CFFPI - Capacity to Grow: Evaluating the Knox County Food SystemStarted in mid-2008, the Knox County Food System Assessment is not only the first food assessment conducted in Ohio, but also one of the first that takes a community-based agricultural economic development approach. Our approach is informed by the traditional community food assessment concept, but we attempt to adapt traditional OSUE community economic development tools (RMA and Input/Output Analysis) to the question of local food system assessment. Further, this project addresses the need for improved information on the Knox County food system, specifically regarding the barriers to increasing consumption of local foods. Efforts to improve regional foods and farm viability have been longstanding efforts in the county. Through the food system assessment, the local food policy council desired to lift their effort to the next level by engaging new partners and generating new community economic development around local foods. Methods undertaken include a brief review of Knox County agriculture; a focus on locating Knox County in the food region, with an emphasis on food retailing; impact analysis of enhancing Knox County food system; and local interviews to assess Knox County opportunities and challenges. PROJECT TEAM The Social Responsibility Initiative, OSU - Jeff S.
Sharp and Molly Bean Smith POLICY BRIEF "Planting the Seed of Sustainable Economic Development:
Knox County's Local Food System" PRESENTATIONS Sharp, Jeff S, Jill Clark, Molly Bean Smith, and Jeff
McCutcheon. 2008. "What is the Economic Impact of Local Food:
Community Food Assessments." Prepared for the OSU Extension Annual Conference,
Columbus, Ohio. December 17, 2008. Sharp, Jeff S. 2008. "Evaluating Knox County’s
Food System: Opportunities for Development." Prepared for the 9th Annual Ohio
Farmland Preservation Summit, Columbus, Ohio. October 2, 2008 |
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