ebr food access policy commission: presentation of interim findings
DESCRIPTION
The Food Access Policy Commission was launched in February 2013 by Together Baton Rouge, Mayor-President Kip Holden and the Mayor's Healthy City Initiative, to address the lack of grocery stores in low-income communities throughout East Baton Rouge Parish. This presentation shares key findings from the Commission's Interim Report into addressing food deserts in Baton Rouge.TRANSCRIPT
+
East Baton Rouge ParishFood Access Policy Commission
Presentation to Metro CouncilOctober 23rd, 2013
+This started with stories …
Ms. Angela Johnson, Resident of Scotlandville
+ Good things are happening …
Distributing surplus fresh produce in Scotlandville.
In 2013 so far …
-- 225,065 pounds of fresh fruit and produce distributed.
-- 18,071 residents served.
-- 1,123 volunteers!
Plans to expand to Old South.
Scotlandville Mobile PantryTogether Baton Rouge & Greater BR Food Bank
+ Good things are happening …
Launched in May 2013.
Bringing farm-fresh products from local farmers to food desert neighborhoods.
Currently serving 4 locations
Scotlandville Library
Star Hill Church
Delmont Service Center
Mckinley Alumni Center
Redstick Mobile Farmers MarketBREADA
+ Good things are happening …
6 corner stores receiving grants up to $20,000.
Grants help stores make improvements to stock fresh produce and meats.
Targets zip codes 70802, 70805 and 70807.
Healthy Corner Store InitiativeEBR Redevelopment Authority
Location of grant recipients
+But we also need to address the root causes of food deserts …
That’s the mission of the Food Access Policy Commission.
+
USDA
definition
A low income census tract where a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store.
“Low-income”Census tract with at least 20% of residents below
poverty OR median family income below 80% of area’s
median family income.
“Low-access”At least 500 people or
33% of the population resides one mile or more from a
supermarket or large grocery store (10 miles for rural census
tracts).
What is a “food desert”?
+Commission Mandate
#1) Problem Analysis
To examine the causes and consequences of food deserts in East Baton Rouge Parish.
#2) Best Practice Analysis
To analyze national best practices to attract retail and other high-quality food providers to low-income, low food-access communities.
#3) Recommend Solutions
To develop concrete policy and practice recommendations to address food deserts in East Baton Rouge Parish.
+Commission Members
Rev. Jesse Bilberry, Pastor, Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church; Moderator, 4th District Baptist Association
Mr. Chip Boyles, EBR Redevelopment Authority, Vice Pres of Admin & Programs
Dr. Stephanie Broyles, Pennington Biomedical, Assistant Professor
Dr. Adell Brown, Jr., Southern University AgCenter, Vice Chancellor for Research
Mr. Edgar Cage, Together Baton Rouge, Food Access Team Co-chair
Mr. Clint Caldwell, Supervalu Incorporated
Mr. David Gray, Louisiana Budget Project, Policy Analyst
Mr. Ty Harvison, Latter & Blum, Commercial Real Estate
Mr. Ed Johnson, Wal-mart
Dr. Kenneth Koonce, LSU Dean, College of Agriculture, LSU Agricultural Center
Mr. Mike Manning, Greater BR Food Bank, President & CEO
Mr. Jared Smith, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Director of Business Development
Mr. Leroy Watts, Liberty Bank, Executive Vice President / CFO
+ Key Finding:
Food deserts are a significant problem in East Baton Rouge Parish
About 100,000 EBR residents live in food deserts, more than 20% of our population.
National average is about 8%.
About 25,000 food-desert residents in EBR are children.
+
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington Biomedical
Areas within 1 mile of grocery
store
Low-income census tracts
1
2
3
4
56
7
Locations of EBR Food Deserts
+ Key Finding:
Food deserts have major negative effects on residents & neighborhoods
#1) Strong correlation between food deserts and high obesity rates.
-- But obesity is complex and depends on more than just access.
#2) Residents in food deserts pay more for food.
-- Costs at corner stores are from 7% to 25% higher than at grocery stores.
#3) Lack of grocery stores has a strong downard pull on area economic development.
-- Grocery stores are anchors and effect residential and commercial development.
+ Key Finding:
EBR has different types of low food-access areas, which require distinct strategies
Some areas have seen major population loss, e.g.:
Old South Baton Rouge
1960 Population: 40,478
1990 Population: 15,300
2010 Population: 14,629
Here, low economic demand is likely cause of food desert.
Addressing it will likely include heavy retail incentives, addressing
low residential density or non grocery store options.
Other areas have seen stable population, e.g.:
Scotlandville
1960 Population: 24,687
1990 Population: 24,989
2010 Population: 23,393
Here, there is likely a market for a retail grocery store.
Addressing food desert will likely include more aggressive retail
recruitment (probably with some incentives).
+
Retail “BrandScore”
Map
Discount grocer model
Key Finding: Market analysis shows retail potential in many food desert neighborhoods
+ Key Finding: Market analysis shows retail potential in many food desert neighborhoods
Retail “BrandScore”
Map
Discount grocer model
+ Key Finding: Market analysis shows retail potential in many food desert neighborhoods
Key Finding:
To seize these opportunities, our city-parish will need to development stronger retail attraction capacity targeted toward low-income communities.
+Next Steps
Analyze successful strategies across the country to address food deserts.
Develop a preliminary set of recommendations for community engagement.
Compile and deliver a final report with recommendations.
Over next six months, Commission will:
+
QUESTIONS?