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Movement Toward Sustainability in California's Central Valley – The Crest of a Wave
March 17,2008
Holly King, Director of Agricultural Programs, Great Valley Center

I was at the beach the other day, thinking about the similarities between ocean waves and the way in which the food system is changing.  Just as the top of the wave breaks after building its momentum on its way to the shore - spilling over the top in a powerful white crest, so do changes in the food system.  Movement toward a sustainable food system has been building for some time now, and we are seeing that momentum begin to break the old mold in the Central Valley.  Things are really changing.


With support from the Columbia Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, the Great Valley Center recently held two focus groups on regional food systems in Fresno and Stanislaus Counties.  Diverse stakeholders in the food chain– from producers to consumers– were gathered to identify existing challenges and opportunities, and to recommend ways to improve the current food systems in these specific areas.  Our rich discussions were coordinated by a master facilitator – Joseph McIntyre of Ag Innovations Network.  

Observing the various stakeholders around the table educate one another from their vantage point in the food system, the depth and breath of the whole-system change underway began to become clear.   Each participant was informing one another as to how changes in one sector of the system influence other sectors, AND why it is important to think about how a change in one sector will impact other sectors – in both negative and positive ways.  These exchanges increase understanding and capacity as people become more informed and build trust and relationships.  These collaborations can be very powerful.

In reviewing the conversations and summaries, there were a few of points that stood out:

•    Fresno and Stanislaus communities are in very different stages in the development of regional food systems. For example, there are more organizations representing vulnerable populations in Fresno than in Stanislaus.  Also, the Farmer’s Markets, CSA’s, and restaurants supporting locally grown products are more prolific at this point in time in Fresno. Stanislaus is more focused on marketing to the Bay Area.
•    Stanislaus County’s location, related to the Bay Area foodshed, appears to be influencing both the geographic definition of regional, and the approach to infrastructure when compared with Fresno County.  A three-county area in Fresno was favored as the definition of regional.  On the other hand, California won the vote as a definition for regional in Stanislaus.
•    Value-added items tend to be unaffordable to a Valley population that has a significantly lower average income.
•    Policy can be a limiting factor – direct marketing regulations discourage local growers from using alternative distribution outlets.

Participants also made recommendations for opportunities and actions that will spur a sustainable food system:
•    Developing appropriately scaled infrastructure – one that allows small and mid-sized farmers to participate by perhaps consolidating and marketing product collaboratively.
•    Establishing school-based food and farming education programs, which will drive demand for regionally-produced food.
•    Establishing a local identity program to bring a variety of economic and social benefits to the region.
•    Including prepared foods in the definition of healthy; not allowing the discussion to be limited to just fresh.
•    Establishing educational programs about seasonal and regional produce as well as the economic importance/impact of buying locally to build demand.
•    Working from the fork backwards to production - increasing consumer demand to drive production.
•    Creating a regional food fair – similar to the International Farm Show in Tulare – that promotes local- and California-grown.
•    Supporting entrepreneurs to take on the opportunities in new markets.
•    Connecting the buy local/buy healthy efforts with similar work being done in the wellness community.

The wave is cresting in the Central Valley! Harnessing this collaborative energy in as we ride the surf to shore will make us significant contributors to a sustainable food system by the year 2030!  To learn more about these efforts and others, log onto the Great Valley Center’s website at: www.greatvalley.org/.
 
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