1. East Baton Rouge Parish Food Access Policy Commission
Launch & Orientation
Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church
February 14, 2013

2. Commission Mandate
#1) Problem Analysis Examine the causes behind food deserts in East Baton Rouge Parish. #2) Best Practice Analysis Determine best practices around the nation for attracting retail and other high-quality food providers to food desert communities. #3) Recommend Solutions Develop concrete policy and practice recommendations for East Baton Rouge Parish to address food deserts and other areas with low food access.

3. Commission Members
Rev. Jesse Bilberry, Pastor, Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church; Moderator, 4th District Baptist Association Mr. Chip Boyles, EBR Redevelopment Authority, Vice President of Administration & 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, Associated Grocers, Director of Business Development 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

4. What is a “food desert”? General
an area with inadequate access to fresh, affordable foods needed to maintain a healthy diet.
General
definition

5. What is a “food desert”? “Low-income” “Low-access”
A low income census tract where a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store.
USDA
definition
“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).

6. USDA Data for EBR Parish (2010)
About 75,500 EBR residents live in food deserts.
USDA food desert census tracts
39% in poverty.
16,700 are children.

7. Pennington Data for EBR Parish (2012)
Areas within 1 mile of grocery store
As many as 103,000 EBR residents live in food deserts.
Low-income census tracts
25,000 are children.
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington Biomedical

8. A closer look …
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington Biomedical

9. USDA Food deserts in EBR Parish
MAYBE REMOVE THIS SLIDE & PUT NAMES/ARROWS on DETAILED ONE?
Scotlandville
Food Desert
Scotlandville stats
South BR stats
Dixie stats
North Forest / Red Oak stats
Glen Oaks stats (with note)
Glen Oaks
Food Desert
Dixie Food Desert
North Forest / Red Oak Food Desert
South Baton Rouge Food Desert

10. Scotlandville Food Desert
Approximately
25,900 persons
6,500 children
34% living in poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington Biomedical

11. Downtown/Old South Baton Rouge
Approximately
15,700 persons
3,300 children
39% living in poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington Biomedical

12. South Baton Rouge Food Desert
Approximately
20,000 persons
3,300 children
41% living in poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington Biomedical

13. Not sure what to call this one
Approximately
11,900 persons
3,400 children
38% living in poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington Biomedical

14. Glen Oaks? Approximately 14,400 persons 4,000 children
22% living in poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington Biomedical

15. North Forest/Red Oaks Food Desert
Approximately
9,000 persons
3,300 children
38% living in poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington Biomedical

16. Coursey? Approximately 6,300 persons 1,500 children
24% living in poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington Biomedical

17. Work Plan: Schedule
Timeline Chart

18. Phase 1: Problem Analysis
Timeline: February & March 2013
KEY QUESTIONS
Analysis of areas of low food access in East Baton Rouge Parish.
What are the causes behind food deserts in East Baton Rouge Parish?
What are the consequences for having food deserts?
Other than food deserts, what other low-access problems are there?
Why did previous food retail outlets (e.g. Food Town, Winn Dixie, Schwegmann's) close down?
What are the barriers to development and expansion of high-quality food options?

19. Phase 2: Best practices analysis
Timeline: April & May 2013
Goal: Identify, categorize and understand in detail model approaches across the country.
Break different strategies into categories, such as:
A) Attracting retail.
B) Addressing demand in areas.
C) Non-traditional options (food co-ops, farmer's markets, urban agriculture, etc.)

20. Phase 3: Solutions for EBR Parish
Timeline: June – August 2013
Feasibility and cost assessments for various strategies.
Public engagement around possible recommendations.
Develop final report of recommendations.

21. Special Team: Market opportunity analysis
Timeline: Starting at launch and throughout
Conduct market analysis of all low food access areas.
Conduct “gap analysis” to determine area leakage.
Identify the areas with most market demand potential.
Identify prospects for land or land acquisition.
Work toward possible deals.

22. Forming Committees

23. Meeting Schedule