Goal 3:
Resilience
Purchasing locally grown food stimulates Oregon's economy, creates jobs, and builds economic resilience for farmers
Why it matters
20%
The increase in community input, participation, and active collaboration when non-profits work within a coalition.
According to research from Penn State University
2x
The amount of fresh vegetables imported in the US since 2002 has more than doubled, according to USDA data.
This makes the U.S. particularly susceptible to shocks to the global food system, as industrial supply chains become increasingly focused on commodity farming rather than farming for local consumption.
Over two-thirds of Coalitions
Demonstrated measurable evidence of success and 70% of coalitions view measuring and evaluation tools as critical for improving impact and receiving more funding
According to research from the Sustained Collaboration Network and The Bridgespan Group
25% Increase
In food spoilage and logistics costs during peak global disruptions, according to the Sustainability Directory
Reliance on global supply chains and industrial agriculture means that food is costlier and spoils more during shocks or disruptions to the global food chain.
Outcome 3.1
Strengthen Resource, Knowledge, and Labor Sharing Among Partners
Outcome 3.2
Secure Recurring Investment in Food Security Work within Portland Metro
Outcome 3.3
Increase Collaboration Between Food Assistance Organizations & Local Producers and Businesses
In it for the Long Haul.
Resilience means many things in our line of work. A localized food system is more resilient in the face of supply chain disruption from extreme weather events, pandemics, or economic shocks. When food security nonprofits use our purchasing dollars to buy local goods, we contribute to regional economic resilience, keeping dollars flowing back into our farming communities and food businesses. The food assistance sector is more resilient when we collaborate together, sharing food, labor, and equipment and cultivating a diverse and varied food stream instead of relying on single-source models. Our communities are more resilient when they can choose from different service providers to fill different unique food needs - from Trinity Episcopal's hot meals to Lift UP's deliveries and Urban Gleaners' pop-up pantries. Institutional buy-in and sustained funding are essential for long-term success in a sector that is expected to fill a key role in the social services safety net with little governmental support. Resilience is the interplay between all of these factors. And it is a tapestry we can only weave in partnership.
Collaboration Makes it Possible
Every day, the issues and consequences of food insecurity and environmental stewardship become more pressing than the day before. That's why collaboration is vital to create a resilient food system that can adapt and adjust to meet the needs of our community.
Lizz from Urban Gleaners says of CAFE, "Collaboration and meaningful engagement are inherent in bringing all of these organizations together, dialogue is encouraged and welcomed, and partnerships have been strengthened significantly already."
Funding the Future of Food Security
One of the biggest challenges in our sector is securing the resources and funding that allows us to do the work that we do. When upstream funding at the federal or state level gets cut, it falls on us to fill the gap. Collaborative advocacy and fundraising provides us with the collective means to accomplish our mission.
Lizz continues, "Through the initiatives to reach out to local representatives, the seeds of advocacy are being sowed, and the bulk food purchasing programming is a clear way of engaging in the purchasing economy in an intentional and need-responsive way."