2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Clark County Ohio is predominantly rural with less than 1% of the county’s 400 square miles consisting of urban areas and a population of 138,333. The largest city is Springfield with a population of 60,608. Larger urban communities in Ohio had been addressing the local foods issue for approximately four years prior to this with many of them having food councils already in existence. Rural communities were just beginning to look at this issue. Ohio State University had a Local Foods Signature Program that provided assistance in developing these programs. With the growing interest in Clark County, the Extension Educator provided leadership in developing a comprehensive local foods program for this rural community beginning in 2015.

Essential components of a local foods program for the county were identified by a steering committee consisting of Extension professionals, Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and community stakeholders. These components included organizing a local food council, public education on the concept of local foods and insecurity, a commercial kitchen that could be used as an incubator for new food-based startups, and a framework for food-based economic development opportunities.

Extension provided leadership for the steering committee and the overall program development by obtaining funding for a part-time staff member. The steering committee established goals and objectives which included a implementing a yearly Food Summit, the development of a local foods council and a commercial kitchen, and bringing stakeholders together to develop a site for a year round farmer’s market.

This session discusses the challenges in developing a local foods program as well as the successes that assist the county in addressing food insecurity. The Food Council has been organized and is in its strategic planning phase; community stakeholders have plans and the financing to create a commercial kitchen; an historic building has been identified as a location for a year round market.