Most can be accessed online or by calling
the sponsoring organization.

Methods (pages 43-48) provides a list of ways to collect first hand information, or primary
data in the community. Some traditional methods are more formal and time-consuming,
while others can be very informal, fun and creative.

In order to make your assessment most useful, we suggest that you strategically choose the
indicators, data sources, and methods most relevant for your community. What information
will help you change your community food system to a healthier, more equitable one?
Which data reflects the values and social goals of your community? Which data can be
easily collected and understood? Which data and methods will motivate and pave the way
to action? Consider who makes the decisions around your community food system and
what kind of information will speak to them. To help you prioritize this process, the pages
in the resource section have check boxes (F) for you to mark your favorites. Please be
mindful of the scale of ease/difficulty and usefulness/futility when considering different
indicators and methods. The scope and size of your assessment should balance well with the
financial and human resources that are available to you.

Cesar Chavez Elementary School Garden

19
 possible indicators to measure
The indicators listed on the following pages were selected largely from previous food
assessments across the country and from the San Francisco Sustainability Plan. This 1997
Plan outlined specific goals and objectives for the city to work towards, and includes an
entire chapter on Food and Agriculture. As the chapter recites, “It is imperative, when
planning for sustainability, that all cities consider the production, marketing and distribution
of food, as well as the recycling of food wastes, within their boundaries and bioregions.”

The indicators that follow are grouped into the different dimensions of the food system:
production, distribution, consumption and disposal. The list is by no means exhaustive and
we therefore encourage you to add your ideas regarding other valuable measures such as
socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, education and training, media and
communications, social capital, overall health, etc. You may select the items you are
interested in or find most useful. The column on the left (following the “V”) indicates the
name of the measure while the right column lists possible questions to ask.

There is no standard, one-size-fits-all set of indicators. They are entirely dependent on the
unique nature of your community and what you intend to do with the indicators in the
future. Don’t forget to consider secondary indicators that are not directly linked to the food
system, but provide compelling data. Examples might be local unemployment rate,
house/car ownership, neighborhood connection and trust, neighborhood safety, residents’
mobility, accessibility of public transit, or environmental contamination.

The ideal indicators are…

• Simple
• Statistically measurable
• Relevant to policy
• Reflective of community values
• Inexpensive and easy to collect
• Adaptable to change and trends
• Comparable to other years and other places
• Meaningful to community members
• Attractive to local media
(Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition)

20
 production indicators
V Existence of local policies around food,
agriculture, and land usage
V Number of vacant lots, brownfields
and available green space
V Location of vacant lots, brownfields
and available green space
V Amount of vacant city land that has
been converted to food production
uses
V Measures of food imports/exports to
and from the city
V Percentage of produce consumed that
is grown in California
V Average annual trucking costs for
fruits and vegetables
V Economic development initiatives or
community-owned food processing
ventures
V Existence of any tax or other economic
incentives for businesses and
homeowners who grow food using
sustainable practices
V Type and quantity of materials used in
packaging food
V Existence of efforts to minimize
packaging
Has the city written any policy regarding local
food production, agriculture, or use of
public/private land?
How many vacant lots are in San Francisco?
How much vacant space is unsuitable for use or
recreation due to mineral or other contamination?
Where is there green space that could be used
for food production?
How many pieces of land in the city are reserved
specifically for food production?
Are these areas protected from future
development?
How much of the produce that we eat in San
Francisco is grown in California?
What is the farthest distance that our food
travels (from what country or continent)?
How much does it cost to ship the fruits and
vegetables we eat from their farms of origin to
San Francisco? How would this compare to the
same produce if we grew it regionally?
Are there any local groups that have started their
own food production or food processing
company?
Can a resident or business receive money or
other incentives for growing food in San
Francisco?
What percentage of food products’ weight is due
to packaging? How much ends up in landfills?
Are there any groups that are working to
encourage producers to use less packaging or
environmental-friendly packaging?
21
 production indicators
V Residents’ access to resources needed
to grow food, purchase food grown
regionally and sustainably
V Residents’ access to resources needed
to participate in food policy
development
V Number of community gardens
V Location of community gardens
V The number of community, school
and/or residential garden training
programs
V The number of students enrolled in or
completing garden training programs
V Degree to which city orchards and
backyard fruit trees contribute to the
city’s fruit consumption
V Existence of public/private
partnerships that strive to maintain
public land areas dedicated to food
production
V Degree to which gardening space is
incorporated into city planning
V Others:
Are there any residents in your community who
would like to grow food but cannot?
Are there any residents in your community that
would like to purchase local, sustainably grown
food but do not know how or cannot?
Are there any residents in your community that
would like to participate in forming food policy?
How many gardens are in your neighborhood and
how many are shared by the community?
What areas of the city have the most/fewest
community gardens?
Do any schools or organizations in San Francisco
offer training in creating and/or maintaining a
garden?
Are any residents in your community already
knowledgeable about farming and/or gardening
practices?
How many fruit trees are in your community?
Where does the fruit from these trees end up?
Are there any local or regional organizations that
are working to protect public land for food
production?
Were there any organizations doing this work
before? What were they able to accomplish?
How many public housing projects in San
Francisco have land reserved for edible gardens?
What percentage of new publicly funded
construction sites support rooftop and/or ground-
level gardening space?
What percentage of new private multi-unit
residential construction has gardening space?
22
 distribution indicators
V Existence of any nutrition and/or food
procurement policies for public
institutions, for retail grocers, or for
restaurants
V Existence of effective tax or other
economic incentive programs for
business involvement in sustainable
food systems
V Percent of household income that is
spent on food
V Fruits and vegetables that are most
widely available
V Fruits and vegetables that are most
frequently purchased
V Degree to which food in supermarkets
is labeled by country of origin
V Availability of organic produce
compared to conventional produce
V Price of organic produce compared to
conventional produce
Do schools, prisons, and other public
institutions in San Francisco have any rules as
to where or how they purchase food?
Do grocery stores and restaurants in San
Francisco have any rules as to who supplies
their food and how?
Can local businesses earn any money or tax
credits through the city or state by supporting
or contributing to local, sustainable food
production?
Would the existence of incentives encourage
local businesses to support local, sustainable
food production?
How much do residents in your community
spend on food, as a percentage of their
income?
How is this different between different groups,
neighborhoods, etc?
Which fruits and vegetables are easiest to find
in your neighborhood?
Which fruits and vegetables are difficult to find
in your neighborhood?
Which fruits and vegetables do residents buy
most often and why?
Do San Francisco supermarkets label produce
by country or state of origin?
Which markets are/aren’t labeling them?
Do the markets and stores in your community
offer organic produce?
How does the price compare to conventional?
23
 distribution indicators
V Degree to which San Francisco food-
related establishments buy regionally
produced food
V Degree to which San Francisco food-
related establishments buy organic,
sustainably grown food
V Number of local schools, work sites,
Head Start sites, senior meal programs
and other institutions that offer fresh,
healthy menu options that meet the
dietary guidelines
V Promotion of empty-calorie (non-
nutritious) foods in schools (vending
machines, cafeterias, surrounding
neighborhood)
V Proportion of shelf space in grocery
stores and number of restaurant menu
items offering healthy food choices
V Existence of food buying cooperatives
or community-owned food retail
outlets
V The number of households served by
food buying cooperatives or
community-owned food retail outlets
V Where local residents shop and why
How many items that San Francisco
restaurants purchase and prepare are grown in
California?
How many items that San Francisco
restaurants purchase and prepare are organic?
Do local school and business cafeterias
purchase food that is grown in California
and/or is organic?
How do the menus offered in your
community’s schools and Head Start sites
compare to the dietary guidelines?
How do the menus offered in your
community’s senior meal programs compare to
the dietary guidelines?
What is sold in the vending machines around
the schools in your community?
What is sold in your community’s school
cafeterias and snack bars?
How many shelves in the grocery store offer
healthy food and how many offer unhealthy
food?
How many items on local restaurants and fast
food menus are healthy and how many are
unhealthy?
Are there any food buying cooperatives in your
community?
Do residents pool their resources for either
purchasing or for cooking food?
Are there any local food retail outlets that are
owned by someone who lives in your
community?
Where do the residents in your community buy
their food, and why?
How do residents get to these food outlets?
Are there any barriers to shopping?
24
 distribution indicators
V Number and accessibility of
supermarkets, convenience stores,
liquor stores, restaurants and fast food
outlets in community
V Availability of safe, convenient, reliable
and nonpolluting transportation to
points of sale that provide nutritious,
affordable, safe and culturally diverse
food
V Farmers’ and residents’ degree of
participation in and satisfaction with
local farmers’ market arrangements
V Existence of and participation in
community supported agriculture
programs in city
V San Francisco residents’ knowledge of
local and regional food production and
food purchasing habits
V Others:
How many supermarkets, convenience stores,
and liquor stores are in your community?
How many restaurants and fast food outlets
are in your community?
Do these establishments serve a particular
client base? How many do they serve?
Are there accessible public transportation
routes from your neighborhood to any of San
Francisco’s farmers markets?
Are there accessible public transportation
routes from your neighborhood to
supermarkets?
Do residents in your community use the
farmers’ markets in San Francisco? Why or
why not?
What do farmers think about the operation of
markets in San Francisco? What would they
like to see changed?
How many community supported agriculture
programs are in San Francisco?
Do any community supported agriculture
programs serve your community?
How many residents are participating in these?
Do residents in your community know how to
distinguish between food that was grown in
California and food that was grown outside of
the state?
Do residents pay attention to the origin of their
food and/or care about this when shopping and
making food choices?
25
 consumption indicators
V Residents’ typical food consumption
patterns or habits
V Specific foods, portions, and/or
nutrients consumed by residents of
community
V Prevalence of hunger and food
insecurity
V Demand for public food assistance
programs and emergency food sources
V Number and demographics of
residents accessing emergency food
sources
V Ability of public food assistance and
emergency food programs to serve all
in need
V Participation in federal food assistance
programs
V Percent of eligible people enrolled in
food assistance programs
What percentage of San Franciscans eat at
least one meal at home with their family daily?
How many times per week do residents in your
community eat at a fast food outlet?
How many calories do members of your
community eat per day and how does this
differ by age, ethnicity, neighborhood, etc?
How many people are hungry in your
community?
How many people are food insecure in your
community?
How many people in your community get or
have gotten food from a soup kitchen, a
pantry, or a shelter?
How often do residents use these services?
What are the characteristics of the people who
use these food programs?
Do charitable feeding sites have to turn people
away? If so, how often?
How many children in your community are
enrolled in the School Lunch, School Breakfast,
and Summer Food Programs?
How many households in your community are
enrolled in the Food Stamp Program?
How many women and children in your
community are enrolled in WIC?
Are all those that are eligible for these
programs enrolled?
26
 consumption indicators
V Residents’ reasons for not accessing Why don’t eligible residents enroll in the Food
public food assistance programs Stamp Program, WIC or the National School
and/or emergency food sources Lunch Program?

What reasons do people give for not using

charitable feeding centers like soup kitchens,
pantries or shelters?

V Prevalence of malnutrition How many adults have osteoporosis in San

Francisco?

How many children and adults have iron-

deficient anemia?

How many babies are born underweight?

V Prevalence of chronic, diet-related How many people in your community have

diseases diabetes? What percentage are overweight?

How many people in your community have

heart disease?

V Amount of money residents spend on How much money do residents spend each
eating out versus money spent on week eating out at a restaurant? At a fast
groceries food restaurant?

How much money do residents spend on

groceries each week?

V Redemption rate for food stamps and How many of the WIC coupons that are given
WIC coupons out in the county are actually used?

V Most common food purchases using How many food stamp dollars that are given
food assistance vouchers out in the county are actually used?

What are the most frequently purchased items

using WIC coupons and food stamps?

V Number or percentage of food How many cases of food-borne illness occur in

poisoning cases (salmonella, E. coli, San Francisco each year?
etc.) per year
What kinds of food poisoning are most
common and what is most often the cause?

V Residents’ dependence on out-of- Do residents know what foods are in season

season crops when they are shopping?

Does knowing the seasonality of foods affect

the choices that shoppers make in the store?

27
 consumption indicators
V Most widely or most frequently
consumed fruits and vegetables
V Percentage of produce consumed that
is organic
V Percentage of residents’ diets that are
made up of non-nutritive foods
(alcohol, sugar, soda, etc.)
V Percentage of residents’ diets that
come from processed foods (refined
grains, sugar, hydrogenated oils)
V Community members’ access to
cooking utilities and equipment
V Community members’ cooking skills
and knowledge of food and nutrition
principles
V Residents’ value or prioritization of
food issues
V Residents’ value or prioritization of
nutrition and health issues
V Others:
How many servings of fruits and vegetables do
residents in your community eat in a typical
day? How does this differ by age, ethnicity,
neighborhood, etc.?
Which fruits and vegetables are most widely
consumed?
What percentage of people eat organic produce
(always, sometimes, rarely, never)?
What percent of residents’ total calories comes
from alcohol, soda, candy, and other low-
nutrient foods?
Of all food and drink residents consume in a
typical day, how many items are highly
processed and how many items are more
whole, natural foods?
Do all residents in your community have
access to an oven, a refrigerator, and
functioning gas and electricity?
Do all residents in your community have the
tools they need to cook – pots, pans, utensils?
How many residents feel they know basic
nutrition information?
What is the main source of nutrition
information for residents in your community?
How many residents in your neighborhood
know how to cook? How many cook regularly?
How important is food to the people in your
community? What does it mean to them?
How many community residents make
food/eating choices based on nutrition and
health considerations?
What are the main concerns that residents
have about their diet and their health?
28
 disposal indicators
V Degree of food overproduction
V Percentage of food surplus that is
donated
V Existence of incentives (tax or
otherwise) to encourage food
producers to donate excess
V Number of gleaning programs
V Amount of food collected from local or
regional gleaning programs
V Amount of food and food packaging
material that ends up in trash and in
landfills
V Which foods end up in trash that can
be composted
V Degree of recycling and compost
practices among San Francisco
residents and businesses
V Reasons why residents/businesses do
not reuse, recycle, or compost
How often do San Francisco restaurants,
bakeries, produce markets, and other food
service outlets throw out excess food?
How many San Francisco restaurants,
bakeries, produce markets, and other food
service outlets donate excess food? To whom
do they donate and how often?
Can local food producers and processors write
off food donations that they make to charitable
organizations?
Are there any programs in San Francisco or
specifically in your neighborhood that involve
picking up and using leftover food (from farms,
bakeries, stores, restaurants, etc.)?
How much food is been salvaged by gleaning
programs in a month or a year?
What percentage of landfill waste is food
scraps, leftovers, and packaging?
Are there foods in your trash and in your
community members’ trash cans that could be
composted?
What percentage of San Francisco residents
recycle and compost?
What percentage of San Francisco businesses
recycle and compost?
For residents who do not reuse, recycle or
compost their food-related waste, what are
their reasons for not doing so?
For businesses that do not reuse, recycle or
compost their food-related waste, what are
their reasons for not doing so?
29
 disposal indicators
V Locations of recycling yards, public
compost-piles and other drop-off sites
in city
V Where trash from San Francisco ends
up and how it gets there
V Existence of local, active educational
programs around composting and
waste reduction
V Existence of organizations trying to
decrease food packaging and educate
consumers about buying sensibly to
reduce packaging
V Existence of infrastructure that
encourages all food-related
establishments to donate excesses
V Others:
Where can residents of San Francisco go to
drop off recyclables and organic waste?
Where does the trash that is collected in San
Francisco end up?
Are there any organizations or programs that
teach about composting and waste reduction?
Are these programs free and easily accessible?
Who are the audiences for these educational
programs?
Are there organizations and/or projects in San
Francisco that are educating and advocating
around food packaging?
What do these organizations do and who do
they work with?
Is it feasible for food producing, processing,
and serving establishments to donate excess
food, considering the storage, handling and
transportation needs?
What would be an incentive for local food
producers and processors to donate extra
food?
30
 possible data sources

Don’t waste precious time and money hunting down numbers that already exist somewhere.
Numerous public and private agencies conduct periodic and/or routine research and
surveillance. Instead of re-inventing the wheel during your assessment, try to take
advantage of these previous data collection efforts. On the following pages, you will find a
list that includes national, state and local surveillance systems, data clearinghouses and
reports. Again, these are divided up into sources giving general data or information within a
specific dimension of the food system (production, distribution, consumption or disposal).

F American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. This site is a clearinghouse that combines
data from several regular national surveys: The Decennial Census (every 10 years), The
American Community Survey (on going), The Economic Census (every 5 years), and The
Population Estimates Program (prepared annually). American Factfinder allows you to
enter specific addresses to find your census tract and then develop maps and/or tables
to represent different indicators for your specific census block, census block group,
county, metropolitan area or state. The following characteristics can be tracked by
census block group (areas containing 4,000 people):
Demographic characteristics (sex, age, race, Hispanic origin, household type, housing
occupancy, homeowners, renters, and additional topics)
Social characteristics (school enrollment, educational attainment, marital status,
disability status, migration, place of birth, language spoken at home, ancestry)
Economic characteristics (labor force status, commuting, occupation, income and
benefits, poverty)
Housing characteristics (units in structure, year structure built, number of rooms,
vehicles available, type of heating fuel, occupants per room, value of housing unit,
mortgage status, rent paid).
The Economic Census classifies statistics on several levels of geography: nation, states,
metropolitan areas, counties, places (those with 2500 or more inhabitants), and in the
future, ZIP codes. Data is collected industry-by-industry (e.g. manufacturing, retail
trade, food service and accommodations) counting the number of establishments,
number of employees, annual payroll, shipment/sales, etc.
http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet

F Building a Healthier San Francisco: A Citywide Collaborative Community

Assessment. Northern California Council for the Community. 1998, 1999 and 2001.
BHSF is a collaborative whose members include the United Way San Francisco
Leadership Board, the San Francisco Department of Public Health, all San Francisco
hospitals, and a variety of community organizations. These collaborative community
assessments pull together a bunch of information including indicators around social,
economic, and emotional security. Summarizes data on health (e.g. diabetes, asthma,
sexually-transmitted diseases, injury, alcohol use, AIDS/HIV), socioeconomic indicators
(e.g. housing, homelessness, hunger, poverty, community involvement/voting,
education, child care), and violence (e.g. domestic violence, elder abuse, crime)
www.ncccsf.org/Community_Assessment_San_Francisco.htm

F California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). UCLA Center for Health Policy Research,
the California Department of Health Services, and the Public Health Institute. The largest
state health survey conducted to date in the United States, CHIS collects information
from every county in California. The survey focuses on public health and access to

31
 health care, including the USDA’s food security questions. Sample includes 55,000
households (1,000 from San Francisco plus 1,000 low-income San Franciscans). Age
categories are broken down into 0-4 years, 5-12 years, and 12-17 years.
www.chis.ucla.edu
www.healthpolicy.ucla.edu/chis/index.html

F California Healthy Kids Survey. California Department of Education. Comprehensive

youth health and risk behavior data collection service available to all California local
education agencies (LEAs). It consists of a modular survey instrument that assesses all
major areas of health-related behavior, as well as a full-service survey support system
to help LEAs collect and use CHKS data to improve prevention and health programs.
Survey required in grades 7, 9, and 11. Conducted in SFUSD in 1999 with questions on
height, weight, dieting, etc. Reports based on the results of the 1997 YRBS are available
for San Francisco and San Diego Unified School Districts as PDF documents.
www.cnr.berkeley.edu/cwh/PDFs/SF-%201997-YRBS.pdf
www.wested.org/hks

F Child Trends DataBank. "One-stop-shop for the latest national trends and research on
over 70 key indicators of child and youth well-being." The website provides regularly
updated access to very wide range of local, state, national and international data on the
topics of health, mental health, substance abuse, social and emotional development,
poverty, income, employment, education, general demographics and other indicators.
www.childtrendsdatabank.org/index.htm

F Counting California. California Digital Library. Compiles information from census,

agricultural census, and others and includes county data.
http://countingcalifornia.cdlib.org/

F Food Finder. Olen Publishing. This website, based on the book Fast Food Facts, is a
tool for looking up nutrition information on foods offered at over 15 fast food
establishments. You can query or specify certain criteria to look up, like maximum fat
content or food types (burgers, fish sandwich), or display everything in the food finder
database. The result screen may be printed for use later.
www.olen.com/food/

F Food Recovery and Gleaning Initiative. A Citizen’s Guide to Food Recovery.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is a resource guide on food recovery programs for
businesses, community-based profit or nonprofit organizations, private citizens, and
public officials. It describes some of the prominent food recovery activities already
taking place, and suggests how a community, a business, or an individual can support
existing programs or begin new efforts. It also outlines key considerations relating to
legal issues and food safety.
www.usda.gov/news/pubs/gleaning/content.htm

F Health and Well-Being of Children and Youth in San Francisco. Office of Policy
and Planning, SFDPH. (1998) This report provides an overview of the children and
youth population in San Francisco by presenting a variety of health status indicators.
Indicators include areas such as population/socioeconomic status, perinatal health,
mortality, morbidity, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, crime, neglect, risk behavior (drug and
alcohol use, diet and exercise) and access to health care services.
www.dph.sf.ca.us/Reports/98ChildHealth/98ChildHealthMenu.htm

32
F Health and Well-Being of San Francisco Unified School District Students (K-12).
Children, Youth and Families Section, SFDPH. (1999) Study includes perceptions of
weight, consumption of fruit and vegetables, dietary fat content, poverty and school
meal participation
www.dph.sf.ca.us/Reports/Misc/sfusdrpt.pdf.

F Healthy People 2010. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Includes national baseline data on indicators like overweight/obesity, physical inactivity,
chronic diseases, anemia, school/worksite nutrition counseling, etc. DATA2010 is an
interactive database system that contains the most recent monitoring data. Data are
included for all the objectives and subgroups identified in the Healthy People 2010:
Objectives for Improving Health. DATA2010 now contains only national data but state
data for selected objectives will be provided when available.
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/ http://wonder.cdc.gov/DATA2010/INDEX.HTM

F Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. U.S.

Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Estimates are calculated with data
collected from employers in all industry divisions in the San Francisco primary
metropolitan statistical area. Occupational index includes a category on food
preparation and serving which tallies the number of people employed in each (head
chef, cook, bartender, server, dishwasher, etc.), mean and median hourly wage, and
mean annual income. Data can be compared to other U.S. cities, states, or national
averages.
http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2000/oes_7360.htm

F Overview of Health Status: Who We Are, How We Live, Our Health. Planning and
Community Health Epidemiology & Disease Control sections of the Population Health and
Prevention Division of SFDPH. (2002). Report includes income, poverty, public
assistance, housing, physical inactivity, fruit & vegetable consumption, overweight.
www.dph.sf.ca.us/Reports/OvrViewHlth/OvrviewHlth02/OvrviewHlth02All.pdf.

F Survey of Income and Program Participation. U.S. Census Bureau. This is a

continuing monthly survey intending to collect information on source and amount of
income, labor force information, program participation and eligibility data, and general
demographic characteristics to measure the effectiveness of existing federal, state, and
local programs; to estimate future costs and coverage for government programs, such
as food stamps; and to provide improved statistics on the distribution of income in the
country. Data is available via FERRET (Federal Electronic Research and Review
Extraction Tool).
www.sipp.census.gov/sipp/sipphome.htm

F Sustainability City: Working Toward a Sustainable Future for San Francisco. San
Francisco Department of the Environment. 1997. Provides a blueprint for San Francisco
to follow -- a specific road map for how to best use, and not abuse our natural
environment. The plan provides clear directions to follow, and a path of simple actions
that can bring us to a clean and livable future. A section on Food and Agriculture
outlines numerous goals and objectives for promoting a sustainable food system.
www.sustainable-sf.org/index.htm
www.sfgov.org/sfenvironment/aboutus/energy/sustain/

33
 production data sources

F Agricultural Marketing Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture. AMS Market News

on imports of various crops into US and into San Francisco (by truck, rail…) also
Farmers’ Market sales reports. SX_FV180 for daily import arrival, SX_FV195 for weekly
berry/apple processing report SX_FV010 for San Francisco’s terminal market price
report, total shipments per commodity, etc.
www.ams.usda.gov/fv/mktnews.html
www.ams.usda.gov/fv/mncs/fvwires.htm

F Highlights of Agriculture: 1997 and 1992, San Francisco County, CA.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. The census of agriculture is a complete account of
agricultural production for every county in the United States. The census is conducted
every five years covering the years ending in "2" and "7" and includes number of farms,
average size of farms, dollar value of land and buildings, market value of agricultural
products sold, farms by value of sales, crops and livestock raised.
www.nass.usda.gov/census/census97/highlights/ca/cac038.txt.
www.usda.gov/nass

F The Measure of California Agriculture, 2000. U.C. Cooperative Extension. Report

surveys agricultural land use, demand and supply, organic agriculture, marketing, trade
and policy, inputs to farm production, etc.
http://aic.ucdavis.edu/pubs/moca.html

F National Agricultural Workers Survey. U.S. Department of Labor. The survey

samples all crop farm workers in three cycles each year in order to capture the
seasonality of the work. The NAWS locates and samples workers at their work sites,
avoiding the well-publicized undercount of this difficult-to-find population. Interviews,
usually conducted in the respondent’s home, collect info on household and family
composition, demographics, employment history, wages, benefits and working
conditions, health, safety and housing, income and assets, social services and legal
status. To order reports or the questionnaire contact Daniel Carroll at carroll-
daniel@dol.gov, at 202-693-5077, Rm.S2312, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington,
DC 20210.

F A Statistical Picture of California’s Organic Agriculture. U.C. Cooperative

Extension. Documents size and scope of CA organic agriculture 1995-98 – growth
trends, entry and exit issues, farm size distribution, income concentration, etc.
http://aic.ucdavis.edu/pubs/caorg.html

Boudin Bakery in Fisherman’s Wharf

34
 distribution data sources

F California’s Produce Trucking Industry: Characteristics and Important Issues.

Center for Agricultural Business, California Agricultural Technology Institute, and
California State University – Fresno. 1999. The California fresh fruit and vegetable
industries are dependent on a reliable and cost effective transportation system. The key
objectives behind this study were to identify the important issues facing the produce
trucking industry; to estimate the annual California loads shipped; to compile truck rates
and returns for hauling produce; and to determine how shippers, truckers, and receivers
perceive the trucking industry. 71 shippers completed questionnaires about their
perceptions of the produce trucking industry.
http://cati.csufresno.edu/CAB/rese/99/990301/

F California Farm Bureau Food Survey. A Farm Bureau survey of California grocery
stores found a wide range in prices for food items associated with summertime meals.
The survey also showed the disparity between the prices earned by California farmers
and those paid by consumers. Volunteer and staff participants checked prices in
supermarkets in 15 counties: Alameda, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Imperial,
Kings, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa
Barbara and Stanislaus.
www.cfbf.com/info/

F California School Food Finance Study. In 2000, the California Food Policy Advocates
(CFPA) commissioned Samuels and Associates to conduct a study of food service
finances in order to describe the financial management of public school food service
departments. District level food service administrators and business officials were
surveyed in 10 California school districts.
http://www.cfpa.net

F County Profile for California School Nutrition Programs (2000-01). California

Department of Education. Lists County statistics on School Lunch and Breakfast
Programs, number and percent of free, reduced, and paid meals, average price of meals,
total value of donated commodities received, total federal dollars received, total state
dollars received. Also has list of USDA commodities used by NSLP in California (units
and fmv).
www.cde.ca.gov/nsd/00-01coprofileschprograms.pdf

F Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food and

Nutrition Services. Information on both the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and
the Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
www.fns.usda.gov/wic/CONTENT/FMNP/farm_mkt.htm

F Food Marketing Institute. Facts and Figures. FMI conducts substantial research on
food marketing, but charges for membership. This report found on its website includes
national data on number and type of food stores, trends in grocery shopping practices,
average grocery purchases, average supermarket sales, and average Consumer Price
Index for all urban cities. Site also offers a free report entitled Supermarket Initiatives
In Underserved Communities.
www.fmi.org/facts_figs/keyfacts/

F Food and Nutrition Services. Program Data. U.S. Department of Agriculture. The
Program Data site provides selected statistical information on activity in all major Food

35
 and Nutrition Service Programs (FNS). These include the Food Stamp Program; the
Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC); Child
Nutrition Programs (National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Child and Adult Care,
Summer Food Service and Special Milk); and Food Distribution Programs (Schools,
Emergency Food Assistance, Indian Reservations, Commodity Supplemental, Nutrition
for the Elderly, and Charitable Institutions). Four types of tables are provided: historical
summaries, annual state level data for selected elements, monthly national level data
for major programs, and the latest available month for state-level participation in major
programs.
www.fns.usda.gov/pd/

F Improving Access to Food in Low-Income Communities: An Investigation of

Three Bay Area Neighborhoods. California Food Policy Advocates, 1996.
Investigation of barriers to nutritious and affordable food experienced by people living in
The Tenderloin, Bayview/Hunters Point, and Fruitvale. The project consisted of initial
interviews and meetings with key government leaders and non-government
organizations, members of the food industry, and residents representing distinct
subpopulations within neighborhoods. Researchers conducted 11 focus group
interviews, 45 resident surveys, a market basket survey to compare prices at food
retailers in and near two of the neighborhoods, and a comprehensive literature review.
www.cfpa.net

F National Association of Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs.

Site includes a directory of contacts as well as a national impact report. Includes state
contact for Farmers Market Nutrition Programs, newsletters, etc.
www.nafmnp.org

F National Directory of Farmers’ Markets. Site includes farmers market fact sheets,
marketing links, directory of farmers markets across country. (800) 384-8704
www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets

F National Food Service Management Institute. Created to provide information,

technical assistance and training in food service management for school, childcare, and
summer feeding programs. Has published various surveys including Competencies,
Knowledge, and Skill Statements for District School Nutrition Directors/Supervisors
(2001), Eating at School: A summary of NFSMI Research on Time Required by Students
to Eat Lunch, and Professional Development Needs Reported by School Food Service
Directors and Recommendations for Meeting Directors' Needs: Results of a National
Study
www.nfsmi.org

F Progressive Grocer. 2002 Marketing Guidebook. In-depth features by an

experienced staff of editors and writers offer insights into trends in store development,
technology, marketing, logistics, international retailing, human resources, and consumer
purchasing patterns.
www.grocerynetwork.com/grocerynetwork/reports_analysis/guidebook_2001.jsp

F Retail Tenant Directory. Trade Dimensions. The Trade Dimensions Retail Site
Database, a tool used primarily by food industry marketers and retailers, contains an
updated profile of all supermarkets, mass merchandisers, drug stores, wholesale clubs,
and convenience stores. The Retail Tenant Directory and other publications list detailed
sales and marketing information on thousands of actively expanding retail chains in the
U.S. and Canada.

36
 www.tradedimensions.com/index.html

F San Francisco County: Key Barriers to Food Stamp Participation. California Food
Policy Advocates. Website provides a clickable county-by-county map describing barriers
to food stamp participation in counties throughout California. In November 2001,
county administrators and advocates from San Francisco County met to complete a
survey on key barriers to food stamp participation.
www.cfpa.net

F San Francisco Food Facility Inspections and Violations Report. San Francisco
Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section. Web page contains the most
recent inspection information for approximately 7000 food facilities permitted in the City
and County of San Francisco. These include restaurants, bars, grocery stores, pushcarts,
stadium food facilities and any facility that dispenses food to the public. Violations
include things like improper cooking temperature, holding temperature, contaminated
equipment, unsafe food sources, poor hygiene, and vermin.
http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/ehs/Viol_DB/wwwroot/Index.htm

F School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS). Center for Disease Control
and Prevention. Conducted to assess school health policies and programs at the state,
district, school, and classroom levels. SHPPS 2000 was designed to include: health
education, physical education and activity, health services, mental health and social
services, food service, school policy and environment, faculty and staff health
promotion, and family and community - also collaboration among staff from each school
health program component and with staff from state and local agencies and
organizations
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/shpps/index.htm

F The Thin Red Line: How the Poor Still Pay More. Consumers Union. 1993. Study
conducted in Los Angeles and Oakland to examine the problems faced by low-income
consumers in accessing basic consumer needs, such as decent affordable housing,
quality food, health care, and banking and credit services. Researchers conducted a total
market basket survey and assessed market demand in low-income and middle-income
communities by considering consumers’ driving time to food markets.
www.consumersunion.org/index.htm

Veritable Vegetable delivery truck

37
 consumption data sources

F Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Center for Disease Control
and Prevention. The BRFSS, the world’s largest telephone survey, was developed and
conducted to monitor state-level prevalence of the major behavioral risks among adults
associated with premature morbidity and mortality. The basic philosophy was to collect
data on actual behaviors, rather than on attitudes or knowledge. Questions are self-
reported and change over the years but have included consumption of specific food
items (beef, carrots, cheese, doughnuts, cookies, pastries, French fries, green salad,
fruit, eggs), dietary fat content, fiber content, and weight status.
www.cdc.gov/brfss/index.htm

F California Children’s Eating and Exercise Patterns Survey (CalCHEEPS).

CalCHEEPS was conducted in 1999, by Fleishman-Hilliard Research and the Public Health
Institute and was funded by the USDA and the California Endowment. Eight hundred
fourteen 9-11 year-old California children were assisted by their parents in keeping a 2-
day food and physical activity diary. A sub-sample of 394 children was surveyed by
phone on their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about healthy eating and physical
activity.
www.calendow.org/pub/publications/calcheeps050701.pdf
www.ca5aday.com/research/rsch_state.htm

F California Dietary Practices Survey (CDPS). California Department of Health

Services and Public Health Institute. The largest dietary survey yet conducted in
California, The California Dietary Practices Survey (CDPS) has been conducted using
telephone surveys every other year since 1989. This survey tracks the dietary and
physical activity habits and patterns of Californians 18 and over. Several reports from
data analyzing fruit and vegetable intake in adults and also on low-income consumers
can be found online.
www.ca5aday.com/research/rsch_state.htm

F California High School Fast Food Survey. Public Health Institute and Samuels &
Associates conducted a survey of 171 California school districts’ food service directors
representing 345 high schools in order to assess the prevalence of fast foods and access
to healthy foods on California high school campuses.
http://206.86.69.253/d/d_tier1/hsffsurvey.html

F California Project Lean. California Project LEAN (Leaders Encouraging Activity and
Nutrition) is administered by the California Department of Health Services and the Public
Health Institute. Project LEAN works with state and local physical activity and nutrition
leaders to conduct programs in communities throughout California. Reports include:
2000 California High School Fast Food Survey Report; Creating an Adolescent Nutrition
and Physical Activity Policy Agenda: A Report on a Public Policy Needs Assessment; A
Summary Report on Adolescent Behaviors, Perceptions, Values and Attitudes on Health,
Nutrition and Physical Activity -- A Qualitative Exploration A Literature Review of
Adolescent Eating and Physical Activity Patterns.
www.californiaprojectlean.org/d/d_main/consumer.html

F Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX). Bureau of Labor Statistics. Program consists

of two surveys—the quarterly Interview survey and the Diary survey—that provide
information on the buying habits of American consumers, including data on their
expenditures, income, and consumer unit (families and single consumers)

38
 characteristics. The Western BLS Information Office is in San Francisco and has reports
on the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose metropolitan area.
www.bls.gov/ro9/home.htm
www.bls.gov/home.htm

F Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII). U.S. Department of

Agriculture Food Surveys Research Group. Available by region only (West). Includes
variables like food stamp participation, WIC participation, NSLP participation,
consumption of fruit and vegetable servings, source of food, frequency of shopping,
sufficiency of food, and income. Latest data tables are from 1994-96 and 1998.
www.barc.usda.gov/bhnrc/foodsurvey/

F California Teen Eating, Exercise and Nutrition Survey (CalTEENS). California

Department of Health Services (DHS), Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section (CPNS)
and administered by the Public Health Institute. This 1998 telephone survey randomly
selected over 1,200 teens covering questions on behaviors and attitudes around diet and
physical activity.
www.calendow.org/pub/publications/CalTEENSpresskit.pdf
www.ca5aday.com/research/rsch_state.htm

F Diet and Health Knowledge Survey (DHKS). U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food
Surveys Research Group. 1994-96 phone survey collecting information on people’s
perceptions about the adequacy of their food and nutrient intake, the personal
importance they place on dietary guidance messages, their self-appraised weight status,
the importance they place on factors relating to buying food, and the beliefs they hold
which influence dietary behavior.
www.barc.usda.gov/bhnrc/foodsurvey/

F Food Consumption (per capita) Data System.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. Economic Research Service. This interactive feature
allows users to select various commodities (and years) to create customized tables and
charts for per capita food consumption. Includes per capita food consumption, nutrient
availability, commodity supply and utilization tables, food prices, expenditures, and U.S.
income and population
www.ers.usda.gov/data/foodconsumption/DataSystem.asp?ERSTab=2

F Food Spending in American Households, 1997-98.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. Economic Research Service. Great resource which
includes food expenditures by food type, income bracket, race, region of country (west),
head of household’s age, etc. Also a food expenditures briefing room
www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/CPIFoodAndExpenditures/Data/
www.ers.usda.gov/publications/sb972/

F Household Food Security in the United States, 2000. U.S. Department of

Agriculture. The latest in a series of annual statistical reports on the prevalence of food
security, food insecurity, and hunger in U.S. households, based on the September 2000
Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement. This year's report, in addition to
statistics on food security, includes information on how much U.S. households spend on
food and the extent to which food-insecure households participated in Federal and
community food assistance programs.
www.fns.usda.gov/fsec/

39
F Hunger in America, 2001. Americas Second Harvest. Study provides extensive
demographic profiles of emergency food clients at charitable feeding agencies and
comprehensive information on the nature and efficacy of local agencies in meeting the
food security needs of clients. The study is the largest of its kind. More than 32,000
individuals agreed to share their personal stories through face-to-face interviews at
charitable emergency hunger-relief agencies like pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.
Nearly 24,000 local emergency hunger-relief agencies completed survey questionnaires
about their efforts to serve millions of hungry Americans.
http://www.secondharvest.org/whoshungry/hunger_study_intro.html
http://www.hungerinamerica.org/

F Hunger in San Francisco: Fragmented Services, Unmet Needs. Conducted by the

San Francisco Food Bank with support from the San Francisco Foundation. November
1994. Nine-month collaborative effort to study hunger in the community. Using a
combination of primary and secondary research, the study was designed to examine 1)
the extent of hunger among San Francisco residents, 2) the experience of the hungry, 3)
the current network and resources of food assistance providers.
www.sffoodbank.org

F Impact of Legal Immigrant Food Stamp Cuts in Los Angeles and San Francisco:
California Food Security Monitoring Project. California Food Policy Advocates, 1998.
In November 1997, researchers at California Food Policy Advocates designed a study to
measure the impact of food stamp cuts on legal immigrant households. The survey tool
selected was the Core Food Security Module, designed by the United States Department
of Agriculture. San Francisco County conducted 241 valid, randomly sampled surveys,
consisting of 111 cases and 131 controls.
www.cfpa.net

F Interactive Healthy Eating Index (IHEI). Online dietary intake assessment tool that
allows a consumer to evaluate his or her diet quality in comparison with the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans and the USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid. The IHEI system
processes user information on age, gender and dietary intakes and calculates an overall
HEI score, its 10 component scores and intakes of 24 nutrients and dietary components.
http://147.208.9.133/

F National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Center for Disease
Control and Prevention. Survey which collects information about health including food
security and diet habits. NHANES is unique in that it combines a home interview with
health tests (like iron status, body composition, and cardiovascular fitness) that are
done in a Mobile Examination Center.
www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nhanes/nhanes99-01.htm

F Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS). Center for Disease Control and
Prevention. This ongoing surveillance collects data on low-income children. It uses
already available data collected from health, nutrition, and food assistance programs for
infants and children, such as the Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Food
Program (WIC); Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT); and clinics
funded by Maternal and Child Health Program (MCH) Block Grants. Data are collected on
socio-demographic variables (ethnicity/race, age, geographic location), birth weight,
anthropometric indices (height/length, weight), iron status (hemoglobin and/or
hematocrit), and breastfeeding.
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/pednss.htm

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F Youth Risk Factor Surveillance System (YRFSS). Center for Disease Control and
Prevention. 1999 Survey includes questions regarding weight and dieting; 2001 Survey
includes consumption of 100% fruit juices, milk, fruit, green salad, potatoes, carrots,
and other vegetables, during the past 7 days
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss4905a1.htm
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs/2001survey.htm

Tarantino’s and other eateries on Fisherman’s Wharf

41
 disposal data sources

F Statewide Solid Waste Characterization Database. California Integrated Waste

Management Board. The Solid Waste Characterization Database provides estimates of
the types and amounts of materials in the waste streams of individual California
jurisdictions in 1999. Data was collected by taking samples of waste and sorting it into
material types like newspaper, aluminum cans, or food scraps, and weighing each type.
Samples were taken from individual businesses and residences, or from trucks delivering
waste to landfills and transfer stations. The data here is for the disposed waste stream
only, because California has no requirement for collecting detailed recycling data.
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/wastechar/default.htm

Sparky’s Diner recycles food scraps.

Photo courtesy of SF Dept. of the Environment

42
 traditional methods for collecting data

After looking over the data sources that already exist for your topic and your community,
consider what is missing. Perhaps the questions you would like answered were never
asked. Maybe previous surveys neglected certain neighborhoods, non-English speaking
residents, or unique periods of the month or year. Many times, questionnaires and tables
cannot capture the whole story of a person’s or a community’s experience. Below is a list of
traditional research methods that you can use to paint a more complete picture of your
community’s experience.

F Document Review involves gathering and analyzing key documentary material such as
laws, regulations, contracts, correspondence, memoranda and routine records on
services and clients. These kinds of documents are a useful source of information on
program activities and processes, and they can generate ideas for questions that can be
pursued through observation and interviewing. Strength: documents can provide
valuable information that may not be accessible by other means, as for covering events
that took place before the assessment began, events that were part of private
interchanges, or plans that have not been realized in actual program performance.
Weakness: generalizations might be made based on the documents and data that were
intentionally selected to survive and made available to public. In seeking out key
documents, the researcher may have problems with confidentiality, privacy, and access.

F Survey Methodology is helpful in its interdisciplinary orientation (many uses) and

systematic collection of information. A good survey requires expertise and resources to
conduct and the interviewer is not permitted to pursue issues of interest not included in
the guide. Surveys can vary considerably in size and type of sample. Many surveys
study all persons living in a defined area, but others might focus on special population
groups (e.g. children, physicians, community leaders, or the unemployed) or even
inanimate objects (e.g. soils, housing). Surveys may be conducted with national, state,
or local samples, collecting data through mail, telephone, Internet, or in-person
interviews.

F Mail surveys might be most effective when directed at particular groups, such as
subscribers to a specialized magazine or members of a professional association.
Strength: these surveys are relatively low in cost. Weakness: problems exist in their use
when the level of response and cooperation is low.

F Telephone surveys are an efficient method of collecting some types of data and are
being increasingly used. They lend themselves particularly well to situations when
timeliness is a factor and the length of the survey is limited. Weakness: phone surveys
are conducted so much in San Francisco that it is very hard to get cooperation.

F In-person surveys in a respondent's home or office are much more expensive than
mail or telephone surveys. They may be necessary, however, especially when complex
information is to be collected.

F Photo novella is a means to convey messages or obtain information presented as a

short dialogue with pictures like a comic strip. Photo novella is clear with engaging
pictures that are arranged in logical sequence plot, characterization, visual style and
pacing of message reflects home culture around a particular topic or issue. This
technique is and best when constructed by members of the audience. Strength:
relatively inexpensive, appealing to groups with limited reading skills, and clarifies

43
 information and/or messages in a visual manner. Weakness: may be dismissed or
discounted by policy-makers as not serious research.

F Photo documentation uses photographs as a means of documenting the current state of a

place or comparing “before” and “after.” Strength: can be dramatic and persuasive, especially
when it complements other forms of data collection. Weakness: may be dismissed or
discounted by policy-makers as not serious research.

F Geographic Information Systems – GIS uses computer software programs to map

out specific resources or outlets in a community. Strength: can be useful for observing
patterns in city design and resource availability and communicating issues in a visually
attractive manner. Weakness: may not be feasible in many communities that have
limited access to computers and to computer software.

F Direct observation involves the systematic noting and recording of activities,

behaviors and physical objects in the setting being studied as an unobtrusive observer.
Strength: can often be a rapid an economical way of obtaining basic socio-economic
information on households or communities. If participants are not aware that they are
being observed, then they are less likely to change their behavior and compromise the
validity of the assessment. Weakness: observations are subject to bias and may differ
substantially from researcher to researcher.

F Key informant interviews involve an individual, who as a result of their knowledge,

previous experience or social status in a community has access to valuable information
such as insights about the functioning of the community, problems and needs. Strength:
can assist in understanding the context of a program or project, or clarifying particular
issues or problems. Weakness: you have to be cautious in assuming that one, selected
person’s words are representative of an entire group’s desires and beliefs.

F Participant observation requires the researcher to become, in a sense, a member of

the community or population being studied. The researcher participates in activities of
the community, observes how people behave and interact with each other and with
outside organizations, and tries to become accepted as a neighbor or participant rather
than as an outsider. The purpose of such participation is not only to see what is
happening but also to feel what it is like to be part of the group. Strength: the
researcher is able to experience and presumably better understand the community
values, needs and desires. Weakness: likely to alter the behavior that is being observed.
In addition, ethical issues may arise if the participant observer misrepresents
himself/herself in order to be accepted by the community being studied.

F Semi-structured interviews involve the preparation of an interview guide that lists a

pre-determined set of questions or issues that are to be explored during an interview.
This guide serves as a checklist during the interview and ensures that basically the same
information is obtained from a number of people. There is a great deal of flexibility in
the order and workings of the questions. The interviewer is free to pursue certain
questions in greater depth. Strength: it makes interviewing of a number of different
persons more systematic and comprehensive by delimiting the issues to be taken up in
the interview. Logical gaps in the data collected can be anticipated and closed, while the
interviews remain fairly conversational and situational. Weakness: does not permit the
interviewer to pursue topics or issues of interest that were not anticipated when the
interview guide was elaborated. Also, interviewer flexibility in wording and sequencing
questions may result in substantially different responses from different persons, thus
reducing comparability.

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F Standardized open-ended interviews involve a set of open-ended questions carefully
worded and arranged in advance. The interviewer asks the same questions to each
respondent with essentially the same words and in the same sequence. Strength:
appropriate when several people are doing the interviews and the evaluator wants to
minimize the variation in the questions they pose. It is also useful when it is desirable to
have the same information from each interviewee at several points in time or when
there are time constraints for data collection and analysis. Standardized open-ended
interviews allow the assessor to collect detailed data systematically and facilitate
comparability among all respondents. Weakness: does not permit the interviewer to
pursue topics or issues that were not anticipated when the interview instrument was
elaborated. Also, standardized open-ended interviews limit the use of alternative lines of
questioning with different people depending on their particular experiences.

F Informal conversational interviews are appropriate when you want substantial

flexibility. This method does not rely on a predetermined set of questions, but rather the
spontaneous generation of questions in the natural flow of an interaction. Questions are
formed in whatever direction appears to be appropriate, depending on the information
that emerges from observing a particular setting, or from talking to one or more
individuals in that setting. Strength: the interviewer is flexible and highly responsive to
individual differences, situational changes and emerging new information. Weakness:
may generate less systematic data that is difficult and time consuming to classify and
analyze.

F Focus group interviews involve small groups of people who share similar backgrounds
and experiences. Participants are asked to reflect on the questions asked by the
interviewers, provide their own comments, and listen to what the rest of the group has
to say and react to their observations. Focus groups differ from other interviews in that
they collect people’s opinions and perspectives in a social context. Typically, these
interviews are conducted several times with different groups so that the evaluator can
identify trends in the perceptions and opinions expressed. The interviewer acts as
facilitator introducing the subject, guiding the discussion, cross-checking each other
comments and encouraging all members to express their opinions. Strength: participant
interaction helps weed out false or extreme views, thus providing a quality control
mechanism. Weakness: requires a skillful facilitator to ensure an even participation from
all members.

F Community interviews (hearings, meetings, and testimonies) are conducted as public

meetings in which the whole community is consulted. Typically, these interviews involve
a set of factually based fairly close-ended questions. Once the interviewers pose the
question, the group will interact to get a consensus around an answer. Strength: by
inviting the input of the whole community, you can gain valuable information on how
well a project is working. Weakness: participation may be limited to a few high status
members of the community or that community leaders may use the forum to seek
consensus on their own views and preferences.

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 informal exercises for collecting data

The methods listed below are informal ways to engage the community and collect
qualitative data on food experiences. These ideas were drawn from previous food
assessments and research projects. More detailed descriptions on the use of these methods
can be found in the reports noted in parentheses, which are also listed in this Guidebook’s
reference section.

F Community Needs Audit (Sustain, 2000) – Involve children, youth, adults, and elderly
to share concerns about community issues and possible solutions. Facilitate focus
groups and/or collect cards outlining areas of greatest concerns and ideas for solutions.
Create a matrix showing the gender and age analysis of information collected. Examine
which subgroups are interested in which areas and how they overlap.

F Shopping Tables (Sustain, 2000) – Set up tables outside of major shopping

outlets/post offices to gather residents’ perspectives on local shopping facilities. Find
out how and why they shop in the area or in other areas. Score shops against different
criteria (hygiene inside and out, pricing, quality of service, variety of goods, convenience
of location, hours open). Findings may be communicated with store owners, helping
them to see ways to possibly increase their customer base.

F Income Charts (Sustain, 2000) – Have participant groups draw bar charts or pie charts
to represent how they divided their weekly income (rent, electricity, food, etc.).
Compare the percentage of income spent on food across diverse groups. Encourage
participants to look more closely at how they spent their money on food, what they
bought, how, and what changes they could make.

F Food Wealth Line (Sustain, 2000) – Recruit participants out on the street and have
them mark where they stand on a “food wealth line.” One end of the line represents
having enough money to buy all the food desired, without worrying, and the other
represents having to budget very carefully, every day. Ask people to put a cross where
they felt they were on the line and to explain why, with answers recorded on post-it
notes.

F Money Stretching Flip Chart (Sustain, 2000) – Recruit participants out on the street
and ask them to write down anything on a flip-chart entitled “How do you make your
money go further?” As other people walk past, ask them to put colored dots next to
each coping strategy that they also do. Using this method, community members are
able to hear others’ coping strategies and possibly take home new ideas on having their
food budget stretch further.

F Mobility Maps (Sustain, 2000) – Have groups consider where people in the community
shop for food and how far they have to travel. Participants can start by drawing their
house in the center of a poster board and then the food assets in the community in
concentric circles. Groups can present this visual information.

F Body Maps (Sustain, 2000) – Draw the shape of a body or get someone to lie on the
ground and draw around them. Encourage participants to creatively analyze and display
how the foods they eat affect their body.

F Photo Prompt – Show participants a photo from a food outlet in their neighborhood
and solicit their feelings or reactions to the image. Find out how they feel about going

46
 there, shopping there, eating there, customer service, what is available, the sense of
community, etc.

F Creative portrayal – Use creative ways to engage the community in sharing their
concerns and getting the attention of media and policymakers. For example, use
children’s drawings to convey their experiences around food and agriculture. Or, have
residents write letters to key stakeholders on paper plates!

F Transect Walks (Sustain, 2000) – Walk through an area with a local person and note
down details and features to produce a “transection” of the area. Especially when
involving elder people, it is possible to discuss how an area has changed over time and
develop a historical perspective. Findings can be mapped onto a transect diagram.

F Food Diary (Sustain, 2000) – Have participants record everything they eat and drink
over a certain period (e.g. course of a day/week). This can be very simple or detailed,
showing portion sizes, where they ate, how much time they took to eat, with whom they
ate, etc. Compare profiles and routines for different people and seasons.

F Flow of Food (Hora and Tick, 2001 and Allen, 1997) – Choose specific food items found
in the grocery store and trace their path from the farm where they originated to the
store shelf. Find out the distance traveled, the fuel expended during transport, the
number of entities involved in processing, etc. Consider calculating the “true cost of
food.” Compare prices to direct marketing opportunities like farmers’ market.

F SWOT Analysis (Allen, 1997) – Gather a team to analyze the neighborhood’s external
environment to identify key food-related factors (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
and threats). Identify the impact that both market and non-market factors will have on
the local food system in terms of accessibility, affordability, cultural appropriateness,
and non-emergency food sources.

F Food Pricing (Allen, 1997) – Gather a team to assess availability and prices of specific
foods in different neighborhoods. Identify stores in both low-income and higher-income
census tracts. Team can identify food items in several food categories that contribute to
a typical food basket (e.g. Thrifty Food Plan) or specific food items of interest (e.g. fresh
produce) and record price of store brands and cheapest national brands. Try to ensure
that surveys are conducted on the same day across stores and record the price for the
same size package. Teams might also record comments on food quality.

F Youth Oral History Project (Allen, 1997) – Involve students in project by requesting
that they identify an elder in their community and conduct an interview. Have them find
out information about the history of food outlets in the community, the changes in the
local food system and its residents’ eating practices, etc.

F Food Waste Study (Allen, 1997) – Involve participants in an assessment of plate waste
in an institutional cafeteria or community restaurant. Have them identify and weigh
food waste on plates, trays, or in garbage cans and possibly estimate dollar value of
wasted food, how many persons could be fed, how much landfill space it will fill, etc.
Participants could also interview people responsible for community waste management.

F Food-Related Business Survey (Allen, 1997) – Use this survey to estimate the
significance of the food sector in providing employment opportunities for community
residents, demand of food-related goods by community residents, business owners’
satisfaction with their community locations and business’ future viability. Participants

47
 distribute questionnaires to all food-related businesses and make follow-up calls to those
that do not respond. (Questions cover type of business, how long it has been in
neighborhood, number of employees, trends in this number, trends in sales volume,
customer demographics, own/lease of business space, type of business ownership,
satisfaction with present location, desired improvements in neighborhood...)

F Ideal Futures (Pretty and Hine, 1999) – Ask participants how they would like things to
be in 20 years time – beyond what is likely to what is ideal. Have participants discuss
ideal future in small group discussions, along with potential actions to get there. Or,
have them draw/describe ideal future on wall charts.

F Search Conference Model (North Country New York) – Bring together a broad range
of community residents (farmers, processors, market managers, local agency staff,
religious leaders, teachers, low-income mothers, and legislators) for a two-day
conference. Engage the community in reviewing the past and present, create ideal
future scenarios, identify common ground, and develop action plans. Questions to
address include: (1) Who is feeding you and what are you eating? (2) How can we build
a stronger community through better management of local food resources? (3) How
should our local food system look and work in the next five years? Next ten years?

F Food Security Measurement Tool (Cohen, 2002) – This is a standard survey tool
involving 19-questions to classify households according to 4 levels of food (in)security.
It is used in the food security supplement of current population survey and in the
California Health Interview Survey.

F Asset Mapping (McKnight and Kretzmann, 1996) - Draw a map of the communities’ assets in
terms of capital resources, human resources, and financial resources. Asset mapping provides
a picture of the community, its people, organizations, resources, problems, and opportunities.
It is helpful in compiling useful background information for potential projects and identifying
potential partners. Addresses can be mapped manually or using software (GIS) and can
document relationship that were previously ignored or taken for granted. Data collection may
take some time if basic computing resources and skills are unavailable or if assets or features
most important to the community may not be available in database form. Maps may need to
be updated frequently.

F School Walk Through (Center for Commercial-Free Public Education) - Recruit a group
to walk through your school. Look for places where food is marketed such as on
company sponsored educational materials, posters and textbooks with company names
and ads, banner ads on computers, Channel One, soda machines, etc. Take pictures,
collect examples, and write it all down. Use this information to show your local school
board members the commercialism in your school or district.

F Billboard Analysis – Recruit a team of residents to locate all the billboards in the
community/surroundings and assess the food marketing and health-related messages conveyed
on them. Use this information to illustrate the powerful presence of the media in supporting or
obstructing healthy lifestyle decisions.

F Media content analysis – Observe and analyze the way that hunger, agriculture, or food
issues are portrayed in the media (newspapers, radio, television, etc.). Question how this
portrayal affects the values of the community and larger society. Develop a question that you
would like to answer and gather, categorize, and organize all media covering your issue within
a specific time frame.

48
 help with analyzing and disseminating

After you have been out collecting data, a handful of select people in your community may
be interested and invested in your project. Now is the time to give back to all of those
involved in the process and to make the data you’ve collected work for the overall
community. Analysis is sorting through your data to identify patterns (association,
clustering, sequences) and relationships. Dissemination means getting the word out or
spreading the information from your findings widely. The analytic approach you use at this
stage and the audience you target should reflect the purpose(s) of your assessment. As
mentioned earlier, assessments can help identify and prioritize problem areas and goals,
inform local policies and decision-making, build collaboration and partnerships, and procure
funding for projects. Depending on your overall purpose, dissemination could mean
presenting at a community-wide meeting or city council meeting, designing graphs and
charts to include in a grant proposal, or drafting fact sheets and statistics to include in a
media package. There are several resources you can access for suggestions and technical
assistance while completing this process.

San Francisco Food Systems Council World Hunger Year

(415) 252-3853
www.sffoodsystems.org
An independent project created by the
Department of Public Health to support food
system planning in San Francisco.
World Hunger Year Media Guide
www.worldhungeryear.org
Presents in-depth instructions and helpful
examples for conducting media relations for
advocacy organizations and campaigns.

Health Inequities Research Unit American Public Health Association

(415) 252-3800
A research team within San Francisco’s
Environmental Health Department that can
provide technical advice in data collection
and analysis, supporting community-driven
research.
Media Advocacy Manual
www.apha.org/news/Media_Advocacy_Manual.pdf
Tips for Effective Advocacy
www.apha.org/legislative/advocacytips.htm
Includes tips for Face to Face Meeting, Writing to
Policy Makers, and other Useful Links.

Community Food Security Coalition California Food Policy Advocates

Training and Technical Assistance How to Advocate
(310) 822-5410 www.cfpa.net
www.foodsecurity.org Includes Five Rules of Advocacy, Meeting with a
Supports a wide variety of projects and Legislator, Lobbying and Letter Writing.
initiatives through training and workshops,
practical publications, mentoring, and other
individualized assistance.

49
PRIORITIZING AND SELECTING ACTIONS

The next step in the strategic planning process is to collectively select and implement
activities and actions. Ask yourself and others what you would like to see changed in your
community and what steps or strategies will take you there. Think big! Brainstorm with
your community food team. Encourage the generation of as many action and activity ideas
as possible. After you have generated an extensive list, consider the human, physical and
financial resources available to you and establish your priorities. In the box below you’ll
find a list of actions and activities drawn from other communities’ accomplishments.

Actions are the eventual changes or long-term goals/outcomes that take place. Actions
meet three criteria: (1) They are achievable; (2) They are long term or sustainable; and (3)
They compel another entity to do something to change the environment (the place people
live) for the well being of all.

Activities are the organizing interventions that lead up to and support actions. Examples
of activities include: health fairs, peer education programs, murals, production of
educational materials, petition drives, letter writing campaigns, speak outs, meetings with
policy makers, media advocacy efforts, etc.

You can make it happen…

ƒ open a new grocery store
ƒ start a new bus route
ƒ form a food policy council
ƒ expand hours of operation at food stamp offices
ƒ increase enrollment in federal food assistance programs
ƒ start a food purchasing cooperative
ƒ start or expand neighborhood farmers’ markets
ƒ write food and agriculture policy recommendations to agencies/ policy makers
ƒ push for renovation of a neighborhood grocery store
ƒ set up a community kitchen w/ resident cooking programs
ƒ influence zoning in order to allocate space for community gardens
ƒ publish periodic nutrition articles in a local paper
ƒ present assessment findings to Board of Supervisors
ƒ start a harvest gleaning project
ƒ encourage local food producers to donate or compost surplus
ƒ improve school lunches
ƒ change business’ and public institutions’ food purchasing practices
ƒ change local store purchasing habits or shelving practices
ƒ start a healthy eating mentoring program
ƒ develop a handbook about the city’s food system that catalogs food outlets
ƒ educate the public on the structure of the food industry
ƒ establish linkages between farmers and low-income communities

50
INVOLVING OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

In order to affect change within your community food system, you will have to understand,
to some degree, the web of organizations and relationships that uphold it. State and local
government agencies play a role in all aspects of the food system (production, distribution,
consumption and disposal), as do non-profit organizations. In this section, you will find a
brief overview of the general functions and the contact information for key players in the
community food system. This list is by no means all-inclusive and organizational operations
may change over time. The descriptions listed below are taken primarily from websites and
public information accessed during the summer of 2002. The inventory of key players is
intended to help readers understand some of the main programs and roles in the San
Francisco food system and identify opportunities for future collaboration.

Heart of the City Farmers’ Market in front of City Hall

51
 list of city and county agencies
Alemany Farmers Market
100 Alemany Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 647-9423
www.ci.sf.ca.us/alemany/index.htm
Department of Children, Youth and Families
1390 Market Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 554-8990
www.dcyf.org/
Mayor’s Criminal Justice Council
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Suite 496
San Francisco, CA 94102
http://www.sfgov.org/mcjc/
Mayor’s Office of Business and Economic
Development
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 436
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 554-6969
http://www.sfgov.org/moed/
Mayor’s Office of Community Development
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 700
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 252-3100
http://www.sfgov.org/mocd/
San Francisco Agricultural Commission
501 Cesar Chavez St., Suite 109-A
San Francisco, CA 94124-1209
(415) 285-5010
(415) 824-6100
www.ci.sf.ca.us/casf/
52
First opened in 1943 at Market and Duboce, Alemany
Farmers Market started at its present location in 1947
under a City Ordinance. The Market operates every
Saturday of the year from 6:00am to 5:00pm, rain or
shine, selling fresh produce grown by small regional
farmers.
Funds over 140 community-based organizations and
city departments. DCYF creates and facilitates
innovative citywide projects addressing issues such as
child care, youth and family support, adolescent health
and youth employment. DCYF is facilitating a
coordinated planning process for children and youth
services that incorporates an evaluation of
organizations funded, a community inclusion process
and best practices from around the state and country.
Seeks to promote stronger, safer and healthier
communities by bringing people together to collectively
address local public safety needs. Partners with public
safety agencies, community-based organizations,
federal and state funding bodies to develop strategies
and shape policies affecting public safety. Projects and
programs include Juvenile Justice Reform Initiative,
Mayor's Neighborhood Crime Prevention Program,
Juvenile Hall Replacement Project, and School Resource
Officer Program.
Dedicated to enhancing economic vitality and expanding
the City's tax and employment base. The Department
oversees activities and programs related to
Development Planning, Business Attraction and
Retention, and Neighborhood Commercial
Revitalization. First Source is a cooperative effort
between business, the job training community and the
City to insure that economically disadvantaged
individuals have the first opportunity to apply and be
considered for entry-level jobs.
MOCD's mission is to partner with the community to
strengthen the physical, social and economic
infrastructure of San Francisco, particularly its lowest
income neighborhoods and communities. Administers
resources for the benefit of low and moderate-income
families and small businesses. Program areas range
from grants for direct services, housing, organizational
capacity building, planning, physical infrastructure
support, small business assistance, entrepreneurship
assistance and loans. MOCD oversees administration of
the Community Development Block Grant program.
Provides information on the proper use of pesticides,
pest identification and pesticide safety, and local
enforcement of pesticide laws. Regularly inspects
agriculture products for pests, pesticide levels and
illegal agricultural products. Compiles crop statistics,
conducts fruit and vegetable quality control, weights
and measures, pesticide usage and labeling. Regularly
inspects and seals grocery store scales and educates
businesses, certifies farmers markets
San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Plans, coordinates and provides community-based
Services services for the elderly, including senior meal sites.
Office on Aging Congregate Meal Sites provide tasty and nutritious
25 Van Ness, Suite 650 meals for seniors at local senior homes and centers.
San Francisco, CA 94102 Nine different ethnic meals are served at 63 different
(415) 864-6051 agencies in San Francisco. Office on Aging also
(415) 626-4033 oversees the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
www.ci.sf.ca.us/coaging/index.htm

San Francisco Department of Human Services CalWORKS provides financial support and a full array of
CALWORKS Program services to adults with dependent children who work
170 Otis Street, 1st Floor with an Employment Specialist, following an
San Francisco, CA 94103 individualized Employment Plan. This Plan may include
(415) 557-5723 job preparation, assessment, training, counseling and
treatment, education and job search activities, which
lead to a job and self-sufficiency.

San Francisco Department of Human Services Food Stamps are provided monthly to those who are
Food Stamp Program income-eligible, allowing purchase of any food item
P.O. Box 7988 except hot prepared foods. Food Stamp Offices are
San Francisco, CA 94120-7988 located at 1235 Mission, 1440 Harrison and 3120
(415) 558-1030 Mission. Other DHS programs include General
(415) 558-4180 Assistance (GA), which provides a cash grant in
www.ci.sf.ca.us/dhs/health/foodstamps.htm exchange for Workfare, and Social Security Income
(SSI), which provide cash aid, a housing subsidy, and
Muni tokens to individuals who have a disability.

San Francisco Department of Public Health Consumer Protection provides education and enforces
Environmental Health Section local and state regulations that protect food, water,
1390 Market St., Suite 210 residences, recreational and institutional environments.
San Francisco, CA 94102 The Food Program permits and inspects all restaurants,
(415) 252-3800 markets and food operations in the city and county,
www.dph.sf.ca.us/ehs enforces health code regulations, ensures safety of food
handling practices, and reviews construction plans. The
Water Quality Program inspects water recreational
areas and facilities, monitors sewage discharge to
ocean and bay, reviews and approves plans for wells,
and implements State’s fish advisory posting program.

San Francisco Department of Public Health The WIC Program is designed to help expectant
Nutrition Services mothers, new mothers, and children under five. WIC
30 Van Ness, Suite 220 provides vouchers for specific nutritious foods,
San Francisco, CA 94102 information about nutrition and breastfeeding, health
(415) 554-9645 care referrals, and vouchers for use at farmers markets.
Nutrition Services also administers a “Feeling Good”
nutrition education program and training for CHDP
providers.

San Francisco Department of Public Health
Maternal and Child Health
30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 260
San Francisco CA 94102
(800) 300-9950
www.dph.sf.ca.us/PHP/MCH/MaternalChildHlth.htm
Promotes the health and well being of women of
childbearing age, infants, children and adolescents who
are at increased risk of adverse health outcomes.
Activities include community assessment, planning,
evaluation, outreach, advocacy, education, training, and
policy development. Clinical health care services include
nutrition, reproductive health, dental health, and
primary care for children and youth.

San Francisco Department of Public Health
Tobacco Free Project
30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 2300
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 581-2448
http://sftfc.globalink.org/
Responsible for developing and implementing a
comprehensive tobacco control plan for San Francisco.
The comprehensive tobacco control plan follows state
guidelines and addresses the following three state
mandated priorities: reducing exposure to
environmental tobacco smoke, reducing youth access to
tobacco, and countering pro-tobacco influences
including the impact of transnational tobacco.

53
San Francisco Department of Public Works Responsible for such public works as cleaning,
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place repairing, and maintaining city streets and sewers,
City Hall, Room 348 restoring public monuments, building and maintaining
San Francisco, CA 94102 plazas, stairways, and other public areas, coordinating
(415) 554-6926 street excavation work, look after the city urban forest,
www.sfdpw.com/ enforce litter laws, and removing graffiti and illegal
signs. Regulates street and sidewalk use; Promotes the
undergrounding of overhead utilities; Provides
architectural, civil, structural, and mechanical
engineering services.

San Francisco Department of the Environment Sets policy for SF environment and advises the Mayor
11 Grove St. and Board of Supervisors on environmental matters.
San Francisco, CA 94102 Provides educational materials and advising on
(415) 355-3700 recycling, compost, energy use, toxic reduction,
(415) 554-7329 environmental justice and policy.
www.ci.sf.ca.us/sfenvironment

San Francisco Housing Authority Mission is to provide safe, sanitary, affordable and
440 Turk St. decent housing to very low-income families, senior
San Francisco, CA 94102 citizens, and those with disabilities. Departments
(415) 554-1200 include: Public Housing, Section 8 housing,
www.ci.sf.ca.us/sfha/ Management services and support, Housing
development and modernization and Office of fair
housing.

San Francisco Planning Department Develops and maintains general plan of City and
1660 Mission St. County. Reviews private development projects and
San Francisco, CA 94103 capital improvements. Forms policies and standards to
(415) 558-6378 ensure quality of life. Oversees zoning regulations.
www.ci.sf.ca.us/planning

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Maintains city's water, wastewater, and power
1155 Market St., 4th floor resources. Offers tips and seminars on water-efficient
San Francisco, CA 94103 gardening and irrigation tips in the spring. Provides
(415) 554-3155 free information on water-wise gardening.
http://sfwater.org/home.cfm

San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department Operates recreation programs in 227 facilities across
P.O. Box 170399 the city. Website provides park locations, hiking trails,
San Francisco, CA 94117-0399 baseball diamonds or any other resource, lists hours,
(415) 831-2700 activity schedules, upcoming special events and
www.parks.sfgov.org adjacent parking for each site. Historical photographs
http://civiccenter.ci.sf.ca.us/recpark/location.nsf and other material are also included on website.

San Francisco Sheriff’s Department
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Room 456, City Hall
San Francisco, CA 94102-4676
(415) 554-7225
www.ci.sf.ca.us/sheriff/home.htm
Handles operations in five county jail facilities; Provides
security for Criminal and Civil courts; Monitors the
Sheriff and Police Department's radio transmissions;
Runs crime prevention programs, jail alternative
programs, post-release programs; Consults with victims
of crime in creating the curriculum for courses and in
providing direct services when needed.

San Francisco Unified School District County administrator of The National School Lunch
Student Nutrition Services Program and National School Breakfast Program, which
841 Ellis St. provide free and reduced price meals to income-eligible
San Francisco, CA 94109 children in participating schools.
(415) 749-3604
http://storm.sfusd.edu/apps/sns/

U.C. Cooperative Extension, Agriculture and Provides education and applied research in the
Natural Resources community. Sponsors the 4-H program for youth,
San Mateo-San Francisco Counties culturally appropriate nutrition education programs for
300 Piedmont Ave., Building C, Room 305A low-income populations, and consultation services in
San Bruno, CA 94066 education and research.
(650) 871-7559

54
 list of state agencies
California Department of Conservation Provides services and information that promote
801 K Street, MS 24-01 environmental health, economic vitality, informed land-
Sacramento, CA 95814 use decisions and sound management of state's natural
(916) 322-1080 resources. Some specific program areas include
www.consrv.ca.gov/index/ beverage container recycling, land resource protection,
mine reclamation, oil, gas, and geothermal, and
geological survey.

California Department of Education Orders commodity foods from USDA annually for child
560 J Street, Suite 270 nutrition programs. Determines eligibility for
Sacramento, CA 95814 participation, prepares food offerings, provides technical
(916) 324-9874 assistance on the use and handling of commodity foods,
www.cde.ca.gov/nsd/ and conducts workshops and conferences.

California Department of Food and Agriculture Divisions of CDFA include: Animal health and food
1220 N Street safety, Inspection, Marketing, Measurement standards,
Sacramento, CA 95814 and Plant health and pest prevention.
(916) 654-0466
www.cdfa.ca.gov

California Department of Health Services DHS is organized into seven programs and six support
Office of Public Affairs areas: Health Information and Strategic Planning,
714 P Street, Room 1350 Licensing and Certification, Medical Care Services, Office
Sacramento, California 95814 of Multicultural Health, Office of Women's Health,
(916) 445-4171 Prevention Services, Primary Care and Family Health;
www.dhs.ca.gov/index.htm and Administration, Audits and Investigations, Civil
Rights, Legislative and Governmental Affairs, Legal
Services, and Public Affairs.

California Department of Housing and Community HCD administers more than 20 programs awarding
Development loans and grants to hundreds of local public agencies,
1800 Third Street private nonprofit and for-profit housing developers, and
P.O. Box 952050 service providers every year. This money supports the
Sacramento, CA 94252-2050 construction, acquisition, rehabilitation and preservation
(916) 445-4782 of affordable rental and ownership housing, child care
www.hcd.ca.gov facilities, homeless shelters and transitional housing,
public facilities and infrastructure, and the development
of jobs for low income workers.

California Department of Pesticide Regulation Regulates pesticide sales and use and supports
1101 I Street reduced-risk pest management. DPR studies how
Sacramento, CA 95812-4015 pesticides in home and workplaces can potentially affect
(916) 445-4300 health as well as how they break down in the
www.cdpr.ca.gov environment and affect air, water, and soil.

California Department of Social Services CDSS oversees the CALWORKS, TANF, and Food Stamp
Emergency Food Assistance Program Programs. Collects data and information on public
744 P Street assistance, CALWORKS, food assistance throughout the
Sacramento, CA 95814 state. This site compiles figures on population,
(916) 229-3344 unemployment, and food stamp usage by county and at
(916) 229-3338 state level. Site also has information on grants,
(916) 657-3661 statistics, reports, and commodity complaints. EFAP
http://efap.foodlink.org provides emergency food supplies to low- and no-
income individuals, households, and congregate feeding
sites like soup kitchens.

California Department of Transportation Manager or interregional transportation services

Caltrans District 4 Office Safety of pedestrians, bikers, drivers, passengers
P. O. Box 23660 Building transportation projects.
Oakland, CA 94623-0660
(510) 286-4444
www.dot.ca.gov

55
California Integrate Waste Management Board Includes specific information on home and business
(CIWMB) waste reduction practices, a compost and mulch source
8800 Cal Center Drive list, a list of publications including reports, articles and
Sacramento, CA 95826 fact sheets. Contact for Bay Area: Susan Sakakihara
(916) 255-2200 (916) 341-6249 ssakakih@ciwmb.ca.gov
(916) 341-6587
www.ciwmb.ca.gov/LGCentral

California Public Utilities Commission Regulates privately owned electric, telecommunications,

505 Van Ness Avenue natural gas, water and passenger transportation
San Francisco, CA 94102-3298 companies, in addition to household goods movers, and
(415) 703-2782 the safety of rail transit. The CPUC is responsible for
www.cpuc.ca.gov/static/index.htm assuring California utility customers have safe, reliable
utility service at reasonable rates, protecting utility
customers from fraud, and promoting the health of
California's economy.

California State Farm Service Agency Office (FSA) Offers a variety of programs assisting farmers and
430 G. Street #4161 ranchers, including marketing loans, price support
Davis, CA 95616-4161 programs, land/water conservation incentives, disaster
(530) 792-5520 recovery, and commodity acquisition, procurement and
storage.

University of California Cooperative Extension
Agriculture and Natural Resources
DANR Building Hopkins Road
University of California Davis, CA 95616
(530) 754-8509
http://ucanr.org/
Research and Information Centers
http://aesric.ucdavis.edu/
Conducts agricultural research and delivers the results
to the people who farm. DANR Scientists study nutrition
and educate the public about eating wisely, protect and
study vast wildlands, find ways to conserve natural
resources and advise landowners who are managing so
much of California's open spaces. Cooperative Extension
includes County farm advisors, The 4-H youth
development program, and Nutrition, Family and
Consumer Sciences advisors. Offices are on the UC
Berkeley, Davis, and Riverside campuses.

One Tree mural by Rigo in South of Market

56
 list of other key food system organizations
American Farmland Trust Dedicated to protecting agricultural resources. Founded
California Regional Office by a group of concerned farmers in 1980, AFT's mission
260 Russell Boulevard, Suite D is to stop the loss of productive farmland and to
Davis, CA promote farming practices that lead to a healthy
(530) 753-1073 environment.
www.farmland.org

Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Development The overall goal of the Bay Area Alliance is to reach
P.O. Box 2050 consensus regionwide among stakeholder organizations
Oakland, CA 94604-2050 and civic leaders regarding a new shared about how the
(510) 464-7978 region can grow in a more sustainable manner. The
http://www.bayareaalliance.org/ overarching strategy is the development and adoption
of a "compact" that can become the foundation for
implementation actions by both the public and private
sectors at the local, regional, state and national levels.
The Draft Compact identifies key regional challenges
and recommends a package of 10 strategic
commitments to meet those challenges.

Berkeley Ecology Center Serves as a clearinghouse for Bay Area ecology

2530 San Pablo Ave. resources, promoting efforts toward a healthy
Berkeley, CA 94702 environment. Information on energy use, sustainable
(510) 548-2220 agriculture, food, gardening and more is available
www.ecologycenter.org through newsletter, library, bookstore and classes.

Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency (BOSS)
2065 Kittredge Street, Suite E
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 649-1930
http://www.self-sufficiency.org/
Dedicated to helping poor, homeless, and disabled
people achieve health and self-sufficiency, and to
fighting against the root causes of poverty and
homelessness. BOSS uses strategies of economic
development, community building, housing, and support
services. The BOSS Urban Gardening Institute (BUGI)
addresses poverty, nutrition, health, urban ecology, and
sustainable agriculture from the individual to the policy
level. BUGI’s projects include food production, job
training, horticultural therapy, economic development,
community education, and food policy.

California Certified Organic Farmers Certifies delicious organic food that people know they
1115 Mission St. can trust. Works to increase demand for certified
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 organic products, expand public support for organic
(831) 423-2263 agriculture, and influence governmental policies that
www.ccof.org protect and encourage organic production.

California Farm Bureau Federation With more than 95,000 member families in 53 county
2300 River Plaza Drive Farm Bureaus, this is a voluntary, nongovernmental,
Sacramento, CA 95833 nonpartisan organization of farm and ranch families
(916) 561-5500 seeking solutions to the problems that affect their lives,
www.cfbf.com both socially and economically.

California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA) CFPA is a private non-profit dedicated to improving the
116 New Montgomery St., Suite 520 health and well being of low-income Californians by
San Francisco, CA 94105 increasing their access to nutritious, affordable, and
(415) 777-4422 safe food.
www.cfpa.net

Community Alliance with Family Farmers CAFF political and educational campaigns are building a
P.O. Box 363 movement of rural and urban people who foster family-
Davis, CA 95617 scale agriculture that cares for the land, sustains local
(530) 756-8518 economies, and promotes social justice.
www.caff.org

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California for Pesticide Reform Coalition of over 160 public interest groups dedicated to
49 Powell Street, Suite 530 protecting human health and the environment from the
San Francisco, CA 94102 dangers of pesticide use. CPR works to increase public
(415) 981-3939 understanding of pesticide use and health risks
www.pesticidereform.org associated with pesticides, support grassroots
community activists, defend and improve California's
pesticide use reporting system, promote the viability of
alternatives to pesticides in agricultural, forest and
urban settings and oppose genetically engineered pest
control applications.

California Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Coalition dedicated to building and strengthening the
(CASAWG) movement for a sustainable and socially just food
P.O. Box 1599 system in California. Projects include promotion of
Santa Cruz, CA 95061 federal policy that benefits small-scale growers and
(831) 457-2815 sustainable and organic agriculture, Biological
http://www.calsawg.org/ Agriculture Campaign (a multi-faceted effort to gain
increased resources and beneficial policies for
sustainable agriculture programs), coordination between
California's sustainable agriculture organizations, and
research on labor issues and sustainable agriculture.

Center for Advanced Studies in Nutrition and Established in 1999 to enhance social marketing
Social Marketing strategies to improve nutrition and physical activity
University of California, Davis behaviors related to the prevention of cancer and other
One Shields Avenue, chronic diseases.
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 754-5821
http://socialmarketing-nutrition.ucdavis.edu/

The Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food The mission of the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable
Systems Food Systems is to research, develop, and advance
UC Santa Cruz sustainable food and agricultural systems that are
1156 High St. environmentally sound, economically viable, socially
Santa Cruz, CA 95064 responsible, nonexploitative, and that serve as a
(831) 459-3240 foundation for future generations.
http://zzyx.ucsc.edu/casfs/about/contact.html

Center for Cooperatives Provides public information, cooperative education

University of California (videos, workshops and conference), and research
One Shields Avenue development (grants, start-up assistance) to support
Davis, CA 95616 cooperatives, their members, and the public. Site
(530) 752-2408 provides directory of ag and food grocery co-ops.
http://cooperatives.ucdavis.edu/guide/index.html

Center for Ecoliteracy Dedicated to fostering a profound understanding of the

2522 San Pablo Ave. natural world, grounded in direct experience, and
Berkeley, CA 94702 leading to sustainable patterns of living. The Center
(510) 845-4595 recognizes food systems and watersheds as essential
http://www.ecoliteracy.org/ systems that provide meaningful contexts for achieving
ecological literacy. Works with schools on projects that
take school children out of the classroom and into the
natural world.

Center for Informed Food Choices Provides reliable resources and practical, hands-on
P.O. Box 16053 instruction on how to incorporate more whole, plant-
Oakland, CA 94610 based foods into one's diet. Offers lectures and
(510) 465-0322 resources to educate people about the politics of food.
www.informedeating.org

58
Center for Urban Education about Sustainable CUESA oversees the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. The
Agriculture (CUESA) Center also provides information on food and agriculture
2000 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 512 issues facing region.
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 353-5650

Children's Council of San Francisco Provides subsidy payments to child care providers for
Health and Nutrition Department food served. Provides training and workshops to child
445 Church St. care providers on nutrition, meal planning, food
San Francisco, CA 94114 preparation, health guidelines, and health services.
(415) 276-2900 Collaborates with community based organizations
www.childrenscouncil.org around health, nutrition and children’s wellbeing.

Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) Non-profit organization dedicated to building strong
P.O. Box 209 sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure
Venice, CA 90294 access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally
(310) 822-5410 appropriate food for all people at all times. CFSC has
www.foodsecurity.org over 250 member organizations.

Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) An education program covering cooking, food safety and
Room 31501, Meyer Hall nutrition for families with young children. Free to
One Shields Ave. limited income residents of counties in California.
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 754-8698
http://efnep.ucdavis.edu/

Food First/Institute for Food and Development Member-supported, nonprofit 'peoples' think tank and
Policy education-for-action center. Work highlights the root
398 60th Street causes and value-based solutions to hunger and poverty
Oakland, CA 94608 around the world, with a commitment to establishing
(510) 654-4400 food as a fundamental human right.
www.foodfirst.org

Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) National nonprofit and nonpartisan research and public
1875 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 540 policy center working to improve public policies to
Washington, DC 20009 eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the United
(202) 986-2200 States. FRAC provides: research, government
www.frac.org monitoring, program support, an information
clearinghouse, and media and public information
campaigns.

Food Runners Picks up prepared food donations from restaurants and

2579 Washington St. caterers in the city and immediately delivers them to
San Francisco, CA 94115 free meal sites like shelters, youth centers, etc.
(415) 929-7866 Operates with 500 food donors, 400 recipient agencies,
www.foodrunners.org and 250 volunteers.

Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP) Adult nutrition education programs cover self-
1105 Meyer Hall sufficiency, food budgeting, managing resources, food
One Shields Ave. prep, food safety and sanitation, and feeding infants
Davis, CA 95616-8669 and children, as well as youth nutrition education.
(530) 752-7959 Partnership between USDA, CDSS, and UCCE.
http://fsnep.ucdavis.edu/

Friends of Recreation and Parks A non-profit committed to protecting and enhancing all
501 Stanyan, McLaren Lodge, Golden Gate Park of San Francisco's city parks – from Golden Gate Park to
San Francisco, CA 94117 the more than 200 neighborhood parks, recreation
(415) 750-5105 centers and community programs. FRP works on
www.frp.org advocacy resources for neighborhood groups, K-12
education programs and service learning opportunities,
renovation of the West End of Golden Gate Park, and
restoration of the Conservatory of Flowers.

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The Garden Project The Garden Project began in 1982 as a horticulture
Pier 28, The Embarcadero program in which prisoners would work on the San
San Francisco, CA 94105 Francisco County Jail’s farm to grow organic vegetables
(415) 243-8558 for homeless shelters. Mission is to provide structure
www.gardenproject.org and support to former offenders through on the job
training in gardening and tree care, counseling, and
assistance in continuing education.

Greenbelt Alliance Bay Area land conservation and urban planning

530 Bush St., Suite 303 nonprofit whose mission is to make the Bay Area a
San Francisco, CA 94108 better place to live by protecting the region's Greenbelt
(415) 398-3730 and improving the livability of its cities and towns.
http://www.greenbelt.org/ Works with diverse coalitions on public policy
development, advocacy and education. Programs
include greenbelt protection (saving open space from
sprawl), fair share housing campaign, compact
development endorsement (revitalizing communities
and providing affordable housing) and outings.

Greenyard School Alliance The mission of the SF Green Schoolyard Alliance

(415) 421-2608 (SFGSA) is to promote inclusive, community-driven
www.sfgreenschools.org processes that create and sustain integrated outdoor
learning environments in San Francisco's public schools.
SFGSA envisions a future in which each schoolyard
operates in concert with its neighborhood and local
ecology to foster academic achievement, environmental
stewardship, creativity and community building.

Head Start of San Francisco Provides child development services including a

One Second St., 2nd Floor preschool program, family services, parent education
San Francisco, CA 94105 and involvement, health and nutrition programs for the
(415) 247-7886 family and child (ages 3-5). San Francisco has twenty-
(415) 405-0500 one centers located in nine neighborhoods and also
(415) 982-4777 operates a home-based program. All programs provide
www.sfheadstart.org one meal and a snack on site.

Heart of the City Farmers Market Outdoor market held Wednesdays and Sundays in
1182 Market, Suite 415 United Nations Plaza (Market St. between 7th and 8th).
San Francisco, CA 94102 Some of the items offered include fresh and dried fruits
(415) 558-9455 and vegetables, flowers and plants, juices, herbs and
spices, nuts, fish and shellfish, and baked goods.

Marin County Farmers’ Market Association Operates five seasonal and four year-round farmers’
1114 Irwin St. markets around Marin County and the East Bay. This is
San Rafael, CA 94901-3322 a great resource for starting a farmers’ market.
(800) 897-FARM

Meals on Wheels Delivers meals to homebound elderly, 60 years of age

1375 Fairfax Ave. or older throughout San Francisco. Meals on Wheels
San Francisco, CA 94124 provides hot meals, including specific modified diets;
(415) 920-1111 nutrition assessment and counseling; social work and
www.mowsf.org/Home.asp case management; volunteer companionship and
shopping service; daily delivery of frozen re-heatable
meals; and a twice weekly frozen delivery of food for 7
days. Meals on Wheels also operates a congregate
meal site (Dorwinn Jones Senior Center).

National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture Supports a network comprised of hundreds of national
P.O. Box 396 and grassroots organizations working on agriculture,
Pine Bush, New York 12566 family farm issues such as farm income, whole farm
(845) 744-8448 planning, land loss prevention and other farm
http://www.sustainableagriculture.net/index.htm programs, farm workers, minority farmers, the
environment, consumers rights, animal welfare, food
access and security, rural development, and more.

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Neighborhood Parks Council
783 Buena Vista West
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 621-3260
www.sfneighborhoodparks.org
Coalition of community-based park groups that are
actively involved in improving and restoring
neighborhood parks in San Francisco. The Council
arranges educational presentations and workshops,
provides a forum for sharing information and
experience, and seeks to increase public and private
support and commitment to the restoration and
improved maintenance of our neighborhood parks,
playgrounds and recreation facilities.

Parents for Public Schools
School Food Task Force
9 Silliman Street, Suite 6
San Francisco, CA 94134
(415) 468-7077
http://www.ppssf.org/
Parents for Public Schools aims to elevate the role of
parents in public school advocacy and reform by
promoting a new standard and a new attitude for
involvement at every level. The goal of the School Food
Task Force is to improve every child's education - and
life - by improving the food available to them during
their school day. We hope that by setting good
examples for children at school, they will choose healthy
food at home as well.

Pesticide Action Network of North America Part of a worldwide network of organizations working to
(PANNA) stop misuse of pesticides and to support reliance on
116 New Montgomery #810 safe, ecologically sound alternatives.
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 541-9140
www.panna.org/panna

Project Food, Land and People
Presidio of San Francisco
P.O. Box 29474
San Francisco, CA 94129
(415) 561-4445
http://www.foodlandpeople.org/
Nonprofit organization based in the Presidio National
Park. FLP is committed to helping people of all ages
better understand the interrelationships among
agriculture, the environment, and people of the world.
FLP writes science- and social sciences-based curriculum
for Pre-K to 12 grade students. FLP plans to distribute
learning resources abroad and develop a World Learning
Center (WLC) at Presidio National Park.

Project Open Hand Project Open Hand offers a free bag of food for people
70 Polk St. with AIDS and symptomatic HIV disease to pick up
San Francisco, CA 94109 every week at their food bank. Other options include
(415) 447-2300 meals for special diets and home delivered meals.
www.openhand.org

San Francisco Conservation Corps Works to provide young adults (ages 18-24) with
Recycling Outreach Team opportunities for personal and professional
ECO Center development, while providing San Francisco
1050 South Van Ness Avenue communities with much needed recycling, litter
San Francisco, CA 94110 abatement and environmental education programs.
(415) 561-2178
(415) 920-7171
www.sfcc.org

San Francisco Food Bank The San Francisco Food Bank collects donated food from
900 Pennsylvania Ave. growers, manufacturers and grocers, and distributes it
San Francisco, CA 94107 to people in need through nearly 400 human service
(415) 282-1900 agencies (food pantries, soup kitchens, child care
www.sffoodbank.org centers, homeless shelters, senior centers, etc.).
Emergency Food Box Program provides social service
agencies with a three-day supply of nutritionally
balanced food to distribute to clients in crisis situations.

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San Francisco Food Not Bombs Food Not Bombs sponsors free community meals in
P.O. Box 40485 public venues utilizing surplus inherent in food system.
San Francisco, CA 94140 Shares meals at UN Plaza Sun, Mon, Wed, Thu, and Fri
(415) 675-9928 (5:30) as well as lunch on Monday (1:00) at Stanyan
www.sffoodnotbombs.org and Haight St.

San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners (SLUG) Supports community based greening and gardening
2088 Oakdale Ave. projects, neighborhood beautification and local food
San Francisco, CA 94121 productions. Programs empower communities and
(415) 285-7584 individuals through education and employment.
www.slug-sf.org

San Francisco Planning and Urban Research SPUR is a non-profit membership organization that
Association (SPUR) brings together neighborhood leaders, government
312 Sutter Street # 500 officials, business leaders, planners, architects,
San Francisco, CA 94108 students, and activists to debate, learn, and plan for the
(415) 781-8726 x 117 needs of the city as a whole. SPUR has been involved
www.spur.org with virtually every major planning decision in the city.

Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE) The mission of SAGE is to broaden the constituency for
1417 Josephine St. sustainable regional food and agriculture. We develop
Berkeley, CA 94703 projects, programs, and materials on our own initiative
(510) 526-1793 and for clients that help the public understand and
www.sagecenter.org enjoy sustainable agriculture's many benefits.

Trust for Public Land Programs in California include Western Rivers Program,
Western Regional Office Community Parks and Playground Program (to improve,
116 New Montgomery St., 3rd Floor create, and protect urban open space, parks and
San Francisco, CA 94105 playgrounds in the San Francisco Bay Area), Western
(415) 495-5660 Region Land Trust Program, Bay Area Natural Land
http://www.tpl.org/ Program, and Urban Forestry. The Trust for Public Land-
California provides resources and assistance to local
land trusts in the western region. This includes a
quarterly newsletter, networking opportunities,
technical assistance and education, legislative
assistance, cooperative ventures, and grant making.

U.C. Davis Agricultural Issues Center Provides broad-based and objective information about:
One Shields Ave. international trade and globalization of agriculture,
Davis, CA 95616-8514 linkages between natural resources, the environment
(530) 752-2320 and agriculture, rural-urban interaction, land and labor
http://aic.ucdavis.edu issues, commodity market, etc.

U.C. Sustainable Agriculture, Research & Provides leadership and support for scientific research
Education Program (SAREP) and education in agricultural and food systems that are
One Shields Ave. economically viable, conserve natural resources and
Davis, CA 95616- 8716 biodiversity, and enhance the quality of life in the
(530) 752-7556 state's communities.
www.sarep.ucdavis.edu

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GUIDELINES FOR TAKING ACTION

In order to guide your efforts in implementing and maintaining action, we have included
recommendations and best practices from previous community food security efforts.

WRITING POLICIES OR LEGISLATION

ƒ Do your research. Study existing legislation and similar efforts attempted.

ƒ Craft the language carefully. Think about language that would increase the chances that
a policy would pass, taking care to avoid ambiguities that might raise red flags.
ƒ Test the language with others. Do others understand it to mean the same thing as you?
ƒ Determine the level of specificity needed. Considering the possible implementation of
the legislation, how much “wiggle room” should be left to those who administer the law?
Legislation will be subject to the interpretation and political needs of the implementing
body.
ƒ Have the legislation authored by professionals. Your champion in city hall should be
able to pass the rough draft to legislative council for final crafting. The local law school’s
poverty law or environmental law clinic may be able to volunteer their services to draft
legislative language.

DESIGNING PROGRAMS

ƒ Begin with thorough research that supports the need for a program, suggests methods
for implementation and funding sources, and identifies successful models. Consider
whether other organizations have done or are doing what you propose to do.
ƒ Seek feedback early in and throughout the program design process. Include input from
comparable programs and projects, staff who will deliver the program, clientele, and
funding sources. This will help define and address challenges to implementation as well
as build support and investment in the project.
ƒ Make sure that program proposals are well researched and logical, connecting the
problem or “need” with well-defined objectives and a plan for evaluation.
ƒ Know the resources available to you in your region. Identify volunteers, outreach
channels, and other community resources that may aid in project implementation.
ƒ Maintain collaboration and program promotion after initial start up. Use community
events, meetings and the media to sustain the energy, support, and networks necessary
for program success.
ƒ Be careful about committing to too much work. Define your organization’s role in the
implementation process, setting clear limits on what you will do.

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EVALUATING YOUR WORK

Before fully embarking on the implementation of your activities and actions, you should plan
for a thorough project evaluation. Many people find that evaluations are most helpful when
they are conducted on an ongoing basis or built into the project to track development over
time. This evaluation process will be important not only to the organization(s) funding your
work, but also to potential sponsors, policy makers, program participants (staff and
clientele) and the academic community. Evaluation plans should be designed well –
considering both process and outcome objectives and reporting both positive and negative
changes.

Why Evaluate?

ƒ Document whether you did what you set out to do / Justify your program
ƒ Meet funder’s and/or government’s requirements
ƒ Tell you and your funding sponsor that you will be held accountable
ƒ Assess project impact and document satisfaction of participants and beneficiaries
ƒ Assess anticipated and unanticipated changes in program, staff, and community
ƒ Decide whether to modify program in order to use resources efficiently and effectively
ƒ Improve programmatic and management practices
ƒ Help to reduce risks and costs

How to Write Objectives?

ƒ Process Objectives tell what you will do and how (participants, activities, etc.)
ƒ Impact Objectives tell how you will change attitudes, knowledge or behavior
ƒ Outcome Objectives tell what the long-term implications of your program will be

SMART objectives are:

Specific Define what you are going to do, by whom, for whom
Measurable Can be measured
Achievable Can be accomplished within the given timeframe, political climate, budget
Relevant Will lead to the desired results
Time framed Define when it will be accomplished

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REFERENCES

Allen M, Born B, Herbach G (eds.). Fertile Ground: Planning for the Madison/Dane County
Food System. Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Wisconsin-
Madison; 1997.

Allen P. Reweaving the food security safety net: Mediating entitlement and
entrepreneurship. Agriculture and Human Values. 16: 117-129; December 1999.

Ashman L, De La Vega J, Dohan M, Fisher A, Hippler R, Romain B. Seeds of Change:

Strategies for Food Security for the Inner City. Venice, CA: Community Food Security
Coalition; 1993.

Biehler D, Fisher A , Siedenburg K, Winne M, Zachary J. Getting Food on the Table: An

Action Guide to Local Food Policy. Venice, CA: Community Food Security Coalition;
March 1999.

Cohen B, Kantor L, Andrews M. Community Food Security Assessment Toolkit.

Washington, D.C.: USDA Economic Research Service, IQ Solutions, Inc.; July 2002.

Farfan-Ramirez L, Kelly M. Cultivating Health: A West Oakland Food Security Planning

Project. University of California Cooperative Extension, Alameda County; 2002.

Gottlieb R. Environmentalism Unbound: Exploring New Pathways for Change. Cambridge,

MA: The MIT Press; 2001.

Harmon A, Harmon R, Maretzki A. The Food System: Building Youth Awareness through
Involvement. College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State University; 1999.

Hecht K, Steinman E. Improving Access to Food in Low-Income Communities: An

Investigation of Three Bay Area Neighborhoods. California Food Policy Advocates;
January 1996.

Hora M, Tick J. From Farm to Table: Making the Connection in the Mid-Atlantic Food
System. Washington, D.C.: Capital Area Food Bank; 2001.

Joseph H (ed). Community Food Security: A Guide to Concept, Design, and

Implementation. Venice, CA: Community Food Security Coalition; 1997.

Martin K. Food Security and Community: Putting the Pieces Together. Hartford, CT:
Hartford Food System; May 2001.

McKnight J, Kretzmann J. Mapping Community Capacity. Evanston, IL: Institute for Policy
Research, Northwestern University; 1996.

Ona F, Pothucuchi K, Kjer T. Community Food Assessment Workshop. Oakland, CA:

Community Food Security Coalition; June 20, 2002.

Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition. Healthy Food, Healthy Communities. Toronto,

Ontario: Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition; January 1997.
http://www.opc.on.ca/ohcc/ [Accessed September 17, 2002]

65
Pothukuchi K, Joseph H, Burton H, Fisher A. What’s Cooking in your Food System: A Guide
to Community Food Assessment. Venice, CA: Community Food Security Coalition; 2002.

Pretty J, Hine R. Participatory Appraisal for Community Assessment: Principles and

Methods. Wivenhoe Park, Colchester: University of Essex, Centre for Environment and
Society; December 1999. http://www2.essex.ac.uk/ces/

San Francisco Department of Public Health. Community Action Training Curriculum. San
Francisco, CA: Community Health Education Section, SFDPH; November 2000.

San Francisco Food Bank. Hunger in San Francisco: Fragmented Services, Unmet Needs.
San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Food Bank; November 1994.

Sustain: The Alliance for Better Food and Farming. Reaching the Parts. London: Sustain;
2000. http://www.sustainweb.org/pub_poverty.asp

Troutt D. The Thin Red Line: How the Poor Still Pay More. San Francisco, CA: West Coast
Regional Office, Consumers Union; 1993.

University of Kansas. Community Tool Box. http://ctb.lsi.ukans.edu/ [Accessed September

2, 2002]

United States Department of Agriculture. Community Food Security Resource Kit: How to
Find Money, Technical Assistance, and Other Help to Fight Hunger and Strengthen Local
Food Systems. Washington, DC: USDA; 2000.
http://www.reeusda.gov/food_security/foodshp.htm

Organic fruit vender at Heart of the City Farmers’ Market

66
WORKSHEETS

List of worksheets (and source):

“My Community Diagnosis” (from Community Action Training Curriculum. San Francisco,
CA: Community Health Education Section, San Francisco Department of Public Health;
November 2000.)

“The Implementation Matrix” (from Reaching the Parts. London: Sustain: The Alliance for
Better Food and Farming, 2000.)

“Store Report Card” (from Reaching the Parts. London: Sustain: The Alliance for Better
Food and Farming, 2000.)

“Designing a Survey” (Adapted from Trochim, WM. Research Methods Knowledge Base, 2002.
http://trochim.human.cornell.edu/kb)

“Action Steps for Identified Systems or Community Changes” (from Community Tool Box.
University of Kansas.)

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 “My Community Diagnosis”
1. What is the focus of my project?
(What issue are you working on?)

2. What am I trying to find out about my focus or issue?

(What questions are you asking about your issue?)

3. What are the research tools I will use to help me find this out?
How will you do your research?

4. How will I analyze what I found out and prepare my findings for the
community and policymakers?

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 This implementation matrix can be used to prioritize ideas amongst your
assessment team regarding data to collect, actions to take, etc.

EASE OF COMPLETION

Easy Medium Hard

High
POTENTIAL IMPACT
Medium
Low

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This store report card can be used with members of your assessment team or the
general community. You can list a number of stores in the first row and tally up
participants’ responses to each of the criteria on the left. Or, you can blow this up to poster
size and have residents vote with beans or other props. Don’t forget to share the findings
(good and bad) with your local storeowners!

Store names

Accepts food
stamps and WIC

Clean shop

Community
loyalty

Convenient

Easy parking

Everything
under one roof

Good fruits &

vegetables

Good quality

Nice shop owner

and staff

Not too far to

travel

Well established

Wide variety

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Are you designing a survey? Consider these questions first.

Ask your research team… Circle One… If “Yes,” then…

Do you need to show visuals? Yes No Use group, mail or drop-off

questionnaire or a personal
interview

Do you want to use long response Yes No Use group, mail or drop-off
categories? questionnaire

Do you want to ensure privacy? Yes No Use mail questionnaire or

personal interview

Do you want maintain flexibility in the Yes No Use personal or phone interview
questions you ask?

Are you going to include open-ended Yes No Use personal or phone interview
questions?

Are some members of the survey Yes No Use facilitated group

population illiterate? questionnaire or personal or
phone interview

Do you hope to be able to judge the Yes No Use group questionnaire or

quality of the response? personal interview

Do you want to maximize response Yes No Use group questionnaire, drop-off

rates? questionnaire or personal
interview

Can you explain the study in person? Yes No Use group questionnaire, drop-off
questionnaire, or personal
interview

Do you have a tight budget? Yes No Use group or mail questionnaire

Do you have minimal staff and time to Yes No Use group or mail questionnaire
donate?

Do you need access to dispersed Yes No Use mail questionnaire

samples?

Do you want to give respondents time Yes No Use mail or drop-off questionnaire
to formulate answers?

Do you prefer to have personal Yes No Use group questionnaire, drop-of

contact with respondents? questionnaire, or personal
interview

Are you considering a long survey? Yes No Use personal interview

Do you need a quick turnaround? Yes No Use mail questionnaire or phone

interview

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 Action Steps for Identified Systems or Community Changes
Identified community change to be sought:

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Collaborating organizations/groups:

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Action Steps By Whom By When Resources and Potential Communication

Support Barriers or Plan
Resistance

What needs to be Who will take By what date? What resources are What individuals What individuals
done? actions? available? and organizations and organizations
might resist? How? should be informed
What resources are or involved?
needed?

STEP 1:

STEP 2:

STEP 3:

STEP 4:

STEP 5:

STEP 6:

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SAMPLE FOOD POLICIES

For samples of other food policies, check out these websites:

http://www.iowafoodpolicy.org/

http://www.hartfordfood.org/programs/food_policy_ct.html

http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/health/tfpc_index.htm

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 City of Berkeley
Food and Nutrition Policy
Purpose

The purpose of the City of Berkeley Food and Nutrition Policy is to help build a more complete local food system
based on sustainable regional agriculture that fosters the local economy and assures that all people of Berkeley have
access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food.

Responsibilities

The City Council recognizes the opportunity to contribute to the conditions in which optimal personal,
environmental, social, and economic health can be achieved through a comprehensive food policy. The City
Council also recognizes that the sharing of food is a fundamental human experience; a way of nurturing and
celebrating diverse cultures, thereby building community and strengthening inter-generational bonds.
Council will direct City staff, in collaboration with the Berkeley Food Policy Council and other community groups,
to take the necessary steps within the resources available to work toward the achievement of the Food and Nutrition
Policy goals in:
ƒ City of Berkeley programs involving the regular preparation and serving of food and snacks in youth
centers, senior centers, summer camp programs, City jail, and other similar programs.
ƒ Food purchased by all City of Berkeley programs and staff for meetings, special events, etc.
ƒ Other City-funded programs and sites interested in voluntary participation in policy implementation.

City staff from the Chronic Disease Prevention Program in the Public Health Division of the Department of Health
and Human Services will coordinate the implementation of the Food and Nutrition Policy through the following
activities: 1) promoting awareness of the policy and information on implementation strategies; 2) providing
technical assistance to City programs working on implementation through collaboration with community groups and
agencies such as the Food Policy Council; 3) monitoring implementation and reporting on progress; 4) coordinating
outreach and education promoting voluntary participation in policy implementation to City residents, non-profit
agencies, government agencies, businesses and other groups. In addition, Council supports the City's role as a
model promoter of healthy food and a sustainable and diverse food system and encourages other public agencies,
private sector businesses, and non-profit agencies to adopt relevant portions of the policy.

Goals

1. Ensure that the food served in City programs shall, within the fiscal resources available:
§ be nutritious, fresh, and reflective of Berkeley's cultural diversity
§ be from regionally grown or processed sources to the maximum extent possible
§ be organic (as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program
regulations) to the maximum extent possible
§ not come from sources that utilize excessive antibiotics, bovine growth hormones, irradiation, or
transgenic modification of organisms until such time as the practice is proven to enhance the local food
system
2. Utilize a preventive approach to nutrition-related health problems.

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3. Improve the availability of food to Berkeley residents in need.
4. Promote urban agriculture throughout the City.
5. Support regional small scale, sustainable agriculture that is environmentally sound, economically viable,
socially responsible, and non-exploitative.
6. Strengthen economic and social linkages between urban consumers and regional small-scale farms.
7. Maximize the preservation of regional farmland and crop diversity.
8. Provide community information so residents may make informed choices about food and nutrition and
encourage public participation in the development of policies and programs
9. Coordinate with other cities, counties, state and federal government and other sectors on nutrition and food
system issues.

Strategies
A. Local and Regional Food Systems
1. Purchase fresh food from nearby and regional farms, gardens and food processors as a first priority, when
affordable, readily available, and when quality standards are maintained.
2. Purchase prepared or processed foods from nearby, small businesses that procure ingredients from regional
organic farmers and food processors to the maximum extent possible.
3. Support cooperatives, bartering, buying clubs, local currencies and other non-traditional payment mechanisms
for purchasing regionally and sustainably grown food.
4. Join with neighboring “food shed” municipalities, county governments and organizations in the purchase of
agricultural conservation easements in neighboring rural communities where feasible.
5. Promote ecologically sound food cultivation in public and private spaces throughout Berkeley.

B. Equitable Access to Nutritious Food

1. Increase access to affordable fruits, vegetables and healthy foods for all Berkeley residents through support of
farmer’s markets, community supported agriculture, produce stands and other farm to neighborhood marketing
strategies.
2. Promote neighborhood-based food production, processing, warehousing, distribution, and marketing.
3. Improve public transportation that increases access to food shopping, especially in highly transit dependent
communities.
4. Assist low-income residents in accessing available emergency and subsidized food sources.
5. Where feasible, make City-owned kitchen facilities available to community-based groups to provide nutrition
education and increased access to healthy foods for residents.

C. Public Policy
1. Advocate for food labeling laws, and request that federal and state representatives support legislation that will
clearly label food products that have been irradiated, transgenically modified or have been exposed to bovine
growth hormones.
2. Promote the use of the Precautionary Principle in agriculture and food issues to ensure the environment is not
degraded and Berkeley residents are not exposed to environmental or health hazards in the production and
availability of local foods.

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3. Work with media to offset unhealthy eating messages and to promote activities that alter public opinion in ways
that will support policy initiatives that promote the public's health.
4. Support state and local initiatives, including research, which provide clear, concise, accurate, culturally
appropriate messages about food and healthful eating patterns.
5. Advocate for federal and state programs that increase access to nutritious food for low-income residents.
6. Foster regional food production through support for initiatives that assist nearby farms, gardens, distributors
and neighborhood stores.
7. Advocate for local, state and federal actions that support implementation of the City of Berkeley Food and
Nutrition Policy.

D. Public Outreach and Education

1. Conduct outreach to a wide range of stakeholders in the food system through support of regular public events
such as festivals of regional food, resource guide on the regional food system, publicizing community supported
agriculture (CSA) options, and farmer’s markets.
2. Provide training to appropriate City staff on basic nutrition, nutrition education, and the benefits of organic and
regional sustainable agriculture.
3. Provide accurate, ongoing, and culturally appropriate nutrition education messages to residents that are tailored
to their individual needs and that consider the whole health of individuals, including emotional, mental and
environmental health as well as social-well-being.
4. Increase resident skills in consumer literacy, reading labels, analyzing conflicting healthy eating and weight
loss messages, meal planning, cooking, and shopping for nutritious foods.
5. Conduct citywide culturally specific social marketing activities promoting nutritious food choices.
6. Increase food system literacy among residents on issues such as the environmental and social impact of
synthetic biocides (fungicides, pesticides, and herbicides), large-scale industrial farming, and patenting of life
forms.
7. Provide training to residents and community groups in backyard, container, and rooftop gardening techniques.
8. Provide information to residents on the impact of open-air propagation of transgenically modified plants and
the use of synthetic biocides.
9. Outreach to neighborhood stores to promote the availability of a variety of fresh, affordable regional and
organic produce.

E. Berkeley Food Policy Council

1. The Berkeley Food Policy Council, a community group in existence since May, 1999, consisting of a wide
range of Berkeley residents and agency providers and open to all interested persons, shall serve in an advisory
capacity to the Department of Health and Human Services and City Council on food issues and provide a forum
to discuss food-related topics of concern to the community.
2. The Berkeley Food Policy Council shall meet at least six times a year at hours convenient for public
participation.
3. The Berkeley Food Policy Council will provide technical assistance to City programs, staff and community
groups in the implementation of this Food and Nutrition Policy and subsequent recommendations.

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