Montgomery County Food Council Inc

MCFC BUILDS AN EQUITABLE, RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH COLLABORATION, TRANSFORMATION, AND CULTIVATION.

THE 2021-2022 FOOD AND BEVERAGE GUIDE, WITH SPONSORSHIP AND DESIGN SUPPORT FROM MCEDC, WAS PUBLISHED IN JANUARY 2021 AND FEATURES 80+ PRODUCERS, INCLUDING FRUITS, VEGETABLES, DAIRY, MEAT AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY FARMS, IN ADDITION TO PACKAGED GOODS, BEVERAGES AND DESSERTS AND CONFECTIONS CREATED BY MONTGOMERY COUNTY FOOD ARTISANS. 19 OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE BIPOC OWNED, 44 ARE WOMEN OWNED, AND 20 ARE FOOD PRODUCING FARMS. 200 PRINT COPIES OF THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE GUIDE WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AND THE DIGITAL GUIDE, WHICH WAS DISTRIBUTED ONLINE THROUGH THE FOOD COUNCIL'S NEWSLETTER, WEBSITE, AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, AS WELL AS THOSE OF OUR PARTNERS, WAS ACCESSED 922 TIMES. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO UPDATE THE ONLINE SEARCHABLE VERSION OF THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE GUIDE, WHICH ALLOWS VISITORS TO OUR WEBSITE TO IDENTIFY LOCAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESSES AND FARMS BASED ON THEIR LOCATION, PRODUCT CATEGORY, AND OTHER CRITERIA, AND TO BRING A HEIGHTENED AWARENESS TO THE DIVERSE OFFERINGS IN OUR LOCAL FOOD INDUSTRY. IN ADDITION, WE CELEBRATED THE DIVERSITY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY THROUGH THE LAUNCH OF A BIPOC-OWNED MOCO MADE BUSINESSES GUIDE, AN ONLINE WOMAN-OWNED MOCO MADE BUSINESS GUIDE, AND A SPOTLIGHT ON AAPI-OWNED BUSINESSES. IN 2021, WE HOSTED FIVE IN-PERSON EVENTS: MOCO MADE DAYS AT BETHESDA CENTRAL FARM MARKET, OLNEY FARMERS MARKET, AND SILVER SPRING FARMERS MARKET, AND MOCO MADE HAPPY HOURS AT LONE OAK BREWING COMPANY AND SILVER BRANCH BREWING COMPANY. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE PROVIDED MANY RESOURCES AND SERVICES DIRECTLY TO MOCO BUSINESSES. WE HELD VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON NETWORKING EVENTS, SUCH AS OUR PARTNER MATCHMAKING EVENT IN MARCH, DESIGNED TO FOSTER NEW RELATIONSHIPS AMONGST LOCAL PRODUCERS IN ORDER TO STREAMLINE SELLING AND SOURCING LOCAL PRODUCE AND DEVELOPING COLLABORATIVE PRODUCTS. WE MADE LOCAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESSES AWARE OF FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES WITHIN THE COUNTY. WE HOSTED A PANEL DISCUSSION TO EDUCATE BUSINESS OWNERS ON THE NUANCES OF HOW TO PROPERLY SCALE A FOOD BUSINESS. ALONGSIDE THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF AGRICULTURE, WE CO-HOSTED A CSA EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EVENT IN FEBRUARY.IN 2021, THE FOOD EDUCATION WORKING GROUP (FEDWG) LAUNCHED A GARDEN GRANT SHOWCASE SERIES, WHICH INCLUDED FOUR MEETINGS THAT FEATURED THE RECIPIENTS OF THE RESIDENT AND COMMUNITY FOOD PRODUCTION GARDEN GRANTS, FUNDED BY THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN NOVEMBER OF 2020. 12 AWARD RECIPIENTS PARTICIPATED ACROSS FOUR FEDWG MEETINGS, SHARING PROJECT GOALS, PROCESSES, AND RESULTS (WHERE APPLICABLE). THE GROUP ALSO ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY AND POLICY THROUGH ITS EXPLORATION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CHILD NUTRITION REAUTHORIZATION AND ITS LOCAL IMPLICATIONS. THE GROUP ALSO HOSTED THE DC FOOD POLICY COUNCIL TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR ADVOCACY EFFORTS RELATED TO NUTRITION AND HEALTH POLICIES, LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE FOOD COUNCIL'S LICENSING SUBCOMMITTEE WORK, AND WEIGHED IN ON ADVOCACY AND RACIAL EQUITY PRIORITIES. THE FOOD COUNCIL CONTINUED CONVENING A GARDENING SUBCOMMITTEE IN 2021 AS A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE FOR GARDENING STAKEHOLDERS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT BEST PRACTICES AND NETWORK ABOUT GARDENING OPPORTUNITIES. FOOD RECOVERY AND ACCESS WORKING GROUP (FRAWG) MEETINGS CONTINUED TO OPERATE AS REGULAR COVID-19 RESPONSE COMMUNITY CALLS IN 2021. IN THESE CALLS, THE FOOD COUNCIL CONNECTS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS THROUGH VIRTUAL CONVENINGS THAT DELIVER: CLEAR, TIMELY INFORMATION SHARING REGARDING PROCEDURES AND POLICY UPDATES WITH A FOCUS ON COVID-19 (UPDATES FROM DHHS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEER SAFETY PROCEDURES, PPE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND BIG-PICTURE UPDATES ON STATE-WIDE TRENDS IN TEST POSITIVITY RATES AND OTHER KEY UPDATES). OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FOOD COUNCIL TO COLLECT FEEDBACK ON CURRENT QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, AND SUCCESSES THAT FOOD ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS ARE ENCOUNTERING. THIS FEEDBACK IS CONVEYED TO THE FOOD SECURITY TASK FORCE, AND TO OTHER PARTNERS, AS NEEDED. COORDINATED GATHERING AND SHARING OF SERVICE INFORMATION, IN ORDER TO UPDATE THE FOOD ASSISTANCE RESOURCES INTERACTIVE MAP WITH UP-TO-DATE SERVICE HOURS, LANGUAGE CAPABILITIES, AND OTHER DETAILS THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW. THE MAP IS UTILIZED BY MONTGOMERY COUNTY RESIDENTS, FOOD ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS WHO MAY NEED TO MAKE REFERRALS, AND COUNTY STAFF MANAGING PHONE CALLS AT THE 311 CALL CENTER. SUPPORTIVE SPACES FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS TO DISCUSS BEST PRACTICES, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES. OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROVIDERS TO CONNECT WITH, AND LEARN FROM, GUEST SPEAKERS WHO SHARE INFORMATION PERTAINING TO ISSUES THAT OFTEN INTERSECT WITH HEIGHTENED RISK FOR FOOD INSECURITY, SUCH AS: RENTAL RELIEF AND EVICTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE, VOTER REGISTRATION, IMMIGRATION STATUS ISSUES, BROADBAND ACCESS, AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.CALLS HAVE BEEN ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 5,000 PARTNERS AND PROVIDERS TO DATE. IN KEEPING WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FOOD SECURITY PLAN, TO "BUILD CAPACITY OF SMALLER FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS INTO BETTER ALIGNMENT BY COLLECTING CONSISTENT DATA," THE FOOD COUNCIL CREATED SEVERAL FREE, VIRTUAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR PARTNERS. THIS PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED TO REACH NOT ONLY FAPS BUT ALSO AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. IN 2021, THE FOOD COUNCIL HOSTED 17 VIRTUAL TRAININGS, ENGAGING OVER 490 ATTENDEES IN LEARNING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: SNAP 101 AND 103 WITH JD ROBINSON, MARYLAND HUNGER SOLUTIONS "RAISE YOUR VOICE" COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY TRAINING SERVSAFE TRAINING FOR FOOD BANKS AND FOOD ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS SAFE OPERATION PROCEDURES FOR EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS MONTGOMERY COUNTY ON THE MOVE: AN OVERVIEW OF TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY SNAP 201: HOW FEDERAL AND STATE POLICY CHANGES AFFECT SNAP RECIPIENTS INTRODUCTION TO FOOD ASSISTANCE RESOURCES IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY CREATING A THRIVING VOLUNTEER TEAM: BEST PRACTICES FOR EFFECTIVE RECRUITMENT, MANAGEMENT, AND RETENTION IN A FOOD ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION FOOD ASSISTANCE RESOURCES IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, SPANISH PROTECTING DATA PRIVACY FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS INTRODUCTION TO FOOD ASSISTANCE RESOURCES FOR CASE MANAGERS DEMYSTIFYING DATA COLLECTION BUILDING RESILIENT NONPROFITS FRESH PRODUCE 101 THE FOOD COUNCIL HAS CONTINUED TO ENGAGE A FOOD SECURITY COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD, IN CONTINUATION OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COUNTY'S FOOD SECURITY PLAN. FOUR MEETINGS OF THE FSCAB WERE HELD FOR 2021, ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. SOME MEMBERS PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO RESIDENTS WITH SNAP APPLICATION AND FOOD ASSISTANCE RESOURCE NAVIGATION, WHILE OTHERS HAVE ENGAGED IN TESTIFYING AT LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS OR PLANNING HEARINGS. MEMBERS OF THE FSCAB ALSO ATTEND TRAININGS AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE EXPLORATION OF VARIOUS ADVOCACY STRATEGIES FOCUSED ON FOOD-RELATED ISSUES AT THE COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVEL OF POLICY MAKING.THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WORKING GROUP (EIWG) MET VIRTUALLY IN 2021. THE WORKING GROUP HAS HOSTED REPRESENTATIVES FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO SHARE INFORMATION RELATED TO COUNTYWIDE COMPOSTING INITIATIVES, THE CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCE PLAN, THE THRIVE 2050 MASTER PLAN, FOOD RESCUE EFFORTS, AND AT-HOME GARDENING RESOURCES, INCLUDING PRESENTATIONS FROM COMPOST CREW, CLEAN WATER ACTION, MONTGOMERY PARKS, MONTGOMERY COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS, ADRIANA HOCHBERG, ASSISTANT CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND THE COUNTY'S CLIMATE ACTION COORDINATOR, MONTGOMERY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, COMMUNITY FOOD RESCUE, THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER EVAN GLASS. THE EIWG CO-CHAIRS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, COMPOST CREW, THE INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL SELF RELIANCE, AND THE OFFICE OF AGRICULTURE REGARDING OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE COMPOSTING AT VARIOUS LEVELS IN THE COUNTY. THE EIWG ALSO LED A FIVE-PART SERIES ON FOOD WASTE REDUCTION AND COMPOSTING EDUCATION, WHICH INCLUDED SEVERAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS.THE EIWG DEVELOPED A RECOMMENDATIONS DOCUMENT THAT IDENTIFIES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE COUNTY'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. THE AIM IS TO ALIGN WITH, AND BE STRENGTHENED BY, EXISTING LOCAL EFFORTS AND COUNTY PLANNING PROCESSES, AS WELL AS NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES, AND A DOCUMENT RELATED TO THE CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCE PLAN, WHICH SIMILARLY OUTLINES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EIWG TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLAN AND FOSTER CROSS-SECTOR RELATIONSHIPS TO SUPPORT THE PLAN'S IMPLEMENTATION.