making connections: how the local food movement can support ventura county agriculture
DESCRIPTION
Report on 2012 Activities of the Ventura County Ag Futures Alliance.TRANSCRIPT
Making Connections: How the Local Food Movement Can Support Ventura County Agriculture Report on 2012 Activities of the Ventura County Ag Futures Alliance
Photo Credit: John Nichols
V E N T U R A C O U N T Y
FUTURESALL IANCE
2 | REPORT ON 2012 ACTIVITIES OF THE VENTURA COUNTY AG FUTURES ALLIANCE
“Making Connections: How the Local Food Movement Can Support Ventura County Agriculture”, was an event hosted by Ventura County’s Ag Futures Alliance (VAFA), and took place in February 2012, drawing 225 community members. This report is a summary of the summit itself, outcomes from the summit, and AFA’s work in the months since this significant event. The Ventura County Ag Futures Alliance (VAFA), a diverse stakeholder collaborative addressing issues of long-term agricultural viability in Ventura County, hosted the 2012 Agricultural Summit at the historic Camarillo Ranch House Barn. The Alliance sought to generate dialogue and increase collaboration in the community about the important economic role that locally produced agricultural products play for a prosperous Ventura County, and to set the agenda for ongoing collaboration on other important issues that surfaced during the Summit.
In a show of widespread interest in local agriculture, community stakeholders at the day-long event included local food producers, agricultural support agencies, elected officials, educators, food distributors, labor advocates, and consumers. Speakers included the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner and Public Health Officer, the Farm Bureau of Ventura County, the Deputy Director for Los Angeles Unified School District’s Food Services Department, and many more. California Secretary of Food and Agriculture, Karen Ross, and USDA Rural Development Director, Glenda Humiston, delivered keynote addresses. Detailed reports on these presentations and panels are available on VAFA’s webpage at http://venturacoafa.org.
Many themes were discussed throughout the day, but a few priority issues rose to the surface for participants. Key challenges affecting the long-term viability of agriculture that were identified included: urban encroachment, water issues, and the difficult regulatory environment. Important opportunities to improve the county’s food and agriculture system identified by the group included: broad-based agricultural education as a way to increase connections between farms and other institutions (with a focus on schools) and building regional food infrastructure or food hubs to enhance local market opportunities for growers.
VAFA is committed to taking direction for its work from Ventura County citizens, and as such used the Summit as a launching pad for its activities this year. In response to the Summit findings, the Alliance launched a series of efforts, including:
• Forming an Ag Education Committee that is working to identify priority educational projects that will bolster the local agriculture industry;
• Hosting a listening session for local producers to identify potential actions aimed at reducing the regulatory burden while maintaining environmental standards;
• Hosting a convening of 50 agricultural educators to begin assessing educational resources that could be leveraged for agriculture in Ventura County.
VAFA will continue to use the data collected from the Summit as a way to inform its next steps, and will continue to seek feedback from the public as it works to maintain a thriving agricultural industry in Ventura County.
Executive Summary
VAFA is committed to taking direction for its work from Ventura County citizens
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Table of Contents
Report on the 2012 Ventura County Agricultural Summit: “Making Connections: How the Local Food Movement Can Support Ventura County Agriculture” 4
Progress Report, December 2012 6
Easing the Regulatory Burden 6
Building Rural-Urban Connections through Agricultural Education 6
Addit ional Progress 7
Appendices Ag Summit Participants 8-10
Ag Summit Sponsors “Thank You” 11
VAFA Members - 2012 Rich Atmore, R.A. Atmore and Sons, Inc.
Art Bliss
Merrill Berge, Save Open Space and Agricultural
Resources
Joanie Blaxter, Weston A. Price Foundation
Katherine Brokaw, Wells Fargo Ag. Industries Dept.
Jose De Soto, UC Hansen Trust
Alise Echele, Ventura Unified School District
Henry Gonzalez, Ventura County Agricultural
Commissioner
Christina McGinnis, Environmental Defense Center
Doug Nelson, Mainstreet Architects
John Nichols, John Nichols Gallery
Tracy Perez, United Staffing Associates
Josh Pinkerton, Farm Bureau of Ventura County
Brian Stark, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
Amy Storm, Larry Walkers Associates
Chris Stephens, Ventura County Planning Dept.
Alicia Tharp, Ideal Seafood
Summit Planning Committee
Kimberly Albright, Whole Foods Market
Eric Cardenas, Ag Innovations Network
Sandy Curwood, Ventura Unified School District
Sonja Flores, House Farm Workers!
John Krist, Farm Bureau of Ventura County
Helen McGrath, Ag Innovations Network
Phil McGrath, McGrath Family Farm
Joseph McIntyre, Ag Innovations Network
Kat Merrick, Totally Local VC
John Nichols, Art Dealer
Don Nishiguchi, Whole Foods Market
Josh Pinkerton, Pinkerton Ranch
Chris Sayer, Petty Ranch
Karen Schmidt, Save Our Space & Agricultural Resources
Bonnie Weigel, FOOD Share
Event Organizer
Ruth Ballin, Ballin Marketing & Public Relations
Thank you volunteers from Food Share!
4 | REPORT ON 2012 ACTIVITIES OF THE VENTURA COUNTY AG FUTURES ALLIANCE
Report on the 2012 Ventura County Agricultural Summit: “Making Connections: How the Local Food Movement Can Support Ventura County Agriculture”
On February 17, 2012, the Ventura County Ag Futures Alliance (VAFA) hosted a day-long Summit entitled “Making Connections: How the Local Food Movement Can Support Ventura County Agriculture.” The 225 participants came from a number of local stakeholder groups that included food producers, health providers and educators, agricultural businesses and support services, and civic and community members. Throughout the day, participants shared their views on the issues facing Ventura County agriculture and its role in the economic fabric of our county now and in the future. Below is a report to the community based on the information gathered from Summit participants, and a description of how VAFA plans to use that information to guide the Alliance’s plan for action.
As part of the Summit process, participants were asked to write down what they considered to be the top challenges to the long-term viability of agriculture in Ventura County. Nearly all 225 participants responded, and all responses were tallied and categorized based on content as well as the responder’s stakeholder group (i.e. grower, educator, etc.). Some responses fit into multiple categories. Detailed results are available on VAFA’s webpage at http://venturacoafa.org.
For the group as a whole, the five most commonly stated long-term challenges included:
• Urban encroachment/preservation of farmland;
• Water cost/availability;
• Increased government regulation;
• Farm labor availability/immigration reform; and
• Invasive pests.
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1. Top Long-Term Challenges for Agriculture in VC
Regardless of their stakeholder group, participants were largely in agreement on the biggest challenges facing agriculture in Ventura County. As mentioned above, these included:
• Urban encroachment;
• Water;
• Regulation;
• Labor;
• Pests.
Four of the top five issues (urban encroachment, water, regulation, and labor) were shared by three of the four stakeholder groups (see graph below).
VAFA would like to thank everyone who attended the Summit. The insights gained from the participants have been essential in defining our future direction and being able to best serve the county. For a complete overview of participant results, please visit VAFA’s website at http://venturacoafa.org.
Special thanks to members of VAFA’s Ag Education Committee who contributed to the analysis and development of this report, including Katie Brokaw, Alise Echele, Sonja Florez, John Nichols and Tracy Perez.
2. Top 3-Year Goals for Ventura County Food and Agriculture System
Participants in different stakeholder groups had slightly differing views of what the next steps should be for the Ventura County food system and their stakeholder group’s role in it.
The following were the top recommendations:
• Education about agricultural issues, with a focus on farm-to-school;
• The establishment of a local food hub or co-op;
• Promoting Ventura County as a more well-recognized brand;
• Ensuring the continued availability of water at a reasonable cost;
• Grappling with food deserts and food security issues for low-income residents.
All stakeholder groups saw education and farm-to-school programs as a critical part of keeping agriculture viable in the county (see graph below).
6 | REPORT ON 2012 ACTIVITIES OF THE VENTURA COUNTY AG FUTURES ALLIANCE
Progress Report December 2012
VAFA On the Road: Community Engagement Strategies Since the SummitSince the February 2012 Agricultural Summit hosted by the Ventura County Ag Futures Alliance (VAFA) at the historic Camarillo Ranch House, VAFA has worked diligently to address concerns raised by Summit participants. In the nine months that have passed since the convening, VAFA’s committees have spearheaded various unique efforts to continue promoting a vibrant food and agriculture system in Ventura County. Below is a brief update on this work.
Easing the Regulatory BurdenAt VAFA’s 2012 Summit, as well as at other forums across the state, the issue of the challenging regulatory environment for agriculture was raised as a significant problem for the agricultural industry. VAFA heard these concerns and, acknowledging the significance of this hurdle for agriculture, took on the task of trying to more clearly articulate specific regulatory concerns while simultaneously identifying potential solutions.
Responding to concerns voiced in Ventura County and beyond, VAFA’s first step was to convene a regulatory “listening session” in Ventura. At the session, agricultural producers were able to articulate concerns related to their agricultural operations and the regulations that negatively affected their business. The goal of this listening session was to document real-world examples of regulatory barriers, identify specific challenges to agricultural producers, and identify direct and specific solutions to these stated concerns.
At the listening session, held in Ventura in July, producers cited the specific challenges of navigating an unwieldy and bureaucratic permitting process, burdensome costs and timelines associated with permitting, and regulations that were often at odds with each other, among others (Notes from the listening session are available on http://aginnovations.org/regulations/). VAFA is now working through its Land Use Committee to bring these concerns to the attention of local policy decision-makers through a series of agricultural presentations focusing on the many components that represent the diversity of the local agricultural industry.
The listening session was one in a series held around the state in partnership with Ag Innovations Network to identify issues of statewide concern to the agricultural community. We look forward to exploring collaborating with Food System Alliances in other parts of the state to implement joint solutions that might help address the regulatory challenges faced by our agricultural producers.
Building Rural-Urban Connections through Agricultural EducationIn addition to the regulatory burdens identified by Summit participants, one of the areas most frequently cited as a potential opportunity was the need for agricultural education/information at all levels within the community.
AFA responded by forming an Ag Education Committee comprised of current VAFA members as well as representatives of the local agricultural industry and educational institutions. Upon forming this new committee, the group launched into prioritization exercises aimed at taking the first steps to address this glaring need, as identified by community members.
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The Ag Education Committee determined that hosting a gathering of local agricultural educators was an important first step in order to: (a) assess the status of local agricultural education efforts, b) determine what gaps in agricultural education existed, and c) assess the role that VAFA and the Ag Education Committee might play in serving as a future resource for building bridges.
This forum was held on Thursday, November 1st, 2012, at The Agricultural Museum in Santa Paula from in front of 60 agricultural educators. Keynote speaker Rose Hayden-Smith gave an overview of local educational resources currently available as well as the critical need for increased agricultural education resources among the community. A panel of farmers, educators, and others discussed their own perspectives on ongoing efforts while illuminating some of the gaps they perceived to be present.
During group discussion, key takeaways included: the need for agricultural education targeted at junior high- and high school-aged youth; a need for a central repository of agricultural education resources; the need for access to speakers knowledgeable about farming, gardening and other food related topics; and a need to train existing teachers about agricultural topics.
The VAFA’s Ag Education Committee is currently gathering surveys from local educators to help inform appropriate next steps and resource needs. Already, 15 new community members with a background in agricultural education have expressed interest in joining this committee. To learn more, please visit venturacoafa.org.
Additional ProgressHouse Farmworkers! (HF!), a former VAFA committee now working independently, continues to work at the city level throughout Ventura County. By forming working groups in various communities throughout the county, HF! is addressing the glaring lack of affordable workforce housing by targeting the Housing Element of local General Plans. After the long and generous leadership of Sonja Flores, House Farmworkers! is now being led by Daniela Ramirez, a resident of Oxnard with a strong history of working closely with farmworkers. HF! will continue to serve as a great resource to the community to address this important issue, and will continue to hold a seat at the Alliance as an important stakeholder and collaborator.
Finally, as VAFA nears the end of the year, the group is now focused on prioritizing action for 2013 around the following topics: Regulations, Labor, Water, Land Use, and Ag Education. These themes have arisen as priorities for VAFA through a combination of Summit feedback, internal stakeholder interest, and input from community and former VAFA members. The results of prioritization exercises that occurred within VAFA throughout 2012 will set the stage for VAFA’s work in 2013 and beyond.
Anyone interested in learning more about VAFA or our current and future activities are invited to visit venturacoafa.org.
Appendix: 2012 Agricultural Summit Participant ListParticipants AffiliationJames Abing
Steve Adler Corona Seeds
Saul Aguilar Reiter Affiliated Companies
Ben Alaniz Rabobank
Kim Albright Whole Foods Market
Martin Anenberg Fresh Point Southern California
Norman Arikawa Port of Los Angeles
Claudia Armann McCune Foundation
Rich Atmore RA Atmore & Sons, Inc.
Laura Avery Santa Monica Certified Farmers Market
Emily Ayala Friend’s Ranches
Jody Baker Groundwork Coffee
Ruth Ballin Ballin Marketing & Public Relations
Yissel Barajas Reiter Affiliated Companies
Griff Barkley Barkley Insurance & Risk Management
Marjie Bartels Bartels Ranch
Thomas Beardsley Beardsley & Son Inc
Paulette Beardsley Beardsley & Son Inc
Jeanne Benitez Food Share
Merrill Berge Camarillo Sustainable Growth
Jan Berk San Miguel Produce
Scott Beylik Beylik Farms
Andrew Bibian A&M Flower Growers
Andrew Bibian Sales
Jeff Biddle Whole Foods Market
Bev Bigger Farm Credit West
David Binkle Los Angeles Unified School District
Mike Binsley Crop Production Services
Patrick Bishop Wells Fargo
Joanie Blaxter Art Bliss
Don Bowden Reiter Affiliated Companies
Joey Briglio City of San Buenaventura
Katie Brokaw Wells Fargo Bank
Ellen Brokaw Brokaw Ranch Company
Julia Bulla Land Use Consultant
Elsa Burton Wells Fargo
Eric Cardenas Ag Futures Alliance Ventura County
Carolyn Casavan San Fernando Valley Green Team
Susan Caughey Fig Tree Farms
Elaine Cavaletto Rancho Cream, Inc.
Brett Chandler Associates Insectary
Derek Chavez Corona Seeds
Betsy Chess Central Coast Farm & Ranch
Ron Clark California Association of Food Banks
Virginia Clarke SAFSF
Anne Coates Cachuma Resource Conservation District
Tim Cohen Rancho Temescal
Andy Coker Limoneira Company
Nancy Conk Cabrillo Economic Development Corp.
Jean Coronel Port of Los Angeles
Sally Cortenbach Growing Grounds Nursery Camarillo
Andrea Crawford Kenter Canyon Farms
Bonnie Crouse UC Santa Barbara
Sandy Curwood Ventura Unified School District
Paula Daniels Office of LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Carole Davis Rabobank
Mario de la Piedra Barkley Insurance & Risk Management
Ann De Martini Farming Independence
Jose De Soto University of California Hansen Trust
Tom Deardorff Deardorff Family Farms
Robert Dedlow Kenter Canyon Farms
Darcy DellaFlora Wells Fargo
Alexa Delwiche LA Food Policy Council
Daniel Desales Agriculture Science Academy/ FFA at Santa Paula High School
Chris DeVan Food Share
Jan Dietrick Rincon-Vitova Insectaries
Bridget Dobrowski SAFSF
Jane Donlon Waters David J. Donlon Ranch
Chris Dryden Mission Produce
James Dubois Reiter Affiliated Companies
Suzy Dyer Cummings Ranch
Ashley Eaton Whole Foods Market
Alise Echele Ventura Unified School District
Harold Edwards Limoneira Company
Dulanie Ellis Walk Your Talk Productions
Fred Ellrott Ventura Co. Certified Farmers’ Market
Roxanne Estrada Camarillo Acorn
Julie Fallon Cachuma RCD
Dave Fausset Mission Produce
Anthony Felix Agriculture Science Academy FFA at Santa Paula High School
Bethany Filter Rabobank
Robin Finnerty Farm Credit West
Jill Fioravanti
Sonja Flores House Farmworkers!
Appendix: 2012 Agricultural Summit Participant ListParticipants Affiliation Alex Flores Agriculture Science Academy/ FFA at Santa Paula High School
Clare Fox LA Food Policy Council
Arne Freeman Dynamic Pastures
Katerina Friesen Oxnard City Corps
Marci Frumkin Whole Foods Market
Bill Gallaher County of Ventura - Board of Supervisors
Kevin Genovese Museum of Ventura County
Jared Godinez Pacific Coast Business Times
Peter Godinez Xerox
Henry S. Gonzales Agricultural Commissioner - County of Ventura
Anne Graumlich Museum of Ventura County
Laura Gregory California Strawberry Commission
Guest Food Share
Gwen Gulliksen Harvest Sensations
Gus Gunderson Limoneira Company
Stacey Hall Label GMOs
Lori Hamor Food for Thought Ojai
Justine Han Ventura County Star
Jane Handel Edible Ojai & Ventura County
Carol Haverty CA Native Plant Society, Channel Islands
Rose Hayden-Smith
Mary Alice Henderson Rancho Abuelos
Joe Henderson R ancho Abuelos
Martin Hernandez Ventura County
Cesar Hernandez Reiter Affiliated Companies
Alex Herrera City of San Buenaventura
Steve Hirashima Reiter Affiliated Companies
Kathleen Hughes Kiesercon
Jane Hulse Central Coast Farm & Ranch
Glenda Humiston USDA Rural Development
Eric Hummel Oxnard City Corps
Nichole Ipach CSU Channel Islands
Jill Ireland Brown & Brown Insurance
Debbie Jackson
Ben Jertberg Southern Pacific Farming
Pat Kelley Farm Credit West
Elise Kelley Santa Clara River Watershed Conservancy
George Keossaian Dynamic Pastures
Tim Kilcoyne The SideCar Restaurant
Susan Kleine Rancher/General Agriculture Production
Cheryl Knight Santa Clara Valley Bank
Robert Knight Inland Orange Conservancy
Mary Ann Krause VC Civic Alliance
Robert Krimmer Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel
John Krist Farm Bureau of Ventura County
Jeff Lambert City of San Buenaventura
Jose Landey United Staffing Associates
Amy Lassere American Red Cross
Carol Lawrence Ventura County Star
Linda Le Brock Pacific Coast Business Times
Leslie Leavens-Crowe Leavens Ranches
Dr. Robert Levin Ventura County Public Health
TG Liyanage Rabobank
Thomas Lloyd-Butler Lloyd-Butler Ranch
Stewart Lockwood Limoneira Company
Kathy Long County of Ventura - Board of Supervisors
Armando Lopez Ventura County Fairgrounds
Sarah Losoya KeHE Distributors
Jim MacLellan Port of Los Angeles
Barbara Macri-Ortiz
Claud Mann Edible Ojai & Ventura County
Mary Maranville CREEC Region 8 - Ventura County
David Martinez Marz Farms
John Mathews Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel
Sheila Mayfield Farming Independence
Meggan McCarthy
James McGee American Red Cross
Jim McGee Red Cross
Christina McGinnis EDC
Brianne McGrath Flying M Ranch
Roz McGrath Ventura County Community Foundation
Tom McGrath Flying M Ranch
Phil McGrath McGrath Family Farm
Joanne McGrath McGrath Family Farm
Helen McGrath Ag Innovations Network
Joseph McIntyre Ag Innovations Network
Katt Merrick Totally Local VC
Josephine Miller City of Santa Monica, Office of Sustainability and the Environment
Glenn Miller Saticoy Lemon Association
Mike Mobley Progressive Land Management, Inc.
Appendix: 2012 Agricultural Summit Participant ListParticipants Affiliation John Moore Ventura County Star
Ken Mumford Boskovich Farms, Inc.
Ryan Nasalroad Limoneira Company
Anita Nelson Four S Ranch
Doug Nelson MainStreet Architects + Planners
Mike Newman Corona Seeds
John Nichols John Nichols Gallery
Don Nishiguchi Whole Foods Market
Sarah Nolan Abundant Table/Join the Farm
Tiffany Nurrenbern Roots of Change
Steve Offerman County of Ventura
Lindsey Oks Whole Foods Market
Dana Olsen Pacific Coast Business Times
Joaquin Paez United Staffing Associates
Eric Palacios United Staffing Associates
Deborah Parker
Linda Parks Ventura County Supervisor
Nate Peitso Maggie’s Farm
Anthony Pena Wells Fargo
Tracy Perez United Staffing Associates
Tim Perez Party Pleasers
Susan Petty Petty Ranch
Richard Pidduck Santa Paula Creek Ranch
Dan Pinkerton Pinkerton Ranch
Susan Pinkerton Pinkerton Ranch
Josh Pinkerton Pinkerton Ranch
Barbara Quaid Ventura County Fairgrounds
Gina Quattrochi LA Food Policy Council
Hugh Ralston Ventura County Community Foundation
Carmen Ramirez City of Oxnard
E.J. Remson The Nature Conservancy
Jim Roberts Underwood Ranches
Larry Rose Brokaw Nursery
Jonathan Rosen
Michael Rosenberg Evolution Fresh
David Ross Mabry Family Limited Partnership
Karen Ross California Department of Food & Agriculture
John Roulac Nutiva
Robert Roy Ventura County Agricultural Association
Mayhew Samuel Oxnard Lemon Association
Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios Assemblymember Das Williams
Leticia Sandoval Community Roots Garden
Mark Satterberg Farm Credit West
Melissa Sayer Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel
Chris Sayer Petty Ranch
Karen Schmidt SOAR
Kara Seward Office of Senator Fran Pavley, SD 23
Camarilla Shafer Lloyd-Butler Ranch
Allison Sheffield
David Shumaker Kiesercon
Dave Smith United Way of Ventura County
Bryan Spangle Dynamic Pastures
Josh Spies The Nature Conservancy
Brian Stark Ojai Valley land Conservancy
Nancy Stehle
Alicia Tharp Ideal Seafood
Dana Thomas Index Fresh, Inc.
Kathleen Thompson Limoneira Company
Bob Tobias Tobias & Son
Gonzalez Tomas Limoneira Company
Fred Van Wingerden Pyramid Flowers, Inc.
Rae Vanseenus Whole Foods Market
Rigoberto Vargas Ventura County Public Health
Lily Verdone The Nature Conservancy
Patricia Verdugo Johnson University of California
Miriam Volat Ag Innovations Network
Brandon Walters Cavalo
Ned Waters David J. Donlon Ranch
Bonnie Weigel Food Share
Christy Weir Ventura City Council
Gail Weller Brown House Farmworkers!
Robert Wemischner LAUSD locally grown produce program
Karen Wetzel Schott Ventura Co. Certified Farmers’ Market
Monica White Ventura County Star
Ron Whitehurst Rincon-Vitova Insectaries
John Whitman Old Creek Ranch
Andrew Wiemers California Strawberry Commission
Anne Wilder Allyn & Associates
Ross Wileman Mission Produce
Margaret Wilson Green Book & Discussion Group
Mark Winegar Santa Clara Valley Bank
Damon Wing Office of Linda Parks
Ryan Wooden Whole Foods Market
Kristofer Young Ventura Chiropractic & Massage
John Zaragoza County of Ventura - Board of Supervisors
REPORT ON 2012 ACTIVITIES OF THE VENTURA COUNTY AG FUTURES ALLIANCE | 11
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Agricultural Commissioner - County of VenturaLimoneira CompanyUniversity of California - Hansen Trust
Reiter Affiliated Companies
Pacific Coast Business Times
Ventura County Star
Farm Bureau of Ventura County
Kenter Canyon
Pinkerton Ranch
San Miguel Produce
The Nature Conservancy
Ventura County Community Foundation
Brokaw Ranch Company
Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation
Crop Production Service
Edible Ojai & Ventura County
Index Fresh, Inc
McGrath Family Farm
Petty Ranch
Progressive Land Management
Santa Clara Valley Bank
Save Open Space & Agricultural Resources
Whole Foods Market
For more information: AG INNOVATIONS NETWORK A non-profit organization dedicated to helping stakeholders solve problems in the food system through effective collaboration.
707-823-6111 | 805-886-0355 | [email protected]/alliances/ventura