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12/1/1989 - Urban Foodsheds by Arthur Getz

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUTWRITER SCONSENT INSTITUTEOFCURRENTWORLDAFFAIRS AAG Urbar oodsheds P ttabur I ecember Peter Martin Executive D rector Ins Current World AfWhee House West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 fairs Dear Peter More attention being question where comin etting There reasons current public confidence safety supply trigerin radual educational process about system whole Many assumptions which aborate processing distribution network between dinner table under closer scruti peopl their business supply currently being tested their respond shiftin onsume concerns In order picture local regional supply systems found useful image oodshed A foodshed watershed defined structure supply because suggests concepT protect source Common sense exper shown wisdom conserving watershed I believe process extending similar concepts system As watershed protection require specific geographic ecological knowledge sions condition stabilty safeguarded enhanced We US elaborate system capable almost eliminating concept seasons Even perishable fruit strawberries January provided willing rudimentary foodshed might cover globe resemble octopus tentacles extending large urban supermarket remote tropical plantations Midwestern grain acreage California irrigated valleys vegetables Arthur Getz Institute Fellow making cross cultural study issues agriculture human values Since theInstituteofCurrentWorldAffairs theCrane RogersFoundation hasprovidedlong termfellowships enable outstandingyoungadultstoliveoutsidetheUnitedStatesandwriteaboutinternationalareasandissues Endowed bythelateCharlesR Crane theInstituteisalsosupported bycontributionsfromlike mindedindividualsand foundations AAG Food distribution follows abstract rules watershed flows Typ determines where appearing store comes variables price availability against demand however Jn other aspects economic system people willing almost found The matter total moving reflected Jn purchase price there hidden costs involved If complexity exten supply system eludes initial attempts capture oodshed looks still measurable could watch border which passing This border defined number levels In define flows nations states cities smaller institutions Beginning about years project which analyzed relative sufficiency individual states carried under Cornucopia Pro A model assembling state audits developed Rodale Emmaus Pensylvania private groups universities participated doing locally Using state border define incoming otgon these reports obtained production consumption dollar figures imports exports basic grieultural commodities processed foods products traced equivalent retail values leaving staying local economy In addition state resource statistics investigate whether imported state could raised locally impact multiplier effects local production would existing import situation The findings these individual state reports striking A study Ohio system described state being condition colony importing consumed state often purchased processed foods while exporting grains soybeans typically materials often volatile international markets Including multiplier effect these money flows involve Ohio calculated losing around billion dollars annually Students Oberlin College participating Meadowcreek Project Arkansas based environmental education center adapted analysis smaller scope order determine supportive college purchasing patterns local county state agricultural economies This other institutions including scaled audits The studies drawn attention increasing reliance distance shipping foods energy costs elaborate system distribution One recurring statistic average travels miles before reachin final destination estimate total US transport costs blolion A study Energy Ariculture found hidden transportation costs included figure Maintenance costs roadways which becomin serious issue nationwide disproportionate connection heavy users LarKe tractor trailers which often utilized interstate haulin capable damage roadway automobiles while payin sometimes proclaimed semis times passenger Other consequences dependence distant sources clear Bezond vulnerability disruptions shortages truckin strikes support local farmers With keepin money circulatin locally eneratin income farmers small businesses local manufacturers assisted State overnors offices local chambers commerce through promotional campaigns Grow Ohio Ohio programs While these efforts direct purchasing policies state agencies private institutions adopted these goals coordinated purchase plans difficult establish effect these having individual consumer buying habits How consumers responsible reshaping foodsheds subjective indirect process change I think changes taking place although perceptions necessarily strobosco things having things intermittent flashes I return US brief visits while based Asia years Bear seems obvious I noticed Americans increasingly making distinctions about taste freshness safety foods which concerns related origins their their familiarity fields Farmer markets I visit I lived suburbs Washington D C around crowds These places could chicken tastes chicken tomato tastes tomato although increasingly success early sleep night before People becoming health conscious their eating habits clearly shifting meanwhile vegetarian restaurants establishments become iderably varied appealing There element irony My Kazari I witnessing dietary reversal between East West young Americans eating Japanese traditional foods falling favor streets Tokyo young Japanese making American style chains French fries hamburgers other grease items having their predictable results abundant evidence adolescent problems their benzoyl peroxide formula rescuers engaged house house combat Alhough probably accounts small fraction total sales supermarket produce section suburban American grocery stores appear become important element drawing customers increase variety vegetables fruits available expanded floor space dvoted surprises I surprised organic produce larger permarkets It still organic produce though The demand seems outstripped supply places And estimates proportion organic produce supply about I approach percent total years Those places cater conscientious consumer health stores natural foods coops larer organized I previously witnessed In travels sought organic infant Reina realized added dimension travels these enterprises around country They numerous easier although search still efficiently conducted telephone directory driving Main Street Some impressive organized stocked operations Many switched having staff addition original volunteers Not often found variety fresh organic produce impressive array processed foods baked goods pickled goods Europe Kazari particular delight Japan The organic foodshed might large conventional appears extensive Obviously change lower reaches these foodsheds corresponding changes happening upstream An interesting reports trying substantiate being claimed about pattern foodsheds place future I across article published spring struck being optimistic argued It writer agricultural topics Gene Logsdon entitled The Future More Farmers Not Fewer His perception there breed farmers emerging urban roots environmental values these farmers marketplace I number sever friends description closely They would uerrilla marketers specialty farmers avoided conventional large scale monocrop farming after other strategies By farming smaller pieces intensively these farmers avoiding pitfalls associated large holdings large machinery investments interest payments match These include operations where consumers harvest direct supply consumers through regular farmer markets restaurant buyers seeking quality wholesalers provide Some farmers adhering strict patterns practices which reduce Or eliminate synthetically compounded fertilizers pesticides getting premium price their organically produced crops Logsdon assertion growing trend these smaller farms market gardens increase freshness taste safety goals motivating people extra effort greater expense these desired Megafarms contends supply quality people seeking advantages economy scale manufacturing costs considered Under these circumstances cheaper raise zucchini garden His sense historical pattern societies become dense result numerous smaller scaled farms Small scale farmer gardeners simply following pattern marshaling entrepreneurial skills attract attention supermarkets products suited provide exotic vegetables value added items edible flower salads Gene Logsdon shares author Jane Jacobs The Economy Cities inverts conventional wisdom rural economic bases begat urban cente Quite opposite rural economies including agricultural directly built economies The general suggests demand fresher safer foods exotic crops pressure treat animals differently stems urban values owing historical I relationship these urban generated demands considered seriously rural sector Although willing become convinced I I something until I found supporting analysis USDA Economic Research Service While Washington I Ralph Heimlich authors report entitled Metropolitan Agriculture Farming City Shadow released Through I found development patterns changing American metropolitan areas significant impact agriculture The character growth pressing demographers stretch prior definition metropolitan Census Bureau A predominantly homogenous pattern tight rings suburban development typical twenty years given dispersed pattern clumped growth clusters structures expanded small towns preserve space preceeding pattern As report describes growth occurring_beyond existing metropolitan fringe areas urban centers comparable growth nodes earlier decades And unlike earlier development pattern which development tterns allowed farms If could consider giant cellular organism would appear outer different message guiding expansion Rather continue outward tight layers annual growth rings trees message preserve areas being expanded original rural The source message I interesting contemplate those choosing inhabit outer longer solely dependent satisfying their needs through urban Development moving cities dispersed density pattern spreads network residences retail stores industrial office parks across broad This development populated partly commuters farther urban centers because improved transportation systems increasingly people urban In contrast earlier suburban patterns development border central urban areas often preserve spaces farmland existing small towns encompassing replacing Space remains agriculture settlement pattern although changes existing operation_s required While exploring implications emerging pattern I wonder ethic guiding individuals these decisions total statistically visible phenomenon Mentioned within report tendency these inhabitants become guardians surrounding countryside being drawn environment become involved farmland preservation measures otherwise restrict subsequent development Although urban expansion continue steadily might ultimately unsuccessful overall strategy window opportunity creates timely For metropolitan holes Wide enough giving urban farmers Gene Logsdon writing about chance advantage their proximity urban areas their guerrilla marketing Perhaps person makes outward migrati attempts become member urban farming class In scenario previously untenable agricultural holdin likely lease farmer still wishing farming could lands utililize those earnings intensify recapitalize their operations In cases entrants farming streamlining older operations proximity residential areas presents constraints opportunities farmers The ERS report lists these increased vandalism restrictions spraying odors higher values decreases fertilizer dealers supplying farmers while those viewed positively access specialized markets employment hiher equity political support farmland protection measures These developments would interesting cultural anecdotes unless showed measure impac greater rging sports hobbies which appears Metro farms apparently accounted percent total sales agriculture percent nursery product sales Census Agriculture while using percent total cropland averaged twice dollar sales figure nonmeZro farms While analysis based merging population figures census agricultural census combined natural resource inventory upcoming census interesting shows growing trend traditionally rural areas gathered redefined Metropolitan statistical areas urban foodsheds opportunity shape Received Hanover