Food final6

Seattle Food System Enhancement Project

Program on the EnvironmentCertificate in Environmental Management

Keystone Project

Project Team: Rich Cook, Dan Morgan, Heidi Radenovic, & Stephanie Renzi

Community Partner

City of Seattle

Food Policy Interdepartmental Team (IDT)– Department of Neighborhoods

– Planning and Development– Human Services– Office of Sustainability and the Environment– Seattle Public Utilities– Seattle King County Public Health

Neighborhood Food Assessment

The 2005-2006 Food System Enhancement Project and the Mayor’s Climate Action Plan prompted the City to ask additional questions about the local food system.

The 2006-2007 Food System Enhancement Project is thus designed to: 1) Understand residents’ experience of the food system in specific neighborhoods

2) Investigate the relationship between the food system and climate change.

2005-2006 Project

2006-2007 Project

Phase 3 – Findings and

Recommendations

Phase 2 - Validate and

City roles

Phase 1 - Characterize the

local food system

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Study

Neighborhood Food System Assessment


What is a Food System?

The food system includes all processes

involved in keeping us fed: • Production• Processing• Distribution• Access/Consumption• Disposal/Recycling

USDACFA Components

1. Profile of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics2. Profile of food resources3. Assessment of household food security 4. Assessment of food resource accessibility3. Assessment of food availability and affordability4. Assessment of food production resources

USDACFA Components

1. Profile of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics2. Profile of food resources3. Assessment of household food security 4. Assessment of food resource accessibility• Assessment of food availability and affordability• Assessment of food production resources

USDACFA Components

1. Profile of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics2. Profile of food resources3. Assessment of household food security 4. Assessment of food resource accessibility• Assessment of food availability and affordability• Assessment of food production resources

Focus Groups

NeighborhoodSelection

FIRST HILL

SOUTH BEACON HILL

NeighborhoodSelection

Neighborhood Food System Assessment:

Findings and Recommendations


Findings Socioeconomic and Demographic Characteristics

74%

26%

below poverty level

above poverty level

FIRST HILL

17%

83%

below poverty level

above poverty level

SOUTH BEACON HILL

Poverty Rate


1213%

24%

51%white

black

asian

other

SOUTH BEACON HILL

10

11%

62%17%

white

black

asian

other

FIRST HILL

Race


20%

45%

30%

5%

walk drive public transportation other

FIRST HILL2% 1%

17%

80%

walk drive public transportation other

SOUTH BEACON HILL

Commute to Work


FIRST HILLFIRST HILL

69%

31%

18 and under 65 and above

SOUTH BEACON HILL

30%

70%

18 and under 65 and above

FIRST HILL

Age

Findings Neighborhood Food Resources

0 10 20 30 40 50

FIRST HILL

FOOD RETAIL

0 10 20 30 40 50

EATING PLACES

0 10 20 30 40 50

FOOD BANKS

0 10 20 30 40 50

FARMERS' MARKETS

0 10 20 30 40 50

P-PATCHES

0 10 20 30 40 50

BUS ROUTES

0 10 20 30 40 50

SOUTH BEACON HILL

0 10 20 30 40 50

FOOD RETAIL

0 10 20 30 40 50

EATING PLACES

0 10 20 30 40 50

FOOD BANKS

0 10 20 30 40 50

FARMERS' MARKETS

0 10 20 30 40 50

P-PATCHES

0 10 20 30 40 50

BUS ROUTES

0 10 20 30 40 50

FindingsFood Focus Groups

ACCESSAFFORDABILITY

AVAILABILITY

QUALITY

FOOD SECURITY


I would like to shop at WholeFoods for organic food, but it’s too far and expensive…

ACCESSAFFORDABILITY

AVAILABILITY

QUALITY

FOOD SECURITY


When my food stamps run out, I buy cheaper, less desirable food

ACCESSAFFORDABILITY

AVAILABILITY

QUALITY

FOOD SECURITY


Traffic, parking, and crowds detract residents’ from shopping on weekendsACCESS

AFFORDABILITY

AVAILABILITY

QUALITY

FOOD SECURITY

Recommendations

• Increase availability of food locations

• Improve access to locally produced food

• Support education programs around food

and nutrition

• Bring awareness to residents

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Study


Project Goals

2. Quantify connection between GHG emissions and Seattle’s food system

3. Identify opportunities to lower GHG emissions

…via a Life Cycle Analysis

Comparing local and imported food

• Apple, Asparagus, Potato, Salmon• Two plates: Washington State vs. Imported

• Cultivate, harvest and deliver food to Seattle

Findings1. Local plate of food emits 33% less GHGs

2. Fuel use at the farm/boat is the biggest source

3. Salmon dominates the emissions for each plate

4. Each food item tells a slightly different story

Findings:1. Local plate of food emits 33% less GHGs

1

2,091

3,086

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

Gra

ms

of

CO

2 e

qu

iva

len

tTotal Global Warming Potential for Each Plate

LocalImported

Findings:2. Fuel use at the farm/boat is the biggest source

27 31

2,027

2,841

37213

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Gra

ms

of

CO

2 E

qu

ival

ent

ChemicalProduction

Fuel Used atFarm/Boat

Fuel Used inTransportation

Global Warming Potential for Each Plate by Emission Category

Local

Imported

Findings:3. Salmon dominates the emissions for each plate

33 70 29 49 16 40

2,013

2,927

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Gra

ms

of

CO

2 E

qu

iva

len

t

Apple Asparagus Potato Salmon

Global Warming Potential for Each Item

Local

Imported

Findings:4. Each food item tells a slightly different story

27 31 33 30

18

98

0

20

40

60

80

100

Gra

ms

of

CO

2 E

qu

iva

len

t

ChemicalProduction

Fuel Used atFarm

Fuel Used inTransportation

Global Warming Potential for Fruits and Vegetables Only

Local

Imported

Recommendations

1. Promote local food

2. Educate about the environmental benefits of local food

3. Examine how people get their food

AcknowledgementsSpecial thanks to:

Faculty Mentor: Branden Born, PhD, Urban Design and Planning

City of Seattle: Laura Raymond, Department of Neighborhoods

Food Policy IDT Members

Pam Emerson, Office of Sustainability and the Environment

Community Partners: Joyce Cooper, University of Washington

Horizon House, First Hill

Neighborhood House, First Hill and New Holly

Co Lam Pagoda, South Beacon Hill

First Hill Improvement Association

Yesler Terrace Community Council

South Beacon Hill Community Council

Tammy Morales, Seattle Food Policy Council

Graciela Gonzales, El Centro de la Raza

Questions


Focus GroupMethodology

Thematic Coding: A methodology for transforming qualitative information by way of thematic analysis

and code development.

Codes Defined:• Availability• Quality• Affordability• Access• Food Security• Other

What is a CommunityFood Assessment?

An approach to assessing community food security…

so that,“community residents can obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally

adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes self-reliance, social justice and democratic decision-making”

(Winne, 1997).

Education

Food final6