Presented by Central Appalachian Network in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture

Sponsored by: the educational foundation of america, foundation for a healthy kentucky, and Sugarbush Valley impact investments

A Fair Food System was a six-part summit series that discussed scalable solutions to creating community food systems. The summit included educational presentations, panel discussions, networking events, and breakout sessions to address community food system issues within Central Appalachia. Summit details are listed below.

CAN had five goals for this Summit:

1. Facilitate a learning environment regarding the problems related to nutrition security such as healthy food access and affordability.
2. Engage a coalition of organizations who are working to build and support resilient and accessible community food systems.
3. Employ targeted technical assistance from the USDA and other qualified providers.
4. Attract federal, public, and private funding for scalable programs addressing nutrition security in Central Appalachia.
5. Invite nonprofit partners within Central Appalachia who are working on related projects to join the network.

Summit Structure

A Fair Food System was divided into six one-day sessions. Each day was comprised of 4-5 presentations and breakout sessions related to the focus of that session.

All sessions were held virtually and were open to stakeholders working in the Central Appalachian food system in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

We are very grateful to all of our funders, partners, speakers & Summit attendees for helping to make this Summit Series a great success!

Summit Series Recap

Summit One — Local Food Value Chains: Creating Health and Wealth: Priority Areas & New Opportunities; Case Model of a Healthy Food Value Chain: The Appalachian Accessible Food Network; Local Food Value Chains through an Equity Lens
July 28, 2022 9:00AM–1:00PM EST, Summit One Recap

ICYMI

• Day One Recording: https://youtu.be/m9naRUBzEsY
• Slides: https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/A-Fair-Food-System-Day-One-Slides.pdf

Summit Two — Agricultural Innovations & Resources for Farmers: Ag Innovator Spotlight: Jason Tartt, Sr. of T&T Organics and Economic Development Greater East (EDGE); Agriculture and Local Food Economics in the Appalachian Region, ARC; Ag Innovator Spotlight: Maggie Bowling, Old Homeplace Farm; Beginning Farmer Programming Panel
August 25, 2022 9:00AM–1:00PM EST, Summit Two Recap

ICYMI

• Day Two Recording: https://youtu.be/Dp4f04r7l0A
  • Please note: YouTube copyright doesn’t allow the inclusion of the United Shades of America episode we viewed during the summit and has been removed, our apologies.
• Slides: https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/CAN-Summit-2-Slides.pdf

Summit Three — Climate Resilience, Climate Smart Agriculture & Disaster Response: USDA Disaster Response; Eastern Kentucky Flood Response; Nonprofit Response to Eastern Kentucky; Climate Resilience & Climate Smart Agriculture; Philanthropy Partners in Resilience
September 22, 2022 9:00AM–1:00PM EST, Summit Three Recap

ICYMI

• Day Three Recording: https://youtu.be/-hdIahv0CuY
• Slides: https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/CAN-Summit-3-Slides.pdf; https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/CAN-NIFA-Presentation-Slides.pdf;  https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/USDA-Recovery-Programs.pdf
• Links & Additional Resources: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/agriculture-food-research-initiative-afri/rapid-response-extreme-weather-events-across-food-agriculture-systems-a1712
• Attendee Survey: https://form.jotform.com/222404421097044

Summit Four — Community-Based Solutions to Address Food Insecurity in Central Appalachia: Free Farmers Markets in Eastern Kentucky; Food Access Programs Serving Central Appalachia; Community Empowerment; Health Care & Funders for Healthy Food Access
October 27, 2022 9:00AM–1:00PM EST, Summit 4 Recap

ICYMI:

• Day Four Recording: https://youtu.be/7oFSRn5E3RU
• Slides: https://www.cannetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/CAN-Summit-4-Slides.pdf
• Links & Additional Resources:
  • NIFA Listens Stakeholder Input Opportunity on 11/02: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-listens-2022
  • GusNIP Program Page: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/hunger-food-security-programs/gus-schumacher-nutrition-incentive-program
  • 2022 GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program RFA: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/gusnip-nutrition-incentive-program
  • 2022 GusNIP Produce Prescription Program RFA: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/gus-schumacher-nutrition-incentive-program-produce-prescription
  • 2022 RFA Webinars: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/gusnip-webinars
  • FAQs: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/gusnip-faqs
• KP&P Survey for ARC Publication: https://forms.gle/RLexm3oHHsiBWQoR9
  • The purpose of this survey is to gather perspectives on food security in Appalachia, innovative/best practices, and how KP&P’s report on food insecurity for ARC could be most helpful to you as stakeholders

Summit Five — Processing, Aggregation, Distribution & Investments: Summit Impacts Summary; Overview of PAD (Processing, Aggregation, Distribution); Keynote Appalachian Harvest; Meat Facilities panel, Investments in Infrastructure
January 26, 2023 9:00AM–1:00PM EST, Summit 5 Recap

ICYMI:

• Day Five Recording: https://youtu.be/l3Dsd63S6AA
• Slides: CAN Summit 5 Slides
• Links & Additional Resources:
  • “Food as Medicine: Current Efforts and Potential Opportunities” testimony before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research: https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/hearings/food-as-medicine-current-efforts-and-potential-opportunities
  • Appalachian Harvest Food Hub: https://www.asdevelop.org/programs-resources/food-hub/
  • Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub:  https://www.asdevelop.org/programs-resources/herbhub/
  • Alley Cropping: Case Studies in Appalachia Publication:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/resources/publications/index.php#more-publications
  • Point of Harvest: https://www.appalachianforestfarmers.org/point-of-harvest
  • USDA National Agroforestry Center Publications: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/resources/publications/index.php#more-publications
  • KCARD Marketing Meat in Kentucky: https://www.kcard.info/meat-processing
  • Appalachian Abattoir Meat Processing: www.appalachianabattoir.com
  • Invest Appalachia Fund: https://mailchi.mp/e82dbc628291/19m-for-invest-appalachia?e=0c7badede0

Summit Six — Capstone Summit: Goals and Impacts of Summit Series; USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Programs, CAN project funding through USDA LAMP Investment; Recommendations from Our Fields: Farmers on Farm Policy; Funders Investing in Food System Solutions; Regional and State Policy Recommendations for a Fair Food System
March 23, 2023 9:00AM–1:00PM EST, Summit 6 Recap

ICYMI

• Day Six Recording: https://youtu.be/fi5W6vPUm6Q
• Slides: CAN Summit 6 Slides
• Links & Additional Resources:
  • USDA RFSP Application Page: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsp/apply
  • USDA RFSP March 29th Webinar: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_LJgr-SU9QTKl8cnxa8qM4A
  • Osteopathic Heritage Foundtions website: https://osteopathicheritage.org/
  • Recommendations for the Farm Bill: https://action.oeffa.com/farm-bill/
  • Invest Appalachia Fund: https://mailchi.mp/e82dbc628291/19m-for-invest-appalachia?e=0c7badede0

Please contact Meggan or Kayla with any questions.

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, The Educational Foundation of America and Sugarbush Valley Impact Investments share the Central Appalachian Network’s (CAN) goal of improving access to healthy food for underserved communities and will sponsor the CAN and USDA Community Food Systems Summit: A Fair Food System: A Summit on Scalable Solutions to Creating Community Food Systems.