1. Statewide Emergency Food Distribution: The New Frontier Kristin Gunther Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

2. Food for Thought: System Vulnerabilities Food production and distribution operate on a just-in- time delivery system Warehouses do not store food supplies for any length of time The food system is increasingly compressed: fewer facilities processing/distributing food; remote disruptions can be felt immediately close to home

3. Emergency Food Understanding the food system enhances preparedness and response planning Food Facts: Most American cities have less than a 1-week supply of food in their warehouses Most retail stores have less than 3-4 days supply of food on their shelves Most households have less than 3-days supply of food

4. First Steps: Identifying Wisconsin’s most economically significant food sectors –Identifying key players in each sector (producers, processors, distributors Full report: “Characterizing WI's Food Systems from Production to Consumption: A Reference Document” www.datcp.state.wi.us (publications: food safety) Learning Wisconsin’s Food System: Beginning the Process

7. Assuring Access to Food What are the most likely disruptions to the movement and availability of food in the State/Region? Who is responsible for assuring safe and reliable food availability in WI? What resources/capabilities exist for maintaining continuity of operations in food distribution in WI?

8. Lessons from Neighbors “Kentucky Ice Storm” –DATCP conducted extensive interviews with retail, emergency response and VOAD groups in Kentucky –Findings were documented, providing context for Wisconsin’s preparedness efforts

9. Large-Scale Disruptions Include: –Natural Disasters flooding ice storms tornadoes animal disease –Man-Made Disasters intentional/unintentional contamination of food supplies Food System Disruptions

10. Responding to Food Emergencies The Issue : –DATCP: lead agency for food emergency response, coordinates multi-agency efforts at state and local levels, BUT –Private Sector : owns and controls the distribution of food Has a complex and dynamic supply chain many players involved from farm-to-fork The Challenge: bringing public and private sectors together for effective response to food emergencies

11. Purpose : Begin the planning process for assuring availability of food and water in large-scale disruptions Objectives : –Document existing capabilities and gaps within the food distribution system –Identify tools for closing gaps/enhancing emergency response –connect industry, VOAD and government stakeholders as response partners in food emergencies Food Distribution Focus Group

12. Participants: Industry: Wal-Mart, Wisconsin Grocers Association, Reinhart FoodService, Sysco, Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Assn., Kwik Trip, American Transmission Corp., Midwest Food Processors Assoc. VOAD: American Red Cross Badger Chapter; America’s Second Harvest Food Bank; Salvation Army; Southern Baptists Convention Government: DATCP, DOT, WI National Guard, State Patrol, DHS, WEM regional and county directors Food Distribution Focus Group

13. To assure steady food supply, you must have: »Power (backup generators) »Fuel »Transportation Lessons Learned

14. Lessons Learned cont’d Capabilities : –Strong partnerships exist among VOAD Groups and Industry –Industry (large distributors and retailers) are fairly self-sufficient re: power, fuel and transportation –Wal-Mart has an extensive distribution network, regional emergency supply warehouses and its own EOC –Many County Emergency Managers have existing agreements with VOADS –WI DOT Motor Carriers Division has access to MCMIS database identifying refrigerator truck inventory

15. Lesson’s Learned cont’d Vulnerabilities – limitations or gaps in the system –Fuel cannot be pumped without power –Fuel, transportation and backup power are interdependent –Most retail stores and service stations are not generator-ready (cannot maintain food supplies/provide fuel for local communities) –Generator availability is limited/prioritization needed –Need to differentiate between protecting critical resource and supporting private industry –Retailers and local emergency managers need to establish contacts

16. Focus Group Outcome: Toolkit for Stakeholders Food Emergency Checklist and Contact Sheet for Emergency Response Stakeholder Capabilities and Responsibilities Table -- documenting who does what Food Distribution Diagram Establishing a network for food distribution stakeholders to share information (forthcoming) Toolkit online: http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/ Continued discussion/exercises requested

17. Food Distribution Stakeholder Relationships

21. Agricultural Emergencies: Food and Beyond Current DATCP efforts include : –Developing COOP plans with ag industry to minimize impacts from disasters (natural or intentional) Wisconsin Agro-Security Resources Network (WARN) http://www.wisconsinagroresource.net / –Partnering at a regional level (Multi-State Partnership) to address broad scope of food and ag emergency response planning http://www.agpartnership.org/http://www.agpartnership.org/

22. Know your food and agriculture community –who/where are the critical points of contact? Planning and training efforts need to include your local food and ag industries – identify existing capabilities and gaps Food and Agriculture: Interconnected Systems

23. The $26.5 Billion Dollar Dairy Business: What’s Moving Through Your County? 13 % of nation's milk and 26 % of nation's cheese 25.5 billion lbs of milk from 1.2 million dairy cows on 12,929 dairy farms 2.5 billion lbs of cheese from 200 dairy plants

24. Any Questions?