regional partnerships and approaches to farm to institution - presentation
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Regional Partnerships and Approaches to Farm to Institution Presenter: Peter AllisonTRANSCRIPT
Regional Partnerships and Approaches to Farm to Institution
Peter Allison, Farm to Institution New England (FINE) [email protected]; 802.436.4067
Kelly Erwin, Massachusetts Farm to School Program/ RSC Member for Northeast FTS Steering Committee [email protected]; 413-253-3844
Christine James, John Merck Fund [email protected]; 617-556-4120
Kathy Lawrence, School Food FOCUS [email protected]; 914.708.7053
Vanessa Herald, UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems/ RLA- Great Lakes Region of the National Farm to School Network [email protected]; 608.263.6064
What is one issue related to partnerships and collaboration that you want to talk about today?
FARM TO INSTITUTION NEW ENGLAND (FINE)
www.FarmToInstitution.org
Collective Impact
Large-scale social change requires broad cross-sector coordination, yet the social sector remains focused on the isolated intervention of individual organizations.
Collective Impact: By John Kania & Mark Kramer, published in Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2011
http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/collective_impact
FINE - Overview
Six-state collaboration working to strengthen our regional food system by increasing the demand and use of New England food by New England institutions
Initiated by the National Farm to School Network (Northeast Regional Steering Committee) with strong support from the six New England Chief Agriculture Officers
Base of engaged funders – USDA-RD, John Merck Fund, Kendall Foundation, and others
Expanding partnership to include change agents in hospitals, colleges, corporations, and agencies
Effective involvement by government entities
FINE Structure
Leadership Team Coordinator Fiscal Sponsor Workgroup Leaders Project Leaders Community of
Practice/Learning Communities
Overview of FINE Projects
Distribution Processing Procurement Scratch Cooking Product Focus: Beef to
Institution
Identify barriers Conduct pilot projects and
research Support state projects and
networks Convene partners &
learning communities Recommend policy
change Measure progress Share information
Supply Chain Focus Cross-Cutting Strategies
www.FarmToInstitution.org
Why focus on institutions?
Logical outgrowth of FTS efforts
Institutions have lots of consumers – In New England: 2.16 million K-12 students ($150
million school food purchases) 900 thousand college and
university students and staff 43 thousand people hospital
staff
Institutions are stable Institutions are visible to
current and future leaders
Why focus on a regional approach?
There is a New England regional identity
Producers and consumers are split geographically MA has 50% of
population VT raises 50% of dairy
and beef ME has 50% of acres of
berries and vegetables
Why focus regionally?
Each state has unique assets to share with the others
Food system companies cross state lines Producers,
distributors, food service companies
Potentially greater policy influence
What is challenging?
It’s a big place and people are busy – hard to get together in person and to keep up
States do have their own agendas, structures and identity
Real and perceived competition between partners and region for: Dollars Leadership and credit Time and attention of leaders
The existential questions: Who we are – Who is a partner? What does that mean?
Where are we heading?
Expand and clearly define partner base
Develop targeted measurement strategies
Create a more advanced and integrated communication system
Continue pilot and research projects
Convene regional communities of practice/ learning communities
Support our state programs and networks that support the regional collaboration