The public is invited to join Multnomah County’s Office of Sustainability to celebrate the release of the Multnomah Food Action Plan. This plan sets forth our community's shared vision and goals to help create a healthy, equitable and prosperous local food system. The celebration will recognize the commitments of our community's food system stakeholders to support the plan and take action.
Local food and beverage samples as well as door prizes from farmers' markets, the Cheese Bar and other local businesses will be provided. Guest will also enjoy cooking demonstrations and learn more about upcoming food system projects.
Thursday January 27
10:30 a.m. - Noon
Multnomah County Boardroom
501 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR 97214
Multnomah Food Action Plan
The Multnomah Food Action Plan is a 15-year road map to create a healthy, equitable, and prosperous local food system. The plan builds upon existing efforts by providing a shared community vision and shared goals.
Multnomah County is at a critical juncture in fixing its food system. We are one of the hungriest communities in the nation. Chronic diseases Overweight and Obesity: Fall 2008 (154.16 KB) in part due to diet are epidemic. The Food Action Plan is a call to action for local government, businesses, non-profit organizations, faith communities, learning institutions, and individuals to collaborate on key actions. There is a role for every organization and every person to transform our food system. Food is a basic necessity and a celebration. All stakeholders have a voice in the future of our food system, and innovative projects and policies inspired by the plan are being developed for launch this year.
Upcoming Multnomah County Projects:
- Beginning Urban Farmer Apprenticeship (BUFA) program: Multnomah County and Oregon Statue University Extension have partnered to offer BUFA training for the 2011 growing season. The BUFA program encompasses both classroom and in-field training for beginning farmers. Training includes: organic farming techniques, small business education, and hands on farming at the county’s CROPS farm and OSU Extension’s Learning Gardens Lab. For the first year, 15 students will be accepted into the program. There will be three scholarships and two work-trade scholarships based upon financial need.
- Farmer Incubator Network (FIN): The FIN is a coalition of organizations to bring one-stop shopping via a website of resources to new and transitioning food farmers so that they are commercially successful. The average age of the Oregon farmer is 58 and it is estimated that 50% of farms will change ownership in the next decade. Significant barriers exist for new and transitioning farmers and the FIN will help identify barriers and provide much needed resources.
- 2nd Annual Multnomah Food Summit: Building upon the first Multnomah Food Summit and the community’s effort to develop the Multnomah Food Action Plan, Multnomah County is hosting a second food summit in summer 2011. The purpose of the Summit is to begin the implementation phase of the Multnomah Food Action Plan by mapping out existing efforts, identifying gaps, and developing partnerships and strategies implementing the Plan.
- Food System Economic Opportunities Analysis: Multnomah County, Clackamas County, and Portland State University are partnering to develop an economic development analysis for our local food system. The purpose is to identify strategies for creating jobs and multiplying the regional economic benefit to our local farms, distributor/processors, retail, and restaurants. Thirteen percent of our annual expenditures are for food and it is estimated that an increase in our regional food consumption of five percent could translate into a net $100 million benefit for the region.
For more information about these food system projects, email sustainability@multco.us