New Brunswick Community Food Alliance Mid-Year Work Group Reports Making the food system work for everyone.

Mission Statement The NBCFA is committed to the development and maintenance of a sustainable local food system in the city of New Brunswick so that all of its residents have access to adequate amounts of nutritious, safe, affordable, and culturally appropriate food at all times in socially acceptable ways and enjoy the health and economic benefits of a strong local food system.

NBCFA Work Groups Advocacy & Policy Chairs: Amanda Gallear, Marlana Moore Agriculture Community Engagement Food Economic Development Healthful Food Access

Advocacy and Policy Work Group Goals: Ensure that improving food security and creating an equitable local food system are on the city government’s agenda. Urge local government leaders to adopt policies that benefit all residents. Use the available information to develop policies that will improve community food security. Advocate for policies at the regional, state and national level that affect the local food system.

Advocacy & Policy Activities 1.Continue to develop and promote the “policy potluck” series for NBCFA and foster larger community discussion of relevant policy issues.

Policy Potlucks October 30 – Food, Labor & Social Justice –Issues affecting workers in the food chain, including restaurant workers and agricultural workers, such as wage theft, exposure to pesticides, the right to organize, fair labor practices, paid sick leave. –Positive examples, including Corazon Kitchen. –Speakers were professors, organizers, & workers themselves.

Pictures from Food, Labor, & Social Justice

Our Next Policy Potluck Community Gardens Progressive Dinner Will mark the launch of a printed map showing all of the gardens in New Brunswick.

Advocacy & Policy Activities 2. Solicit a quarterly call for research from the NBCFA work groups regarding relevant policy & research requests.

Advocacy & Policy Activities 3. Track policy issues on a local, state, and national level to keep the NBCFA informed of policy and legislation relevant to food system.

NBCFA Work Groups Advocacy & Policy Agriculture Co- Chair s : Anthony Capece & Brianna H all Community Engagement Food Economic Development Healthful Food Access

Agriculture Work Group Goals: Promote local sustainable agriculture and energy-efficient practices Integrate agriculture and nutrition into school curriculums Establish food gardens at schools, community organizations, and houses of worship

Agriculture Activities 1.Make a community compost program 2.Expand gardening in local schools 3.Urban Ag movie night 4.Establish an urban apiary 5.Help to establish and implement an urban pollinators ordinance in NB

Agriculture Activities Make a community compost program

Agriculture Activities Expand gardening in local schools New Brunswick High School Pine Grove Manor Elementary School Currently working with FoodCorps Member in NB to write grants and expand garden and garden programing

Agriculture Activities Urban Ag Movie Night

Agriculture Activities Establish an urban apiary in NB

Agriculture Activities Help to establish and implement an urban pollinators ordinance in NB

NBCFA Work Groups Advocacy & Policy Agriculture Community Engagement –Chairs: Kiameesha Evans, Mariam Merced Food Economic Development Healthful Food Access

Community Engagement Work Group Goals: Increase residents’ knowledge on how making healthy food choices can have positive effects on public health, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability. Facilitate participation of the New Brunswick community in all activities of the local food system. Address racial/ethnic, economic, and social justice barriers that deter residents from benefiting from the food system.

Community Engagement Activities 1.Create a toolkit to communicate with and engage the community in the work of the NBCFA –Poster board and supplemental materials have been created and stored at The Collaborative Center at Rutgers

Community Engagement Activities 2. Develop outreach incentives to promote the Alliance and attract members. –Harvesting Healthy Recipes event in September

Community Engagement Activities 3. Develop outreach and community engagement plan and calendar

NBCFA Work Groups Advocacy & Policy Agriculture Community Engagement Food Economic Development Chair: Maria Pellerano Healthful Food Access

Food Economic Development Work Group Goals: Promote community economic development for the creation of living wage and local ownership Sectors include: skilled work force, food businesses and enterprise opportunities

Food Economic Development Activities 1.Develop a map and descriptive guide of at least 10 available commercial kitchens in the New Brunswick area. Note: Identification of available kitchens will be an on-going process.

Food Economic Development Activities 2. Identify inventory of small artisanal food producers in the area. –Create and conduct a survey to assess their commercial kitchen needs. –Match them with kitchens identified in Activity

Food Economic Development Activities 3. Review and develop a catalog of other successful community kitchen models in other similarly sized communities to identify best practices.

NBCFA Work Groups Advocacy & Policy Agriculture Community Engagement Food Economic Development Healthful Food Access –Chairs: Larry Katz, Jennifer Shukaitis

Healthful Food Access Work Group Goal: To encourage organizations to provide healthier foods at a more affordable price and to get involved in healthy food access initiatives in the community.

Healthful Food Access Activities Identify criteria and baseline for Hub City Fresh in corner markets and small grocers. –Conduct survey to establish baseline for who fits the established criteria. –Hub City Fresh launch and expansion.