Food Systems and Seminole County
Luis Nieves-Ruiz, FAICP Director of Economic Development
East Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Luis Nieves-Ruiz, FAICP Director of Economic Development
East Central Florida Regional Planning Council
About ECFRPC
Council of Governments
Provide Technical Assistance to Governments and Organizations
Expertise in Economic Development, Regional Food Systems, and Community
Revitalization
Serving Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties
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Introduction
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Introduction
Resiliency Framework
• Holistic Approach • Identify/Address Vulnerability Drivers
• Benchmark Metrics
• Apply this Framework to a Variety of Problems
What is the Food System?
Definition
Interconnected Activities/Processes that Help People Get Food, Including:
Farming/Growing
Food Processing
Distribution
Selling/Buying Food
Growth Management Policies can
Support/Affect Food Systems
Source: www.vsjf.org/2015/01/26/what-is-the-food-system/
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Food System Resiliency
Food Resilience Project
Define Characteristics of the Food System
Analyze Regional Trends to Identify Vulnerabilities
Develop Strategies to Strengthen Region’s Food System
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Food Systems Trends
Agricultural Land
• +/- 21,000 Acres
• 94% of Agricultural
Land Located in Unincorporated Seminole County
• 84% of Land Used to Grow/Raise Food
Food Systems Trends
Land by Type
• Over 92% of Agricultural Land is Pastureland
• Another 5% is used to Harvest Citrus and Other Food Crops
Food Systems Trends
Parcel Vulnerability
Mean Parcel Size is 14 acres
Fewer Vulnerable Parcels When Compared to Other Large Counties
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Food Systems Trends • Identified only about 20 Operations • Specialize in Growing/Harvesting a Variety of Products • Very Small Operations Farms/Ranches https://dashboards.mysidewalk.com/ecfrpc-c-dashboard/places-b8b0baa6514e-1
Direct to Consumer Sales
CSA/Direct Order
Farmers Market
Far Stand
U Pick Model • No Value
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Food Systems Resiliency
Has the Rural Growth Boundary Been an Effective Tool? • Effective for Protecting Agricultural Land against Urban Conversion
• Has Not Helped to Differentiate Seminole County’s Food Production System from rest of Region
People Places Prosperity
§ Improve Operational Capacity
§ Coordinate Regulatory Framework
§ Strengthen Economic Linkages
§ Educate about Food Production System
§ Develop Next Generation Workforce
§ Address Agricultural Land Conversions Into Urban Uses
§ Value Chain Coordination
§ Provide Soft & Hard Infrastructure
Food Systems Resiliency
luis@ecfrpc.org
407-245-0300 x 308
Questions
Luis
Nieves-Ruiz, FAICP Director of Economic Development