Cafe Huntington

Project Description:
Huntington has several organizations educating the public about healthy eating and cooking practices but the community’s current demand cannot be supported by locally produced food. This research will focus on the barriers of producers in Huntington’s existing local food system to increasing production or selling products at a market location. In order to set the rules and establish the basics of the Local food system Unlimited Futures Inc., is bringing a high profile speaker; Anthony Flaccavento is director of rural SCALE and will facilitate the conversation for the community. This grant will specifically assist with the speakers fees.

Project Importance:
Since earning the title of fattest city in 2008, Huntington has placed a spotlight on health but the movement began years before as a small group of residents. Healthy Huntington was created in 2003, to begin initiatives in the school system and community. The group successfully limited soda consumption and advocated for healthier meals in the school system. The movement did not gain traction until in 2009, when Jamie Oliver piloted a reality show about the city’s eating habits. Many residents were weary that the show was exploiting a social problem pervasive throughout the tri-state region. Food and eating habits are pressing issue for the Huntington community; in order to tackle to problem there needs to be a change in how we eat, what we eat and where it comes from. These systematic changes will take time and should be inspired by the community they aim to help. Oliver’s show portrayed the community as resistant to accepting his healthy advice but residents are stuck i
n a food system that they have no representation and limited voting rights.
A decentralized food system with the local farmers acting as the producers and the residents of Huntington its consumers would provide better access to food by addressing specific needs of the community. It would be advantageous for the local food system to cooperate with the food assistance programs, so that the local food system improves access to fresh food by low income people or those with limited transportation. Huntington possesses many key elements required for a decentralized food system. The community is already trying to create better access to food with community gardens in Marcum Terrace and the surrounding neighborhood. Their programs engage members of the community in learning about growing food and healthy eating. Jamie Oliver’s Kitchen has transformed into Huntington’s Kitchen and still provides fresh food cooking classes and has a variety of weekly farm markets. Even though opportunities exist to seek out local food it is certainly not the primary way
that people in the area attain food products.
As the local food movement in Huntington continues to build support and momentum; demand for farm products will increase as residents begin to take advantage of the local food system. In the Huntington area the demand already exceeds the supply, according to Andrea Leffingwell and Gail Patton. The focus of expanding local food efforts in Huntington needs to be directed towards professional development for farmers and young people interested in farming. Building a base of supply will not only require getting conventional farmers on board but also training and selecting to next generation. The local food movement in Huntington, in order to survive needs to band together and use their collective power for real solutions in the community. Together community groups and local government can liberate residents from an unhealthy, exclusive and unsustainable agriculture and food distribution system.

How Money Will Be Used:
In order to support the development of the community a expert will be brought in to facilitate the conversation between producers and consumers to begin to set the rules and regulations of the Market organization.

3 Month Goal:
The money will allow the community to have a critical conversation that may result in the development of a Local Food Hub.

A Hub is defined by the USDA as, “a centrally located facility with a business management structure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and/or marketing of locally/regionally produced food products”.

This hub would allow farmers to sell their products with more consistency, which will raise expectations of consumers at the local food market. Consumers will more clearly demand local products when there is an easily accessible way to access them. This money will take this idea to the next level!

View the Action Plan