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INVESTIGATOR: Alonzo, V.; Rogus, ST, M.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORP
706 E BOND ST
ESPANOLA, NEW MEXICO 87532

LEVERAGING LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, FARM TO TABLE PROJECTS, AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY PLANNING WHILE RESPECTING A SHARED CULTURE AND BUILDING SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY SYSTEMS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The food insecurity rate in Rio Arriba County, NM is 12.4%. This is further antagonized by socialimplications such as poverty, low educational attainment, income inequality, unemployment,and civil unrest. The county is vastly rural with a majority of its land zoned for agriculturalproduction. The food system has many assets that has made it resilient against a shiftingsocial climate such as an aging workforce, and rural flight. The most critical food issuesinclude childhood obesity, children who go hungry when school is out and the epidemiclevels of diabetes. Concerned citizens, stakeholders and local government agencies in RioArriba County formed a task force to address the gaps in the food system.

OBJECTIVES: The overall goal is to address and improve gaps in the food system that prevent low incomecommunities from accessing healthy, local fresh foods for temporary and long term subsistence. Theprimary objective of this effort is to assemble an active food policy council that will encourage longterm planning activities that develop new resources and strategies to reduce food insecurity in thecounty. Additionally, collect qualitative data through focus groups with low income communitiesand community food organizers to raise awareness of policy change related to the food and agsector.

APPROACH: Task 1 - Organization of Food Policy Council (September 2018- December 2018)Conduct host sites identification throughout county for meetings. Organize with Food Policyprogram coordinator, low income community members and key organizations to design goals,activities, and outcomes for first year. Assemble list of invitees that are representative of all sectorsof county.Task 2 - Assembly of food gap assessment and dissemination plan (September 2018- December2018) Work with NMSU food system specialist to design food assessment and dissemination plan tocollect data.Task 3 - Host first Food Policy Council development meeting (December 2018- February 2018)Pilot first food policy council meeting. Outline goals, activities, and outcomes for year withattendees. Assign activities and commitments for organizations. Reliability test food gap assessmentwith food policy council to make adjustments and move into next phase.NMSU Scope of WorkTask 4 - Begin scheduling focus groups with low income communities and food & Ag sector in county(March 2018- August 2019)Organize with partners and collaborators to schedule 'site visits', community focus groups, activitiesand events during off and peak seasons to collect qualitative data.Task 5- Host regular food policy council (caps) meetings (February 2019- September 2020)Meet and participate in regular food policy council(caps) meetings to organize innovative activitiesand events in community to raise awareness to meet emergency and temporary food securityneeds of communities during first year. Update council on findings to begin planning long termgoals for next year and long term sustainability.Task 6- Conduct focus groups and begin collecting data (April 2019-February 2020)Task 7 - Organize report and disseminate findings to communities (March 2020- July 2020)Task 8- Present report to county commissioners (August 2020- September 2020)

PROGRESS: 2018/09 TO 2020/08
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

IMPACT: 2018/09 TO 2020/08
What was accomplished under these goals? The departure of the NMSU support terminated the grant.

PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2018/09 TO 2020/08
No publications reported this period.