Local Food Policy Inventory
- Summit County, Ohio
- City of Akron, Ohio
A report developed for the Summit Food Coalition.
January, 2017
Carolyn S. Boyce
Independent Policy Inventory Researcher
Special thanks to:
Beth Knorr, Director, Summit Food Coalition
Marie Curry, Policy Committee Chair, Summit Coalition for Community Health
Improvement
Summit Food Coalition Board Members
Stakeholders representing the City of Akron, Summit County, the State of Ohio, and
several local nonprofit groups.
1
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
3
Stakeholder Input
Summary of Findings
3
3
INTRODUCTION
3
Background
Policy Work
3
4
DEVELOPMENT AND METHODS
5
Developing the Inventory
Conducting the Inventory
5
5
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
6
Significant Findings
Questions and Findings by Category and Subcategory
1. Promoting Local Food, Sustainability, & Community Food Security
1.1. Systemic Approaches
1.2. Supporting Sustainable Agriculture
1.3. Encouraging Production for Local Markets
1.4. Creating Markets for Local Foods
1.5. Making Local Food Accessible to Low-Income Populations
1.6. Emergency Preparedness and Food Provisions
1.7. Diverting and Recycling Food Waste
2. Zoning and Land Use
2.1. Urban Agriculture on Public Land
2.2. Urban Agriculture on Private Land
2.3. Home Gardening and Agricultural Use of Residential Land
2.4. Traditional Agriculture and Rural Land Use
3. Addressing Public Health and Food Access
3.1. Healthy Food, Wellness, and Physical Activity
3.2. Food Offerings in Schools and Other Public Institutions
3.3. Community Education and Empowerment
3.4. Transportation Options for Accessing Food
4. Fostering Social Equity
4.1. Food Security for Disadvantaged Populations
4.2. Business Incentives for Low-Income Food Access
4.3. Equitable Conditions for Farm Laborers
REFLECTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
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7
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9
12
15
17
19
21
25
25
28
30
32
34
34
35
37
38
40
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44
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46
Policy Gaps and Opportunities
Strengths and Limitations of the SFC Model
Recommendations for Future Inventories
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48
48
Appendix A
50
Appendix B
53
Appendix C
54
Appendix D
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Appendix E
57
Appendix F
61
2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Summit Food Coalition (SFC) funded this research to learn what the policy landscape is in Summit
County for access to healthful, local food. This report is the first step toward furthering the actions outlined in the
Resolution and Food Charter signed onto by several localities. The inventory compiles the policies codified by the
governmental entities of the County of Summit and the City of Akron. While there were only a handful of actual
ordinances found, those known to support or hinder local food access topics, particularly pertaining to urban
agriculture, are identified and discussed. The same applies for county and city support programs. On the other hand,
the discussions of organizational programs available in the locality are not all inclusive.
Bringing together the combination of this locality’s local food oriented organizations, supportive civic
leaders, and the vibrant energy felt around rebuilding and rebranding this community as one of health, sustainability,
innovation, and equity creates an atmosphere where positive change is inevitable.
Questions about this report can be directed to SFC Director Beth Knorr at ​[email protected]
or to Independent Food Policy Researcher Carolyn Boyce at ​[email protected]​.
Stakeholder Input
The initial intention of this inventory was to conduct policy research primarily by interviewing the
governmental entities of the City of Akron, the County of Summit, and other municipalities within Summit County. It
became obvious early in the process of identifying people and organizations to be interviewed, that their lived
experiences in having navigated official policies would be highly valuable. As a result, many more nonprofit
organizations were added to the interview list than planned. This has added greatly to the richness of findings. My
only regret is not having enough time to tap into the knowledge resources of so many others who are currently
contributing to the local food system. Their contributions within this network, while perhaps not mentioned in depth
here, are not forgotten. A Stakeholder Table listing those contacted for information is attached as Appendix A.
Summary of Findings
Support for local food is abundant in the area. People want to know what they can do to assist with growth.
Since not much policy actually exists in regard to urban agriculture, opportunities to educate lawmakers and the
public and garner support for shaping the local food landscape are abundant. However, care should be taken in
creating policies. They should be flexible enough to allow for changes that may take place under a thriving and
evolving local food network.
INTRODUCTION
Activity within the healthy local food movement in Summit County has been burgeoning in recent years. As a
county whose urban core is a mid-sized city, people working in the access, education, economic, or policy work realms
of local food tend to know one another and their work, making various combinations of collaborations quite feasible
and exciting. Likewise, the vocal and helpful support of government officials whose programs intersect with local food
activity is encouraging. With new leadership in Summit County and Akron, the time is ripe to bring these pieces
together and work on creating policies and programs that will not only to move this work forward but will provide a
strong foundation for meeting the economic, social, and environmental challenges ahead.
This inventory provides an overview of 1) the policies codified by the City of Akron, the County of Summit,
and (to some extent) the State of Ohio; and 2) the programs and initiatives taking place among and between nonprofit
organizations and government departments and agencies. With this aggregated information, SFC and its policy
advocates and government supporters, can begin creating an atmosphere that further enables the growth of the local
food economy, increases access to healthy local food, and improves the health of all of Summit County’s residents.
Background
In 2008, organizations from across Northeast Ohio gathered for a food summit at Hiram College to talk
about challenges and successes in local efforts to increase communities’ access to healthy, affordable local food, and
the economic impacts of supporting the growing number of food businesses and farmers. The goal was to help
communities form food councils or coalitions to tackle these issues in their areas.
3
The Summit Food Policy Coalition grew out of these efforts when three local organizations – Countryside
Conservancy (Countryside), Crown Point Ecology Center, and The Ohio State University Summit County Extension
Office (OSU Summit Extension) – came together as the original members of the Summit Food Policy Coalition, nka
Summit Food Coalition (SFC).
In 2014, Akron Community Foundation commissioned an ​assessment​ of the local food network to identify
needs surrounding healthy food availability and to set its own funding priorities. The study’s results suggested the
need for a more diverse approach to tackling food insecurity, including leveraging knowledge and resources from
overlooked and nontraditional stakeholders.
In 2015, the community foundation funded a series of strategic planning sessions that included individuals
and representatives from more than 60 organizations, including local entrepreneurs, waste management
representatives and others outside the coalition’s membership. That planning, conducted by Round River Consulting,
identified opportunities for collaboration around four strategic goals:
●
●
●
●
Creating a culture of healthy eating
Supporting the development of a network of food entrepreneurs
Establishing public policies that support healthy local food, sustainable land use, and neighborhood and
economic development
Creating year-round, affordable access to nutritious food for every resident
A fifth, internal goal and objective is aimed at ensuring the organization’s ability to implement the strategic
plan and provide both leadership and financial stability to the group, something the community foundation sees as
key to its success.
There are now 12 individuals/organizations serving on the steering committee, with dozens of additional
organizations and individuals participating in each of the four focus areas. 1
Having the right leader at the helm and leading the organization was integral to moving these goals forward.
Beth Knorr’s dedication to SFC and her knowledge of local food issues led to her appointment as the first Director in
May 2016. As one of SFC’s three founding members, a long-standing steering committee member, and former Board
Chair, Knorr’s commitment to the organization and its mission is evident. She also brings considerable outside
experience and knowledge to the role. She is the Director of Markets at Countryside, co-owner of Popsmith, and
Chairperson of the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.
A $150,000 Akron Community Foundation grant award will cover half of SFC’s operational budget,
including Knorr’s progressive transition from Countryside, for its first three budgeted years2 . From its commissioning
of the Local Food Assessment to this recent grant, the Foundation’s leadership and support of the organization has
been integral in advancing its mission.3
Policy Work
The goal of SFC’s policy initiative is to “[e]stablish policies that support access to healthy local food,
sustainable land use, and neighborhood and economic development,” SFC’s identified its policy objectives:
1.
2.
3.
Establish a database of existing policies and regulations related to personal, agricultural, and economic food
production;
Work with local community leadership to change identified limitations to food production;
Mobilize people to implement good food policies.4
Thanks to the hard work of the members involved, and with tremendous public input received at SFC’s first
Growing Hope Food Summit, the ​Summit County Food Policy Charter​ was adopted. Summit County Council passed a
resolution supporting the food charter which led to many Summit County cities creating their own resolutions
supporting the charter. Those communities are: Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Green, and Tallmadge.
1
​“History.” ​Summit Food Coalition. N.p., n.d. Web. ​https://www.summitfoodcoalition.org/history/
Akron Community Foundation. “ACF Provides Planning, Funding for Food Coalition and Its First Director.” A
​ kron Community
Foundation. N.p., 9 May 2016. Web. ​www.akroncf.org/ContactUs/NewsEvents/ViewArticle/tabid/96/ArticleId/350/ACF-providesplanning-funding-for-food-coalition-and-its-first-director.aspx
3
​Byard, Katie. “Summit Food Policy Coalition Gets Its First Director; Wants to Increase Access to Healthy Food.” ​Akron Beacon
Journal/Ohio.com 6 May 2016. Web. ​www.ohio.com/blogs/your-business/your-business-1.567844/summit-food-policy-coalition-g
ets-its-first-director-wants-to-increase-access-to-healthy-food-1.681186
4
Summit Food Coalition. “Summit Food Coalition Goals & Objectives.” 2016: p. 2. Print.
2
4
In addition to developing the food charter, the policy team worked with various agencies to survey assets in
the community. The ​Food Observations​ and ​Market Distribution​ Surveys are the results of those efforts.5
In 2016, SFC’s policy team began moving forward on a policy inventory for Summit County and Akron to
determine which existing policies, ordinances, and codes support (or hinder) community members' ability to grow,
source, prepare local food, and to launch a local food based business.
SFC contracted with Carolyn Boyce to conduct this Local Food Policy Inventory. Boyce’s credentials include
a paper published in the American Bar Association’s Natural Resources and Environment journal. She completed
independent research of worker cooperative laws in eleven states with collaborative support from the Ohio Employee
Ownership Center and financial support from Cornell University. Along with an earlier career in legal assistance, she
brought a passion for advancing sustainability in Northeast Ohio. Her past work as Community Outreach Coordinator
for Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo) helped build widespread community support for offshore wind.
A partnership with the Summit Coalition for Community Health Improvement (SCCHI) lent technical
services to the research. As “...an inter-agency collaborative committed to identifying key health priorities in Summit
County and coordinating action to improve population health and promote health equity for all,”6 SCCHI’s policy
workgroup is focused on advancing food insecurity issues. As such, Policy Committee Chair of SCCHI and Managing
Attorney at Community Legal Aid Services, Inc., Marie Curry provided Knorr with contract services, Boyce with office
space and equipment, and both with a qualified interpreter of legalese.
DEVELOPMENT AND METHODS
Developing the Inventory
To familiarize myself with the inventory process as it was originally designed and applied, I reviewed the
University of Virginia journal article and scorecard and the ​Franklin County Food Policy Audit (FCFPA)​. Based on
FCFPA’s description of processes under the Development and Methods section, I outlined a plan to guide my own
research, adjusting methods based on either FCFPA’s recommendations for future audits or as otherwise appropriate
to my preferences. I estimated the time needed for each phase of the research and created a schedule.
In order to capture as much knowledge as possible and reduce the risk of excluding information that I am
not intuitively aware to be relevant, I restored the UV questions that had been removed by FCFPA. Since I retained
the categories and subcategories exactly as created by FCFPA, I placed the additional questions into those categories
as they fit best. While the idea of a scorecard was considered, it was a low priority for this locality’s inventory and was
not pursued.
Since SFC expressed the intention for the audit to be modeled after the FCFPA, I relied heavily on it for
identifying stakeholders to contact for interviews and in matching questions to those stakeholders. The major
difference between the two studies was SFC’s heavier reliance on nonprofit organizations for information. We initially
intended to interview only a few nonprofits. However, regular strategic discussions between myself, Knorr, and Curry
revealed others whose experience proved essential. Having worked with government policies and hierarchies, their
stories added both to the content of the research as well as my understanding of the intricacies involved in food
production and access.
Also opposite of Franklin’s method, I considered interviews to be my primary research and documents to be
secondary and supplemental. My reasoning was that experts would be able to provide me with a higher quality and
more efficient crash course in their domains than I could achieve on my own. Where necessary, I would supplement
my interview findings with document reviews and follow up questions.
I contacted the identified stakeholders in a successive manner and scheduled interviews to be completed
over a three to four week period. Initial contact was made by email, followed by subsequent emails and telephone calls
when necessary. With a few exceptions, I was able to limit the interviews to one per day in order to have to sufficient
time for pre-interview preparations and post-interview transcriptions.
Conducting the Inventory
Interview Preparation​ With the intention of inspiring interactive interviews and a deeper inquiry beyond the
questions posed, I prepared by reviewing the websites of organizations and briefing myself on their missions and
5
“Policy.” ​Summit Food Coalition. N.p., n.d. Web. ​https://www.summitfoodcoalition.org/policy/
​ ummit County Community Health Improvement Plan. Akron, OH: Summit County Public Health, 2015. Web.
S
scphoh.org/PDFS/PDF-Rep orts/CHIP2015.pdf
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programs. When time permitted, I referred to the FCFPA to learn what information might be gleaned from particular
questions. Doing so helped tremendously in explaining what some of the questions might be looking for, especially
those that were perceived as having ambiguous phrasing, such as those that asked about “support.”
Conducting Interviews​ At the outset of each interview, I provided an overview of SFC, the audit, and my
background. I then explained how I would answer the questions and what to consider when answering them: first,
that I was initially seeking a simple Yes/No answer as the question pertains to the both entity’s policies and programs
and, if interviewing a nongovernmental organization (NGO), any relevant governmental policies known by the
interviewee. Then, I asked for open-ended responses that would provide insight about reasoning, examples,
recommendations, discussions, barriers, challenges, and referrals for more information. I explained that I was casting
a wide net with the questions across many interviewees with the intent of obtaining various perspective and that some
questions may not be applicable.
I also asked for permission to record the meetings, which was given in every instance. I decided to start
recording after the first interview so that I could be more engaged in conversation rather than being dominated by
taking detailed notes on site. At the end of each interview, I noted that I would send a summary of the meeting. I
asked that interviewees review it for accuracy, make any necessary corrections, and answer my follow up questions.
Writing the Report​ In order to maintain some consistency in the structure of food policy inventory reports,
at least in Ohio, I built the skeleton of this report using Franklin County’s table of contents, headings, and
subheadings. I added and deleted sections as relevant. I populated the Findings and Discussion section with the
approved summary notes. With all the organization’s responses arranged under their proper categories and questions,
I was be able to begin narrating and doing additional research. It became clear early in that process that the massive
volume of information I had acquired was too bulk for navigating through a single document so I created separate
working documents for each subsection. After I had edited each section, I combined them into one document. The
spreadsheet was completed simultaneously. After subsequent drafts, the text was moved to a working draft of the final
report.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
Significant Findings
●
Throughout the City of Akron and Summit County departments and agencies, there is underlying systemic
support for SFC’s goals and initiatives to promote local food, sustainability, and community food security.
With that support is an underlying desire to have a better understanding of what constitutes good local food
policy and how they can help advance efforts.
●
The locality has been supportive of local food and urban agriculture in a reactive way. Ordinances that
pertain to urban agriculture are scattered throughout the codes. When ordinances wind up being restrictive
to certain activities that the locality supports and approves of, it makes allowances. While this has produced
positive results, a proactive stance toward local food policy would streamline processes, making it easier for
upcoming food entrepreneurs, garden leaders, as well as future government employees and officials.
●
As might be expected, there is some debate about the prioritization of development interests, especially in
regard to how tax incentives are used and how long vacant land is retained for potential development when
others wish to put it to use. It may be worthwhile to have open community discussions about how to ensure
that various interests are balanced.
●
Akron’s immigrant and refugee community holds a great deal of untapped potential to contribute more to
the local food movement. Not having acquired an Americanized diet, these new residents could provide a
new market for locally grown, culturally relevant foods. Some residents may also be interested in doing
agriculture work if transportation were not an issue.
●
Though starting to change, thanks to the Mini-Market Program which is expanding financial and
geographical access, the dominating perception of farmers’ markets is that they are accessible only to middle
and upper class customers.
●
GIS Mapping techniques are being used throughout planning organizations, resulting in actions being taken
to strengthen community-oriented growth. These same techniques can be applied to advance local food
access goals. Ideally, such goals could be considered within any planning project, as in how Health in All
Policies encourages agencies to consider various aspects of health when making and amending policies.
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Questions and Findings by Category and Subcategory
The category and subcategory structure of the FCFPA report was retained with the addition of the questions
and responses from interviews. This made sense for the SFC model since, being a smaller locality that has a
well-established local food network, the details that unfolded from the questions seemed to be a more valuable asset
for this report than what may have ended up being a recap of what people already know.
This section also contains a couple idiosyncrasies. Questions that were similar or that resulted in similar
answers are grouped together, joined by “​(and).”​ All the questions with normally sequenced numbering are the same
questions that the FCFPA audit used. The questions beginning with UV were questions from the University of Virginia
audit tool that the FCFPA did not use. I did not change the numbering so as to retain some Ohio-oriented consistency
in the spreadsheet.
Unless otherwise noted, Summit County does not have any purview over the zoning issues discussed here.
Each of the county’s 31 municipalities has its own zoning code, but reviewing them all was out of the scope of this
research. The role of county government in zoning regulations is to review the localities’ zoning text to determine
whether the language meets state criteria and then approve or disapprove of it.7
A spreadsheet summarizing these findings is in Appendix F.
1. Promoting Local Food, Sustainability, & Community Food Security
1.1. Systemic Approaches
1. Does the locality support or participate in a Food Policy Council​?
Policy work is one of SFC four initiatives and was part of the organization’s former name, Summit Food
Policy Coalition. Because SFC also has access, education, and food economy initiatives, the name was changed. Its
Board (aka Steering Committee) is comprised of members involved with various sectors of the local food community,
several of whom contributed their knowledge to this research. SFC receives financial support from Akron Community
Foundation and several other local organizations.
Both the County of Summit and the City of Akron signed on to SFC’s ​Resolution​ adopting the Food Charter,
which prompted Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Green, and Tallmadge to follow.
2. Does the locality have a policy or goal to reduce its community environmental “foodprint”​?
The concept of an environmental “​food​print” refers to “[t]he environmental impact, or footprint, of food,
including the amount of land required to sustain a diet, the amount of carbon dioxide produced, if the food is organic,
and if it is local.”8 Aside from signing onto the Resolution adopting the Food Charter, whose guiding action
statements would provide positive ancillary foodprint outcomes, there is no citywide or countywide policy or goal. At
the departmental level, however, two Summit County agencies work in accordance with state mandates to reduce
waste and agricultural inputs.
ReWorks​, formerly known
as The Summit/Akron Solid Waste Management Authority, is Summit County’s
9
response to the Ohio’s H.B. 592. ​ Passed in 1988,
H.B. 592 seeks to “reduce the reliance on landfills and increase solid
10
waste reuse, recycling, and waste minimization. ​ Food waste is one of many items targeted
for overall landfill waste
11
reduction. ReWorks’ Organic Committee is tasked with defining specific goals and tasks.
The ​Summit Soil & Water Conservation District (Summit SWCD)​, in terms of reducing the environmental
impact of producing food, is mandated by the state to reactively deal with pollution abatement complaints, some of
which come from sediment, manure, and nutrient loads. As far as reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced,
one of SWCD’s
goals is carbon sequestration through cover crops and building organic matter through soil health
12
practices.
7
Krauss, Connie. Summit County Dept. of Community & Economic Development. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​“Foodprint.” Nonprofit English dictionary. ​Wordnik. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.wordnik.com/words/foodprint
9
Ohio EPA. “House Bill 592.” Mar. 2010. Web. ​www.epa.ohio.gov/Portals/34/document/guidance/gd_196.pdf
10
​“About ReWorks.” ​Summit ReWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. w
​ ww.summitreworks.com/about/
11
​Kress, Marci, and Carol Giulitto. Reworks Interview. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
12
Prunty, Brian. Summit Soil & Water Conservation District Interview. 20 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
8
7
3. Does the locality have a policy that its citizens have a “right to food security”​?
According to the ​United Nation’s World Food Programme​, “[p]eople are considered food secure when they
have availability and adequate access at all times to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active
life. Food security analysts look at the combination of the following three main elements:
Food availability​: Food must be available in sufficient quantities and on a consistent basis. It considers stock
and production in a given area and the capacity to bring in food from elsewhere, through trade or aid.
Food access​: People must be able to regularly acquire adequate quantities of food, through purchase, home
production, barter, gifts, borrowing or food aid.
Food utilization​: Consumed food must have a positive nutritional impact on people. It entails cooking,
storage and hygiene practices,
individuals ‘health, water and sanitations, feeding and sharing practices
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within the household.”
Other than having signed the Food Charter, which addresses food availability, access, and utilization, the
City of Akron and Summit County do not have an official policy that its citizens have a “right to food security.”
4. Does the locality have a declaration of food sovereignty​?
Relying on the Declaration of Nyéléni from the first global Forum for Food Sovereignty in Mali, the ​U.S.
Food Sovereignty Alliance​ defines food sovereignty as “...the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate
food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and
agriculture systems. It puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute
and consume food at the heart
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of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations.”
To the extent that the Food Charter signed by the City of Akron and Summit County (and the other
municipalities) addresses the principles contained in the above definition, the locality does have a declaration that its
citizens have a “right to food sovereignty.”
UV 1.a.15 Has the locality adopted a clear policy defining "local" food​?
There are many perspectives of what constitutes “local” food, often a reflection of who an organization’s
beneficiaries are. From hyperlocal concerns of people living in food deserts that inspire urban community gardens to
those working to expand opportunities for food entrepreneurship, support for local food production and distribution
is present in many ways. Therefore, a common working definition, rather than a policy, may be more useful. A
definition can be helpful to organizations seeking some guidance on establishing networks or for building resource
databases, but a policy with defined parameters may be counterproductive if opportunities are restricted based on
arbitrary boundaries. Listed below are what some interviewees consider to be “local” food.
Is it grown in the US? Cause that’s local. We don’t raise oranges here and Florida doesn't do a good job of
producing milk. ~Gale Betterly, Summit County Farm Bureau (Farm Bureau)
Boundaries are arbitrary, especially when referring to state boundaries because Pennsylvania is closer to
some than Cincinnati. Kentucky and Indiana are closer to Cincinnati than Cleveland is. ~Beth Knorr, SFC
A lot of people ask for corn and fruit. We don’t grow corn because it takes up a lot of space. We don’t grow
a lot of fruit so we do supplement. We look at what we consider local foods and found it’s very much within
100 miles. ~Lisa Nunn, Let’s Grow Akron
150 miles is local for us. 200 miles is essentially regional. I still buy beans from lower Michigan. I consider
that to be a fairly local product. But our focus is on 150 miles and we’ll go as far as 200 miles. ~Zac
Rheinberger, Hattie’s Food Hub
Regional like within Northeast Ohio, or anything within the five county region in either direction.
~Elizabeth Walters, Summit Council
13
14
​“World Food Programme.” ​What is food security? N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.wfp.org/node/359289
​“US Food Sovereignty Alliance.” ​Food Sovereignty. N.p., n.d. Web. u
​ sfoodsovereigntyalliance.org/contact-us/
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1.2. Supporting Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable agriculture does not necessarily equal organic growing methods. Farms may have a mix of
organic and nonorganic crops. Some may be using organic methods but are not certified as such. Also not necessarily
organic but built on sustainability concepts is15permaculture. Defined as “…a design discipline based on the
foundational ecological principles of nature,” ​ permaculture is popular among community and backyard gardeners.
Because the terms “sustainability” and “sustainable” can be conceptualized differently depending on the
sector they are being applied to, it is important for those stakeholders to have an agreed-to source of knowledge for
understanding what sustainability means and how it is applied to the particular context.
Regarded by Summit County
16
agricultural stakeholders as a leading authority, the OSU Summit Extension cited ​ the definition adopted by
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE):
Congress has defined sustainable agriculture as an integrated system of plant and animal production
practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term:
●
●
●
●
●
satisfy human food and fiber needs;
enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy
depends;
make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where
appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls;
sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and
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enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole. (U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103)
Posing the sustainability definition question to several interviewees of this inventory resulted in a variety of
responses listed below, all of which contain elements of the core principles outlined above. (The responses are not
formal organizational definitions.)
The ability to, without harming the soil, leave the basis that future generations will need to continue to feed
the world - we’re going to grow crops, we’re going to grow animals, we’re going to feed people and at the
same time, have something that we can pass on to the next generation. ~Gale Betterly, Farm Bureau
Being able to capitalize on things that will provide the necessary support for communities now and in the
future. ~Samuel DeShazior, City of Akron, Mayor’s Office of Economic Development (Mayor’s Economic
Development Office)
Something sustainable is able to function on its own without a lot of outside resources or influences.
Having a strong garden leader and continuing to engage people and allowing them to indulge in fresh
produce and the meals that are created from the garden. ~Lisa Nunn, Let’s Grow Akron
Sustainable agriculture is building soil health through the means of increasing the microbial community in
the soil and organic matter in return reducing or eliminating the need for chemicals or synthetic fertilizers
to reduce their harmful effect on the environment. ~Brian Prunty, Summit Soil & Water Conservation
District
5. Does a policy or program exist to encourage transition to low-spray, sustainable, or organic agricultural methods,
to reduce human and environmental exposure to potentially harmful chemicals​? ​(and)
6. Is there a local policy or program that offers incentives to farmers to switch to more sustainable growing methods​?
Many of the farmers who utilize the OSU Extension’s training programs recognize that switching to18
researched sustainable growing methods ultimately impacts their bottom lines by helping them save money.
Farmers buy inputs at retail prices and sell their outputs at wholesale prices. Therefore, it stands to reason that 19
ecologically-informed and economically-minded farmers do not spray more than what is required to control pests.
State and national cost-share programs may provide an incentive for farmers motivated toward employing additional
sustainable methods. The understanding that sustainable practices will help protect the environment and enrich the
soil can also provide intrinsic incentives.
15
​“Permaculture Institute.” ​What is Permaculture? N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.permaculture.org/?s=what+is+permaculture
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
17
​“SARE Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education.” W
​ hat is Sustainable Agriculture? N.p., n.d. Web. w
​ ww.sare.org/About-SA
RE/What-is-Sustainable-Agriculture
18
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
19
​Betterly, Gale. Summit County Farm Bureau. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
16
9
The lease agreements that farmers participating in the Countryside Initiative program sign require
sustainable practices. Countryside’s farmers’ market vendors must also be using or transitioning to sustainable
growing methods. Producers
who wish to seek organic certification are referred to the ​Ohio Ecological Food and Farm
20
Association (OEFFA)​. ​ Farmers can be reimbursed
for a portion of the cost of certification through the ​National
22
Organic Certification Cost-Share Program​.21 ​ Because the Countryside Initiative is currently at capacity, however,
these incentives are contained within the program.
7. Is there a local government policy or preference for local agencies to purchase low-spray, sustainably grown, or
organic food​?
No ordinances were found in either the Akron Municipal Code of Ordinances (Akron Code) or the Codified
Ordinances of Summit County (Summit Code).23 Akron Public Schools (APS) does not a have a policy or district
preference, but its Child Nutrition Department does take into consideration the amount of additives in the processed
foods it purchases.24 The Summit County Courthouse had been contracted with Hattie Larlham (Hattie’s) to provide
cafe services, but Hattie’s recently decided to close the cafe. The County is reportedly seeking another local nonprofit
to take over, but it is unknown whether low-spray, sustainably grown, organic (or local) food is preferred.25
8. Does the locality have a policy, program, or goal to reduce nonpoint source pollution from agricultural operations​?
The Summit County Soil and Water Conservation District is mandated by Ohio Revised Code 939 to reduce
nonpoint source pollution through the administration of the Agricultural Pollution Abatement Program (APAP).
Transferred with other programs in January 2016 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to the
Ohio Department of Agriculture-Division of Soil and Water Conservation (ODA-DSWC)​, the program helps farmers
institute Best Management Practices (BMPs) through cost share assistance. BMPs enable Ohio farmers to implement
environmentally sound, yet cost effective practices that help protect Ohio’s waterways. ODA-DSWC reports that the
program has “...alleviate[d] resource concerns associated with agricultural production and silvicultural operations.”26
Local watershed groups and others who are working on protecting waterways from agricultural nonpoint
source pollution may qualify for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s (Ohio EPA) Section 319(h) Nonpoint
Source Program Grant. Section 319 refers to an amendment in the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C 1329) to control
nonpoint source pollution.
A new Agricultural Nutrient Law requires that farmers who are applying fertilizer to 50 acres or more of
agricultural land be certified by September 30, 2017. The OSU Summit Extension’s FACT program covers all the
fertilizer and manure regulations applicable to Ohio and best management practices for controlling nutrients.27 28
Countryside Initiative farmers may operate their farms as they like so long as they work within a range of
acceptable sustainable agricultural practices.29 The ​Trapp Family Farm​ is an example of sustainable agriculture
methods being successfully used at local farms. By placing manure in
its on-site high tunnel, the heat generated by the
30
composting process acts as a heat source during the winter months.
9. Does the locality have a policy, goal or program to manage the potential​ ​harmful effects of animal manure​? 31 ​(and)
UV 3.b.61 Does the locality have a policy or goal to fence out all livestock from streamways​? ​(and)
UV 3.b.64 Does the locality have a policy or goal or participate in a program to manage excess animal manure​?
The source of most of Summit County’s manure issues is from equine facilities. Manure is typically placed
into landfill dumpsters as this is the easiest legal way to dispose of it. (See Section 1.7.)
Any complaints made concerning the improper management of manure are addressed by SWCD. If a
pollution violation is found, the agency issues a violation notice and will attempt to work with the landowner to
20
Ohio growers may seek organic certification from any certifying agency in any state.
​Molnar, Erin. Countryside Conservancy. 13 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview.
22
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
23
My attempts to connect with the appropriate city and county departments to learn more were unsuccessful.
24
Kepler, Laura. Akron Public Schools. 11 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
25
​Warsmith, Stephanie. “Hattie’s Cafe Leaving Summit County Courthouse; County Searching for New Food Service Provider.”
Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com 6 Dec. 2016. Web. h
​ ttp://www.ohio.com/news/local/hattie-s-cafe-leaving-summit-county-co
urthouse- county-searching-for-new-food-service-provider-1.732022
26
Ohio Department of Agriculture Division of Soil and Water Conservation. “Brochure: Ohio’s Agriculture Pollution Abatement
Program: Protecting Our Soil and Water Resources.” Web. ​www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/SWC/docs/Pollution_Abatement.pdf
27
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
28
“Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator Certification Training Manual.” : n. pag. Print.
29
“Countryside Initiative Request for Proposals.” 2015. p. 32 Web. w
​ ww.cvcountryside.org/documents/CFM_CountrysideInitiative
RFP_FINALlowres.pdf
30
​Prunty, Brian. Summit Soil & Water Conservation District Interview. 20 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
31
Changed from “harmful effects” to “potential harmful effects” at suggestion of Jacqueline Kowalski, OSU Extension, Summit County.
21
10
appropriately correct the problem with tactics such as fencing or a building a manure storage pit. Funding
opportunities for such projects are available through APAP. (See Question 8.) In the case of uncooperative
landowners, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ohio Department of Agriculture and SWCD dictates that
ODA’s Director is informed. Landowners are encouraged to work with NRCS to develop and implement a
Conservation Activity Plan (CAP)​ to avoid further
enforcement action. Referral to the Ohio Attorney General’s office
32
is the final step for continued noncompliance.
Farmers in the Countryside Initiative program are required to record and describe both their general
practices and any that could have environmental impact. Countryside’s Director of Operations & Partnerships acts as
a liaison between the farms and the park. She does site visits, reviews the farm records, and confirms or addresses
issues. She and the park balance this work on a33case by case basis depending on the issue and the cooperativeness of
the farmers in changing protocols if necessary.
Farmers can also find manure management training programs at the OSU Summit Extension.34
10. Does the locality support an organization or agency that can advise farmers on sustainable growing practices​?
There is no shortage of organizations and agencies in Summit County that can advise farmers on sustainable
growing practices. This discussion is not exhaustive of all that is available.
Summit SWCD promotes sustainability practices through workshops that increase and improve soil health,
organic matter of soil carbon, beneficial microbes, carbon sequestration, crop yields, and resistance to disease
and
35
drought. Workshops include soil sustainability, understanding soil test results, intense rotational grazing, ​ planting
cover crops, composting and making compost tea. These are made possible because of partnerships with OSU Summit
Extension, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Countryside, Farm Bureau, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, City of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Department of
Agriculture, Good Nature Organic Lawn Care, and Brandt Farm.
Summit SWCD supports organizations that advise farmers on sustainable growing practices by collaborating
with partners like ​Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)​ to hold field days so that producers can visit sites
where individuals and/or producers are implementing sustainable practices. One such field day was held at Trinity
Church in the North Hill neighborhood to view its seasonal high tunnel and cover crops.
In partnership with NRCS, Summit SWCD hosts an annual meeting for its local work group that
stakeholders and the public are invited to by direct invitation and press release, respectively. The work group selects
the resource concerns relevant to Summit County from NCRS’ BMP list. The purpose of the meeting is to review the
natural resource concerns pertaining to agriculture lands as outlined by NRCS and identify which are local concerns.
Assistance is given to producers to prepare in applying ​Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)​ funding.
NRCS then works with people whose applications are approved to develop a CAP, and funding is provided to
implement the changes.​ ​Summit SWCD assists farmers with writing conservation plans for their farms. The plans
contain sustainable growing methods that farmers can voluntarily implement with the funds made available by the
USDA. A small portion of funds had always been available for organic farms and specialty
crops, but thanks to a
36
recent change in the Farm Bill, funds available for small specialty crops have increased.
Countryside has held numerous production workshops and webinars throughout the years. It held a
conference with OEFFA in 2011 called “Raising the Salad Bar: Advanced Techniques and Season Extension for the
Established Specialty Crop Grower.” It also makes referrals to other organizations such as the Ohio Ecological Food
and Farm Association (OEFFA) and the Farm Bureau for resources and information.37
Akron-based landscape design company, ​Salsbury-Schweyer, Inc​. is offering a Permaculture Design Course
(PDC) from January to March 2017 at the ​Akron Global Business Accelerator​. 38 The company also hosts a free
monthly meetup where people can learn permaculture techniques.
32
​Prunty, Brian. Summit Soil & Water Conservation District Interview. 20 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​Molnar, Erin. Countryside Conservancy. 13 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview.
34
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
35
Intense rotational grazing is a small-scale farm method of feeding livestock by pasture grazing. Benefits include: better carbon
sequestration, helping build organic matter in the soil, decreases soil compaction in fields, better moisture retention in soil,
increases infiltration, and decreases runoff.
36
Prunty, Brian. Summit Soil & Water Conservation District Interview. 20 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
37
​“OEFFA News.” ​Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association. N.p., 17 Aug. 2011. Web. ​www.oeffa.org/news/?p=433
38
​Salsbury-Schweyer, Inc. “Permaculture Design Certification Course.” ​Eventbrite. N.p., n.d. Web.
www.eventbrite.com/e/permacult ure-design-certification-course-12-day-pdc-jan-7th-march-5th-registration-28898707813
33
11
UV 1.e.36. Does the locality have a policy or program to reduce pesticide use, with appropriate enforcement​?
Legal ramifications exist as a39disincentive for to farmers not conforming to new state regulations on large
applications of manure and fertilizer. ​ Programs for proper use under these regulations do exist at the local level with
OSU Summit Extension. State level research on ​Integrated Pest Management (IPM)​, wherein advisability to spray is
based on pest load, is provided to farmers through OSU Summit Extension. The organization works with farmers to
create sustainable systems by following its mission of
“...[e]ngaging people to strengthen their lives and communities
40 41 ​
through research-based educational programming.”
In addition to training farmers on the safe application of
agricultural chemicals with programs such as FACT, Pesticide Application Training (PAT), Commercial Pesticide
Application Training (CPAT); OSU Summit Extension also offers training focused on the use of nontraditional
pesticides approved by the ​Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)​ OSU Summit42Extension Educator Jacqueline
Kowalski has been described as “highly qualified and working hard to teach people.”
UV 1.e.40 Does a policy or program exist to encourage transition to sustainable or organic agricultural methods, to
provide increased carbon sequestration​?
Although not a primary end goal, OSU Summit Extension stated that its cover
crop management program
43
may be assisting in providing some carbon sequestration as an ancillary outcome.
Summit SWCD views increased carbon sequestration as a main goal through its cover crop (and intense
rotational grazing) workshops to increase soil health and carbon and is seeking to offer additional programs with an
ODA Soil Health Grant. If awarded, the agency will take soil samples from up to 25 farms for soil carbon testing by
Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). The agency will host a workshop for participating
producers, as well as other producers, with the goal of building a better understanding of the test results, soil health,
and the benefits of soil carbon. The Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) also has carbon sequestration
44
funding to subsidize these types of practices.
1.3. Encouraging Production for Local Markets
11. Does the locality have a clear goal that supports the production and distribution of local food​?
Both the County of Summit and the City of Akron signed on to the ​Summit County Community Food Charter
(Food Charter) “[s]upporting regional agriculture as a business by encouraging the distribution, sale, and purchase of
locally grown, nutritious food in area markets, grocery stores, restaurants, schools, other institutions and directly
from farmers.”45 However, no quantifiable or strategic goal has been uncovered during the course of interviews with
government representatives. Nevertheless, the local agriculture community promotes a variety of initiatives in
support of the growth of production and distribution of local food.
As a leading example, Countryside recognized that a direct outlet for farmers to sell to consumers was
necessary for their farms to be successful. At the implementation of its first farmers’ market, few Countryside
Initiative farms meant a very small market. Having a goal of providing a full service market, Countryside included
outside producers and processors. Doing so has encouraged and supported the regional food system quite
substantially. During the 2016 season, the Howe Meadow and Highland Square markets brought in 71 vendors, 33 of
whom were farmers, 46
from throughout Northeast Ohio and located within 75 miles of the market. Some traveled from
only two miles away.
12. Does the locality have economic development goals to support regional food production​?
Neither the City of Akron nor Summit County have any economic development 47goals specifically to support
regional food production but would offer anything that it does for any start-up business.
Regardless, nonprofit organizations and for profit businesses are working to fill community economic,
health, and social well-being needs and market demands and are making good use of the resources available. In the
39
​LaBarge, Greg. “Understanding Regulations, Definition, Noncompliance Penalties, on Fertilizer and Manure Application in Ohio
WLEB.” ​Ohio State University Extension, Agronomic Crops Network. N.p., Mar. 2016. Web. a
​ gcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-ne
wsletter/fertilizer-and-manure-application-compliance-ohio-and-civil-penalties
40
​“Mission, Vision, Values.” ​OSU Extension. N.p., n.d. Web. ​extension.osu.edu/about/mission-vision-values
41
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
42
​Betterly, Gale. Summit County Farm Bureau. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
43
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
44
​Prunty, Brian. Summit Soil & Water Conservation District Interview. 20 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
45
​Summit Food Coalition. “Summit County Community Food Charter.” 2012. Web. ​https://www.summitfoodcoalition.org/s/summi
t-county-food-charter-final.pdf
46
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
47
​Krauss, Connie. Summit County Dept. of Community & Economic Development. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
12
for-profit sector, for example, Vigeo Gardens does business at the Akron Global Business Accelerator. With vertical
hydroponics, it grows microgreens and hydroponic lettuce and
basil. This start-up’s “...mission is to cut the farm to
48 ​
fork wastage, and provide superior produce
while
doing
so.”
Their
products can be found at the Countryside
49
farmers’ markets and local restaurants.
13. Is there a support system to supply existing farmers with steady and seasonal farm labor​?
50
51
Cited as a “frequent frustration” ​ and the “the biggest problem in agriculture,” ​ some reasons for the lack of
labor available are that wages are not great, the work is physically demanding, and field work is seasonal. At the same
time, interest in sustainable gardening, permaculture, and organic farming has been increasing. Whether people are52
seeking to acquire an experiential education for their own backyard gardening ambitions or view it as a “bucket list”
adventure, most usually do not stay on beyond one season. Although scaled-up farming operations will always require
a steady full-time labor force, the ​Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, USA (WWOOF-USA®)​ is creating
mutually beneficial relationships by offering a membership-based platform that connects occasional, part-time
adventure seekers with organic-method farms that need help. Of the several Northeast Ohio farms that appear on the
search for Ohio farms, one (possibly Crown Point Ecology Center) is located in Summit County.
“Hattie’s Gardens is a sustainable garden that grows fresh, organic produce for Akron and Northeast Ohio53
residents. Hattie's Gardens is a Hattie Larlham work training program for adults with developmental disabilities.”
The program does not currently offer farm labor support to any other area supplier farms, but may be seeking to place
some of its vocational training graduates into local farming jobs, namely among its eight supplying farms and
orchards.
The International Institute of Akron (IIA) believes that some immigrants and refugees may be interested in
agricultural work. IIA is not currently involved in placing clients into agriculture positions though due to several
reasons. One is the lack of reliable transportation to farms from the North Hill neighborhood,
where these new
54
Akronites have been settling. Another is because agriculture work has only been seasonal ​ in the past.
14. Are there local government or other programs to inspire and train new farmers, including assistance to
immigrants who may come from farming families​?
The ​Farming Internship Program​ at ​Crown Point Ecology Center​ “...is one of the only regional organic
vegetable farms where farm interns have the opportunity to acquire a complete suite of skills necessary for eventually
managing their own production-scale organic vegetable farms.” The program is a full-time endeavor, runs for 12 to 24
weeks during the growing season, and includes a stipend and several fringe benefits.
Asian Services In Action, ASIA Inc. (ASIA) is the agriculture
job and training source for refugees “...whose
55
age and limited English proficiency pose employment barriers.” ​ Its HAPI Fresh Farm is not so much to inspire
participants to become
farmers but to “...enhance and supplement [their] farming skills for the purpose of
56
self-sufficiency.”
Hattie’s Gardens does not currently have any programs that the greater immigrant community can be
involved in. During its infancy, the Hattie’s Gardens program was short-staffed, so some of IIA’s clients were working
there. Though transportation was an issue,
it was secondary to the language barrier at this time. Nevertheless,
57
Hattie’s is open to future partnerships.
Countryside holds a class called ​Exploring the Small Farm Dream​ for people to determine if they want to
make farming a way of life. OSU Summit Extension announced in September 2016 its new ​Ohio Master Urban
58
Farmer Workshop Series​ is an
intensive educational program developed “…as part of the new Extension In the City”
59
for beginning urban farmers.
48
​“Vigeo Gardens - About.” ​Facebook. N.p., n.d. Web. w
​ ww.facebook.com/pg/vigeogardens/about/?ref=page_internal
​“Vigeo Gardens.” ​Facebook. N.p., n.d. Web. w
​ ww.facebook.com/vigeogardens/
50
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
51
​Betterly, Gale. Summit County Farm Bureau. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
52
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
53
​“Hattie’s Gardens.” ​Hattie Larlham. N.p., n.d. Web. w
​ ww.hattielarlham.org/v/garden.asp#sthash.g2ihZIZW.dpuf
54
​Stacy, Tiffany. International Institute of Akron. 28 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
55
​“HAPI Fresh Program.” ​ASIA, Inc. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.asiaohio.org/our-work/self-sufficiency/hapi-fresh-farmers-market/
56
​“HAPI Fresh Program.” ​ASIA, Inc. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.asiaohio.org/our-work/self-sufficiency/hapi-fresh-farmers-market/
57
Grexa, Dotty. Hattie Larlham Vocational and Enterprise Services. 28 Oct. 2016. Document ​comments sent by assistant.
58
​“Summit County to Offer Master Urban Farmer Training Class.” O
​ SU Extension. N.p., 6 Sept. 2016. Web.​ ​summit.osu.edu/news/s
ummit-county-offer-master-urban-farmer-training-class
59
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
49
13
15. Is there a USDA-inspected community cannery, kitchen, or other processing facility open to local farmers, food
entrepreneurs, and the public​?
Regional examples of food hub incubators that offer kitchen space for food
enterprises include the ​Cleveland
6061
Culinary Launch Kitchen​, ​The Food Fort Columbus​, and the ​Columbus Food Hub​. ​ Currently, no USDA-inspected
community cannery or kitchen is available for general use in Akron or Summit County.
A couple other processing facilities are available for different uses. Hattie’s Food Hub is licensed by the ​U.S.
Food and Drug Administration​ to do low and high acid canning, by the ​Ohio Department of Agriculture​ to do freezing
and baking and is available to do processing for producers seeking to extend the usability of their crops.​ ​Ms. Julie’s
Kitchen​, a small diner in Akron’s Firestone Park neighborhood, serves food created out of ingredients from “local
farmers and [its] gardens, United Northeast Cooperatives, and Stutzmans Farm.”62 The kitchen also has certifications
from the U.S. Drug and Food Administration and the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Kitchen space is available for
other vegetarian and vegan food processors to rent.63 A handful of other kitchens
are not so well-known and can be
64
challenging to identify. ​Popsmith​, for example, produces out of a local church.
To meet the challenges of finding kitchens, SFC is currently seeking to contract with a researcher to build a
Kitchen Inventory and Toolkit. Meanwhile, members of the ​“Akron Kitchen”
Project​ have been attempting to make
65
matches between “potential kitchen renters and existing kitchens for rent.” ​ Its inventory to date includes 38
potential renters and two existing kitchens, including the above-mentioned Ms. Julie’s Kitchen. Renters and kitchens
are also connecting with one another on the Akron's Kitchen Community ​Facebook page​.
Because a small patchwork of facilities is limited on how much
of the local food market it can support on a
66
long-term basis, there is demand for a full-service community kitchen. ​ It is Akron Kitchen Project’s main goal “...to
help bring a commercial kitchen to the Akron area
so that our local food community has a safe and licensed facility to
67
cook food, produce products, and teach classes.” ​ ​Downtown Akron Partnership​
is also considering how it could
68 ​
support this infrastructure through
its
proposed
downtown
marketplace.
Lack
of
investment for such a
69
70
capital-intensive project was cited ​ as to why it has not come to fruition yet ​ despite the widespread interest.
16. Does the locality support an organization, agency, or individual who is able to provide farmers with technical
assistance regarding financial solvency, and/or regulatory compliance​?
OSU Summit Extension has Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) professionals on hand
to “...help
71​
producers develop and expand profitable, sustainable farming and other
agricultural
businesses…”
They
can provide
72
technical assistance for financial solvency using ​FINPACK software​; ​ general
business
management
and
tax
73
trainings; and several regulatory compliance trainings and workshops. ​ OSU Summit Extension has collaborated
with Hattie’s Food Hub to provide ​Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)​, which are voluntary audits that verify that
fruits and vegetables 74are
produced, packed, handled, and stored as safely as possible to minimize risks of microbial
75
food safety hazards.” ​
Farm Bureau offers a wide variety of educational seminars to members and guests and states that it is open
to suggestions for topics. Its most recent was Livestock Management and Economics. Experts presented on principles
and considerations in grazing economics, pasture and forage management in the heavy use areas, and an explanation
76
of help available on “technical assistance and shared-cost help to improvements that protect the environment.”
60
​Three Sisters Momo. 28 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
62
​“Spreadsheet 2016-12-05.csv.” 5 Dec. 2016. Web. d
​ rive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/0B5_MnDA-y-zdZWwxSmFZcERZTWs
63
​“Spreadsheet 2016-12-05.csv.” 5 Dec. 2016. Web. d
​ rive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/0B5_MnDA-y-zdZWwxSmFZcERZTWs
64
​Popsmith. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview.
65
​“The ‘Akron Kitchen’ Project.” ​The “Akron Kitchen” Project. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.akronkitchen.org/
66
​Walters, Elizabeth. Summit County Council. 14 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
67
​“The ‘Akron Kitchen’ Project.” ​The “Akron Kitchen” Project. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.akronkitchen.org/
68
Rheinberger, Zac. Hattie’s Food Hub. 26 Oct. 2016. P
​ ersonal Interview, with follow up.
69
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
70
​Walters, Elizabeth. Summit County Council. 14 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
71
​“Agriculture and Natural Resources.” ​OSU Extension. N.p., n.d. Web.
summit.osu.edu/program-areas/agriculture-and-natural-resources
72
​chain.10. “FINPACK: OSU Extension Offers Farm Financial Analysis.” ​The Ohio State University. N.p., 1 Mar. 2010. Web. u
​ .osu.ed
u/ohioagmanager/2010/03/01/finpack-osu-extension-offers-farm-financial-analysis/
73
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
74
​“Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) & Good Handling Practices (GHP).” U
​ nited States Department of Agriculture (USDA). N.p.,
n.d. Web. ​www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/gap-ghp
75
Rheinberger, Zac. Hattie’s Food Hub. 26 Oct. 2016. P
​ ersonal Interview, with follow up.
76
​“SCFB Offers a Wide Variety of Educational Seminars to Members and Guests.” S
​ ummit County Farm Bureau. N.p., 20 Apr. 2016.
Web. ​www.summitcountyfarmbureau.org/2106/scfb-offers-a-wide-variety-of-educational-seminars-to-members-and-guests
61
14
UV 5.99 Does the locality have incentives for supporting agri-tourism, heritage tourism, or other purposes supporting
local food production​?
There are no known local incentives for agri-tourism or heritage tourism, but touring activities
are
77 78
happening and, according to ​Farm and Dairy​, are “on the rise” as a “growing industry here in Ohio.” ​ ​ As a result, a
bill presented in the Ohio legislature to protect
farmers from issues that might arise by adding a new layer of land use
79
to farms passed by an overwhelming margin.
Countryside Initiative farmers must do some type of public 80
engagement as a component of their public land
leases. Giving farm tours is one of the options they can choose to do. ​ Countryside, besides holding periodic public
tours, offers a ​Full Day Tour Program​ for organizations, which includes visits to two farms and a presentation through
its Farm Tour program. Summit Soil and Water has also participated in offering high tunnel tours.
The ​Mayor’s Economic Development Office​ has participated in Countryside’s Farm Tours program when it
gives tours to visitors to Akron learning about water conservation efforts. Other area assets are toured including the
Akron Global Business Accelerator, where some food production technology businesses are operating.
1.4. Creating Markets for Local Foods
17. Does the locality publish or support a public guide to local food​?
Several organizations publish directories, but none are comprehensive enough to include all farmers’
markets, farm markets, U-Pick farms, agriculture auctions, community gardens, restaurants serving local food,
grocers and corner stores selling local food, gardening education opportunities, and Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) buying opportunities. One of SFC’s goals for 2017 is to create a Local Food Guide, which may be the
central comprehensive answer to this needed resource. Currently, its website has a “Find Local Food” tab that
displays maps and lists for ​community gardens​ and ​farmers’ markets​. The website accepts submissions so that new
gardens and markets can request inclusion.
81
OSU Summit Extension prints a state level directory which can be modified for counties. ​ The OSU Summit
Extension ​website​ also lists several online directories provided by other
organizations. The Farm Bureau has a buyers’
82
guide that primarily lists local food and other agriculture resources. ​ A ​website list​ includes what seems to be a
complete list of farm markets and some farmers’ markets. Countryside lists all its vendors, some of whom are outside
of Summit County, on its market pages: ​Winter Farmers' Market at Old Trail School​; ​Farmers' Market at Howe
Meadow​; and ​Farmers' Market at Highland Square​. Countryside
also hopes to better consolidate all local resources
83
and make it available to the public in print and electronically.
18. Is there a local government policy recommendation for purchase of local food when available​?
No ordinances were found in the Akron Municipal Code or the Codified Ordinances of Summit County. 84
19. Are there economic development programs, incentives or other tools for retailers to favor purchasing local food​?
A goal of the Corner Store Project (See Question 94.) was for store owners to partner with local farms, but
they are free to purchase produce from anywhere they wish. It is unknown how much produce is being purchased
locally by corner store owners.
Of the city and county officials and others interviewed, none were aware of any programs or incentives.
20. Are there financial or other programs to support or incubate food-related businesses​?
There are no financial or other programs to specifically support or incubate food-related businesses but the
Akron Global Business Accelerator is happy to provide incubator space for any food-related business, which it
currently does. In addition, the nonprofit ​Small Business Development Center (SBDC)​ at The Summit Medina
Business Alliance can provide business startup knowledge to any food-related or other business. As discussed in
77
​Catie, Noyes. “Agritourism Opportunities on the Rise in Ohio.” F
​ arm and Dairy. N.p., 22 Dec. 2015. Web.
www.farmanddairy.com/ top- stories/agritourism-opportunities-on-the-rise-in-ohio/305734.html
78
​Betterly, Gale. Summit County Farm Bureau. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
79
​Burkley, Tony. House Bill 80 Addresses Agritourism. T
​ he Ohio Legislature. N.p., 2015. Web. w
​ ww.legislature.ohio.gov/legislatio
n/legislation-status?id =GA131- HB-80
80
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
81
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
82
​Betterly, Gale. Summit County Farm Bureau. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
83
​Molnar, Erin. Countryside Conservancy. 13 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview.
84
My attempts to connect with the appropriate city and county departments to learn more were unsuccessful.
15
Question 15, the possibility of infrastructure that would support food-related business programs and incubation is
being discussed by the Akron Kitchen Project and Downtown Akron Partnership.
21. Does the locality have a policy to allow local farmers' markets or tailgate markets​?
No formal policies or regulations specific to farmers’ markets exist within either Akron’s or Summit County’s
ordinances, but both are friendly and welcoming to farmers’ markets. Akron allows markets in neighborhood business
districts with the hope that markets will form in all of the city’s communities.
The state law governing farmers’ markets holds that farmers’ markets must register with the Ohio
Department of Agriculture to be exempt from having to be licensed as a retail food establishment. Doing so enables
the farmers’ market to sell certain fresh unprocessed fruits and vegetables, cottage food products, syrup and honey,
and certain prepackaged foods.85
22. Does the locality provide institutional support for local farmers' markets or tailgate markets​?
The Mayor’s Economic Development
Office staffs an ​Economic Development Aide​
to assist people with the
86
87
farmers’ market application process ​ and submitting it to the City’s ​Recreation Bureau​.
Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP)​ manages ​The Market on Cascade​
and is involved in efforts to bring a
88
public market similar to Cleveland’s ​West Side Market​ to Downtown Akron. ​ DAP recently hosted a specialty
urban
89
planning and economic development firm, ​Market Ventures​, for a site visit and to make recommendations.
Countryside’s Mini Market program is a resource for increasing food access in lower income communities or
struggling neighborhoods. Countryside assists with the establishment of these markets, which typically have fewer
than ten vendors and are sometimes held on private property. Since Countryside’s role is not to manage the Mini
Markets but to provide technical assistance to organizations so they can manage their own market, it is important that
markets are supported by an organization that has that capacity such as the ​East Akron Neighborhood Development
Corporation (EANDC)​ that manages the Night Market on Arlington. Countryside also offers an introduction to
farmers’ market management workshop.
23. Is there economic development support for businesses that provide regional distribution of local food, such as a
Food Hub​?
90
A basic concept of economic development is that “[t]he base of all economic development is investment.”
Development support exists in many forms for any qualifying business, but no economic development investment
funds are set aside specifically to support the regional distribution of local food are known.
Hattie’s
Food Hub (Hattie's) was partially funded
by private donations and sits on land donated by the City
91 92 ​
93
of Akron.
Summit County has revolving loan funds ​ available for any qualifying business including food hubs and
other businesses supporting regional distribution of local food.
24. Does the locality provide tax incentives, leasing agreements, or other incentives to support development of
businesses using locally produced food​?
There is nothing specific to supporting the development of business using locally produced food.
25. Does the locality support, or are there programs for, mobile farm stands and food carts​?
The City of Akron Municipal Code does not contain any ordinances specific to mobile farm stands, but does
have rules for “Mobile Retail Food Establishments,” defined as “a retail food establishment that is operated from a
movable vehicle or other portable structure, and that routinely changes location.” 94 Although it was created in 2014 to
85
​Ohio Rev. Code § 901:3-6-01 ​http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/901:3-6-01
​DeShazior, Samuel. City of Akron Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. 3 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
87
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
88
Rheinberger, Zac. Hattie’s Food Hub. 26 Oct. 2016. P
​ ersonal Interview, with follow up.
89
Findings and next step recommendations had been publically available at the following, now broken, link.
lookaside.fbsbx.com/file /Ted%20Spitzer%20response%20for%20Akron%20Public%20Market.pdf
90
​“General Economic Development Strategies.” C
​ ornell University, College of Agriculture, Art, and Planning. N.p., n.d. Web.
www.mi ldredwarner.org/econdev/strategies
91
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
92
Rheinberger, Zac. Hattie’s Food Hub. 26 Oct. 2016. P
​ ersonal Interview, with follow up.
93
​Walters, Elizabeth. Summit County Council. 14 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
94
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 111.369. h
​ ttps://www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT
11BURE_ART10ADOBO_ART21BMOREFO
86
16
allow and regulate food trucks operating on public property,95 96 it is not unreasonable to believe that mobile farm
stands could fall under the jurisdiction of this law as well.
The City places numerous restrictions on where owner/operators can conduct business: they must be a
certain distance away from a school, residence, bus stop, brick and mortar food service, mailbox, etc. A permit to
operate is required unless participating in a “city-sanctioned special event or community event.” For vendors wishing
to set up within the boundaries of the Akron Biomedical Corridor, a “506-acre area...encompasses[ing] much of the
City’s central business district,”97 a Permit to Operate within the Biomedical Corridor must be obtained for a fee of
$1,750. With that permit, the City will assign a permanent spot in one of two street locations.
The restriction that may most inhibit someone from operating a mobile farm stand or food cart under this
ordinance is that which does not allow operation on a sidewalk. ​111.369.1(A)(1)​ It would seem, though, that with the
language allowing for vendors to seek specific permission from any of the more general restrictions would not be a
problem in Akron, where it has been stated that food security is a priority and access to healthy food is needed in
many neighborhoods.
According to the Director of Food Operations at Hattie’s Food Hub, his research revealed that the majority of
mobile farm stand businesses are not successful even with sufficient funding. He pointed to an example from
Cleveland in which $20,000 was raised for start-up capital but problems with vehicle
maintenance and storage and
98
the departure of a dedicated worker caused the business to fold in the first year.
UV 2.a.43 Does the locality have a clear policy of encouraging (or giving preference to) event caterers or vendors that
will use locally sourced food​? (​and)
UV 2.a.45 Is there a local government purchasing preference of local food when available​?
No ordinances were found in the Akron Municipal Code or the Codified Ordinances of Summit County. 99
UV 2.a.56 Does the locality have a policy or program to support the identification and development of local heritage
seeds, crops, foods, and heritage food products​?
While not specifically for local heritage seeds, crops, foods, and heritage food products, OSU Summit
Extension does “provide technical support for all farmers
interested in developing an agricultural enterprise, whether
100
that’s around heritage seeds or non heritage seeds.”
1.5. Making Local Food Accessible to Low-Income Populations
26. Does the locality support the purchase/use of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to provide low-income
access to farmers' markets​?
There are no existing governmental policies requiring farmers’ market operators to accept EBT cards, but
there is both verbal and tangible support for incentives to make EBT acceptance easier for market organizers. Being
able to accept EBT cards includes successfully applying for a free FNS number, acquiring access to outdoor Wi-Fi, and
purchasing an EBT processing machine. While the possibility for equipment to be donated or paid for with a grant
from the ​Farmers’ Market Coalition​ exists, farmers’ markets are sometimes operated by volunteers, who may have
less time and fewer resources
available on their own than if they have institutional support, making these barriers
101
more difficult to overcome.
Countryside has been leading efforts to make EBT cards more widely accepted at Summit County farmers’
markets. It accepts EBT transactions at all three of its markets (Howe Meadow, Highland Square, and the Winter
Market at Old Trail School). It also has a goal that the mini markets it gives start-up assistance to accept EBT cards
themselves. So far, these mini markets include the EANDC Night Market on Arlington and the Summit Lake
Neighborhood Farmers’ market.
95
​Warsmith, Stephanie. “Akron City Council Approves Food Truck Legislation.” ​Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com 19 May 2014.
Web. ​www.ohio.com/news/local/akron-city-council-approves-food-truck-legislation-1.489232
96
​DeShazior, Samuel. City of Akron Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. 3 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
97
​“Akron Biomedical Corridor.” ​City of Akron. N.p., n.d. Web. w
​ ww.akronohio.gov/cms/biomedical_corridor/index.html
98
Rheinberger, Zac. Hattie’s Food Hub. 26 Oct. 2016. P
​ ersonal Interview, with follow up.
99
My attempts to connect with the appropriate city and county departments to learn more were unsuccessful.
100
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
101
​Molnar, Erin. Countryside Conservancy. 13 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview.
17
27. Does the locality support102
the policy of $1 for every EBT dollar, when the EBT is used at grocery stores or market
venues for fresh, local food​?
The ability to offer a dollar-to-dollar match requires access to adequate funds so that farmers’ market
operators can pay their vendors for the matched dollars. Carrot Cash, managed by Countryside, is currently the only
such nutrition incentive program in Summit County. Carrot Cash can be used to purchase both fresh and frozen fruits
and vegetables, as well as food-producing plants. Countryside is available to assist other farmers’
markets in offering
103 104
the incentive to SNAP customers, as it did for EANDC’s Night Market on Arlington in Akron.
More broadly, SFC’s Director is collaborating with a statewide network of nutrition incentive practitioners
on ways to make the implementation of such programs easier. With this effort, all future nutrition incentive programs
in Ohio will be called “Produce Perks,” allowing for broader scale marketing and promotional opportunities.105
28. Do farmers' markets and/or grocery stores accommodate WIC coupons, Senior Nutrition coupons, or EBT
machines​?
To date, Countryside’s markets are the only locations throughout Summit County where either WIC or
Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program are accepted. Countryside’s Farmers’ Market Manager expressed hope
that with continued funding, Summit County Public Health (SCPH) and Mature Services, Inc. will be able to continue
expanding these programs.
As expected with any new or growing endeavor, challenges have arisen, showing where snags in the system
need to be fixed. Those presented here do not seem insurmountable. For example, there has been some confusion
over these multiple currencies because each program has its own list of specific products eligible for purchase.106 This
might be easily mitigated with signage at vendor booths and/or lists as guides for customers.
An ongoing issue for the Senior Nutrition program has been the ability to provide customers with
transportation to the markets. However, Countryside’s Director of Markets trusts that “…there are opportunities to
work with senior advocate organizations that have transportation to get seniors to markets.”107
Some vendors at the Countryside farmers’ markets have accepted Senior Nutrition vouchers since 2009, but
the program realized a growth of the acceptance rate in 2016 after its administrator, ​Mature Services, Inc.​, attended
markets to sign up eligible vendors on the spot. Previously, the onus had been on vendors to seek out participation in
the program. Not only did this provide a convenience for vendors, but it also helped alleviate some confusion about
which vendors accepted vouchers because more starting doing so.108 109
SCPH recently introduced its ​Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program​ for WIC customers in 2016, inviting
Countryside to be its farmers’ market partner. The City of Akron distributes information at its community centers
about where WIC vouchers are accepted110 but it is unknown at this time if the 2016 lists included farmers’ market
information.
UV 4.a.69 Are farmer's markets geographically accessible by low income neighborhoods, in rural as well as urban
areas​?
Using the USDA’s ​Food Desert Locator​, which in itself contains a measure of low income, it was found that
of the 22 food deserts in Summit County (18 in Akron, 3 in Barberton, 1 in Twinsburg), six have farmers' markets at
addresses inside their borders, though several are on borders, instead than being more centrally located. One food
desert tracts has a farmers’ markets located approximately 900 feet from its border, and another has a farmers'
markets located less than a mile from its borders. (See Appendix B.)
Countryside’s markets are located in a high income rural area and a low income urban area. The urban
location in Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood exists to serve a population that may not have transportation to
the rural market at Howe Meadow in Cuyahoga Falls. Countryside’s mini-market program is designed to help expand
102
This question originally asked if $2 or $3 for every EBT dollar was supported. As it was copied directly from the University of
Virginia audit tool, it is assumed to be relevant to programs in Virginia. Beth Knorr who founded the Summit County Carrot Cash
program is not aware of any $2 or $3 nutrition incentive matching program in Ohio.
103
​Julien, Kyle. East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
104
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
105
​Summit Food Coalition. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, including any follow up.
106
Molnar, Erin. Countryside Conservancy. 13 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview.
107
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, including any follow up.
108
Molnar, Erin. Countryside Conservancy. 13 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview.
109
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, including any follow up.
110
​DeShazior, Samuel. City of Akron Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. 3 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
18
markets into low income
areas, although it attracts interested would-be market managers from all income levels in
111
primarily urban areas.
The EANDC mini market that Countryside helped establish is located on Akron’s east side. The
organization’s Director of Urban Planning described the location as not only “convenient” for its proximity to their
office, but “a good spot for increasing food access” because
it’s approximately halfway between ALDI on Arlington
112
Street and Dave’s Supermarket on Exchange Street.
Summit County Council recognizes that access can be a problem depending on where one lives in the county.
Access to rural markets are especially
limited for those without their own transportation because the METRO system
113
is not strong in those communities. ​ For a detailed discussion about what constitutes “rural” areas in Summit
County. (See Section 2.4.)
1.6. Emergency Preparedness and Food Provisions
29. Does the locality have an emergency preparedness plan that includes contingency plans for short-term
interruptions of food deliveries​?
The ​Summit County Emergency Management​ (Summit Emergency) ​is the entity responsible for responding
to countywide emergencies and emergencies in any of the county’s 31 political subdivisions when their own resources
have been exhausted. The agency maintains a regularly reviewed and updated ​Emergency Operations Plan​. This plan
is coordinated through the agency’s ​Emergency Operations Center​, 114
which is tasked with providing operational,
logistical, and administrative support in the event of an emergency.
Furthermore, t​he ​Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank​’s (Foodbank) maintains an emergency management
plan. It had previously consisted of several department-based standard operating procedures. Combined with the fact
that it was not regularly maintained, the Foodbank deemed the plan substandard and created a new Emergency
Management and Disaster Relief Plan.115 The new plan will be compatible with the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) model preferrfed by ​Feeding America​, a national network of 200 member food banks.
Community-wide natural disasters also necessitate a Business Continuity Plan outlining the critical functions and
essential personnel necessary to each department’s primary functions. Steps toward resuming operations are then
prioritized. The new plan will:
●
●
●
●
Expand Food & Facility Safety Manager role to include a focus on emergency preparedness and disaster
relief.
Create an organizational-wide holistic plan from the individual department’s plans.
Address a more comprehensive scope of emergency management and preparedness regarding 1) in-house
emergencies and 2) community-wide emergencies such as natural disasters.
Enable for plan maintenance by requiring reviews, performing drills and practices, and allowing for
adjustments.116(For example, the Foodbank participated in the ​Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills​ on October
20th, 2016.)
30. Does the locality support the provision of a central directory of all emergency food providers​?
Emergency preparedness and food provisions can be viewed in two ways: 1) daily individual or family
emergency needs, and 2) community emergency needs. The type of directory referred to in this question is focused on
daily individual or family emergency needs.
The Foodbank offers several methods for people in need of food to be directed or referred. It hosts a
searchable web-based directory called Need Food, listing its 500 network partners. 117 Users can search by zip code
proximity and view the results either alphabetically or on a map. Users can also choose whether to “Get a Meal” or
“Get Groceries to Take Home.” It prints and distributes quarter cards and flyers with tear-off tabs listing both a toll
free phone number and the searchable web-based directory, along with household income qualifications. It does not
provide a full printed directory because of a constant fluctuation in network provider details. It also coordinates with
2-1-1 Summit County​ (2-1-1) for emergency food referrals.
111
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​Julien, Kyle. East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
113
​Walters, Elizabeth. Summit County Council. 14 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
114
​DeRose, Valerie, and Andrew Kluge. Summit County Emergency Management Agency, Division of Public Safety. 3 Nov. 2016.
Personal Interview, with follow up.
115
At the time of the interview for this inventory, the plan was expected to be finished between the end of 2016 and mid-2017.
116
​Mitchell, Mark. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 24 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
117
The Foodbank’s network also includes localities outside Summit County.
112
19
31. Does the locality support coordination and cooperation among emergency food providers​?
There is considerable coordination and cooperation between emergency food providers in Summit County
on both the daily emergency needs level and the community emergency needs level.
The Foodbank encourages collaboration among its network of emergency food providers of pantries and hot
meal sites through training and networking sessions. It also compares and evaluates the service schedules of new and
existing programs in an effort to minimize unnecessary duplication of the days and times that food is provided. 118
The FEMA model the Foodbank based its new plan on promotes agency collaboration in order to increase
efficiency, reduce duplication of services, and create a more coordinated response. As part of the Foodbank’s new
emergency plan, an Emergency Preparedness Committee was created and includes Foodbank staff, and professionals
from Summit Emergency, Red Cross, and the Ohio Military Reserve. The Foodbank also participates via web in
exercises with organizations from around the country. It disseminates emergency management information to its
network organizations through periodic roundtable meetings. It recently held a roundtable for the Great ShakeOut
Earthquake Drills. Lastly, it intends to create a series of such events structured so that participants can advance
through a hierarchy of progressively detailed trainings each year.
Partner coordination is a priority for Summit Emergency’s planning purposes to efficiently employ the
resources available in Summit County and minimize redundancies. The agency’s partners range from SCPH, ensuring
that food is safe to eat after energy disruptions, to Acme Fresh Market, accounting the supply and demand of certain
foods. Other partners include the Foodbank, SCPH, The Salvation Army, Red Cross, FirstEnergy, and first
responders. Summit Emergency’s Shelter and Mass Care Subcommittee plans for the shelter, feeding, and basic first
aid needs that would be required. Members meet regularly to plan and conduct exercises and drills, periodically
focusing on specific populations. For example, an October 2016 drill was held for the mass care of the Behavior
Health and Functional needs population (those with mental illnesses, physical disabilities, or language barriers.)119
32. Does the locality employ strategies for increasing food donations for emergency provisions and food banks​?
The Foodbank’s national affiliate, Feeding America has a long history of coordinating food resources that
support emergency response initiatives. As a member of Feeding America, the Foodbank has been called upon in the
past to participate in disaster response efforts.
Increasing food donations, as well as funds, after emergencies affecting Foodbank operations are prioritized
strategies of the Business Continuity Plan, which includes the steps to take and associated responsible teams. It will
also outline how the Foodbank works with its partner agencies, and describes its supportive role during times that
Summit Emergency is leading disaster recovery efforts. In such situations, the Foodbank may also provide its own
independent support.
33. Does the locality support a method, structure, or storage facility for donations of fresh foods to emergency
providers​?
At 4,000 square feet each, Foodbank’s warehouse
cooler and freezer are adequately sized to accommodate
120
the storage of donated food, which is its daily work. ​ In the case of a community emergency, SCPH would distribute
food safety information
to people who experienced power outages and help make sure that food is safe to eat after a
121
power outage.
Summit Emergency’s role would be to determine and prioritize needs and coordinate the community’s
resources to meet those needs. This includes warehouses, refrigeration trucks, generators, and sending canteens into
neighborhoods to distribute food and water. If needs cannot be met from within the county through its partnerships,
Summit Emergency would then coordinate with nearby counties. If those counties cannot fulfill mutual aid needs, the
State of Ohio Emergency Management would become involved.
118
​Oldham, Jill. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 6 Oct 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​DeRose, Valerie, and Andrew Kluge. Summit County Emergency Management Agency, Division of Public Safety. 3 Nov. 2016.
Personal Interview, with follow up.
120
​Mitchell, Mark. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 24 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
121
​DeRose, Valerie, and Andrew Kluge. Summit County Emergency Management Agency, Division of Public Safety. 3 Nov. 2016.
Personal Interview, with follow up.
119
20
1.7. Diverting and Recycling Food Waste
34. Does the locality support a policy or program to divert a given percentage of bio-waste away from landfills​?
ReWorks’ Organic Committee seeks to increase landfill diversion of food waste from three to 25 percent and
yard waste from 72 to 85 percent by 2026. Specific actions toward this overarching goal include:
Short Term - 1-2 years
● Create a network of community gardeners, businesses, and organizations to support composting.
● Establish a composting program to support the network of businesses, organizations and
community gardeners.
● Advocate with public officials and generators to reduce barriers to organics diversions.
Medium Term - 3-5 years
● Restructure Community Recycling. Access grant (CRAG) funds away from access and focus them on
supporting organics diversion.
● Establish a regional facility to divert food waste by providing collaborative leadership and financial
assistance.
● Advocate with public officials and generators to reduce barriers to organics diversion.
Long Term - 5+ years
● Build a regional facility in Summit County to accept residential and commercial food waste (Note:
This goal will only be applicable if the regional organics diversion facility is not created.)
● Advocate with public officials and generators to reduce barriers to organics diversion.
Ongoing
● Educate the public on the importance of organics diversion.
Summit SWCD’s primary involvement in the diversion of agricultural biowaste is reactive when it receives
reports that manure may be being dumped into waterways. The agency also proactively
encourages diversions from
122
landfills by providing landowners and producers with a list of local garden centers ​ permitted by the Ohio EPA to
pick up and process waste. Due to transportation costs and tipping fees, the more economically viable option for
landowners and producers
is usually to contract with a waste management facility to place the waste into a
123
landfill-bound dumpster.
At the state level, the Ohio EPA supports the diversion of organic wastes from landfills,
but does not have a
124
specific percentage goal. Instead, the agency held annual food scrap stakeholder meetings ​ from 2007 to 2012 in
order to promote collaboration and to identify future opportunities and today continues to support and collaborate
with organizations that share food waste reduction goals.
35. Does the locality support a compost pick-up program that processes food waste for recycling? Or does the locality
provide another method of recycling/disposing of non-edible food waste​?
ReWorks managed a free Commercial Food Scrap Composting Program from 2010 until July 2015 for
businesses and schools. Although popular and successful, it was “...terminated due
to contractor’s inability to find
125
licensed facilities to consistently accept material collected through this program.” ​ The policy behind that program
still exists and is being moved forward by ReWorks’ Organics Committee of “local representatives from government,
126
127
public health, business, and master gardeners” ​ to seek diversion alternatives. ​ (See Question 34.)
36. Does the locality allow for storage and pick-up of compostable items at commercial establishments​?
Ohio EPA regulations allow waste producers to store any type of waste generated during their activities.
Storage may become a concern if the waste is stored in a manner that constitutes a nuisance. In such cases, local
122
A couple examples of permitted garden centers are Kurtz Brother and Sagamore Soils. SSWCD states that the entire list may be
online but because it includes all regulated industrial activity, identifying permitted garden centers would be a grueling process.
123
​Prunty, Brian. Summit Soil & Water Conservation District Interview. 20 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
124
​Arroyo-Rodriguez, Angel. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Compliance Assistance & Pollution Prevention. 12 Oct.
2016. Email Interview, with follow up.
125
​ReWorks. ​Year in Review 2015. Akron, OH: ReWorks. p. 2. Web. ​www.summitreworks.com/display/files/ReWorks2015YearInR
eview.pdf
126
​ReWorks. ​Year in Review 2015. Akron, OH: ReWorks. p. 2. Web. w
​ ww.summitreworks.com/display/files/ReWorks2015YearIn R
eview.pdf
127
​Kress, Marci, and Carol Giulitto. Reworks Interview. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
21
128 ​
nuisance ordinances and laws apply. Under normal practices, it is not an issue.
nuisance complaint, SCPH responds. (See Question 63.)
If there is an environmental
While managing its former Commercial Food Scrap Composting Program, ReWorks contracted with ​Rosby
Resource129
Recycling Inc.​ to pick up food scraps from participating businesses and schools and turned into sellable
130
compost. ​ Eventually, Rosby began transporting the food waste to ​Barnes Nursery Inc.​ in Huron County.
37. Does the locality support commercial composting or anaerobic digester facilities for food waste recycling​?
Anaerobic digester facilities in the area include Akron-based ​KB Bio Energy​, which extracts biosolids from
the city’s wastewater collections,​ ​and ​Quasar Energy Group​, a food scrap composter located in Cleveland. In an effort
to learn more about the different methods to receive feedstock, ReWorks’ Organic Committee toured these facilities.
ReWorks’ Executive Director remarked of these tours, that “anaerobic digesters are definitely a good way to manage
food waste.”131 Ohio EPA’s ​composting regulations​ have been revised over the years to make it easier for commercial
composting facilities to obtain the necessary permits and licenses for food scrap composting. The regulations were
revised with a mind toward both common sense
and industry growth and the permitting process for anaerobic
132
digestion facilities has also been streamlined.
38. Does zoning code allow community gardens to bring food waste from off-site sources for composting​?
Summit County is not involved in composting
ordinances beyond what is permitted by the state and each of
133 ​
the county’s 31 communities
has
its
own
zoning
code.
Akron’s regulations pertaining to composting do not mention
134
off-site sources.
The Ohio EPA recognizes four types of classifications for composting facilities that are larger than 300
square feet. Agricultural waste, animal waste,135
and food scraps make up Class II. In 2014, there were only twelve Class
II facilities in ten counties open to the public. ​ Therefore, to encourage and expand the smaller scale operations
often found in community gardens, universities, and correctional facilities,
Ohio EPA created a licensing and
136
registration exemption for facilities sized 300 square feet and less. ​ The exemption allows for composting of “yard
wastes, animal wastes, food scraps, bulking agents and additives...from any source...used in any location.” 137
39. Does the locality support educational programs encouraging backyard composting of food wastes​?
Composting education can be found throughout Summit County. OSU Summit Extension’s ​Master Gardener
program​ will give composting presentations when requested. Summit SWCD held a compost and compost tea
workshop for 37 people at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium in March 2016 and gave away 25 free compost tea-making
kits. 138 Let’s Grow Akron holds composting workshops, sometimes in conjunction with other community events, like
the Akron Porch Rokr Festival.139 ​ReWorks publishes “​Backyard Composting: It’s Nature’s Way​
” on its website,
140
thoroughly discussing the benefits, methods, and the do’s and don’ts of backyard composting. ​ ​It ​does not offer
workshops, but stated it would be open to partnering with composting educators in some way.141
The Ohio EPA offers financial support to organizations for composting education and
has partnered with
142
local organizations to assist with planning their truckload sales of backyard composting bins. ​ ​Environmental
Education Mini Grants​ between $500 and 5,000 are available for programs aimed at “reducing nutrient loadings to
128
​Arroyo-Rodriguez, Angel. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Compliance Assistance & Pollution Prevention. 12
Oct. 2016. Email Interview, with follow up.
129
​“Summit ReWorks Offering Compost.” W
​ estside Leader, 16 Apr. 2015. Web. ​www.akron.com/pages.asp?aID=2630
130
​Kress, Marci, and Carol Giulitto. Reworks Interview. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
131
Kress, Marci, and Carol Giulitto. Reworks Interview. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, including any subsequent email and
telephone follow up questions.
132
​Arroyo-Rodriguez, Angel. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Compliance Assistance & Pollution Prevention. 12 Oct.
2016. Email Interview, with follow up.
133
​Krauss, Connie. Summit County Dept. of Community & Economic Development. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
134
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 94.34. ​www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9GEPR _C
H94HESASA_ART2NU_94.34COPI
135
​“Ohio Food Composting Programs.” Web. ​epa.ohio.gov/portals/34/document/general/iw_food_compost_map.pdf
136
​Kress, Marci, and Carol Giulitto. Reworks Interview. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
137
​Ohio Admin. Code § ​3745-560-001 (E)(1). ​http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/3745-560
138
​“Summit Soil and Water Conservation District Workshop.” C
​ ity of Cuyahoga Falls. N.p., 9 Mar. 2016. Web. w
​ ww.cityofcf.com/
news/summit-soil-and-water-conservation-district-workshop
139
​“Let’s Grow Akron Porch Rokr Workshops!” ​Facebook. N.p., 20 Aug. 2016. Web. ​www.facebook.com/events/608514455997583
140
​ReWorks. “Backyard Composting. It’s Nature's Way.” Web. ​www.summitreworks.com/display/files/BackyardCompostGuide.pdf
141
​Kress, Marci, and Carol Giulitto. Reworks Interview. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, including any subsequent email and
telephone follow up questions.
142
​Arroyo-Rodriguez, Angel. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Compliance Assistance & Pollution Prevention. 12 Oct.
2016. Email Interview, with follow up.
22
Ohio’s streams and lakes, to improve water quality and prevent Harmful
Algal Blooms (HABs).
144
programs for composting of food waste, yard waste, and manure.
143 ​
” This would include
40. Does the locality support programs to encourage synergies for byproduct use among food producers and
processors​?
Let’s Grow Akron’s Community Composting Cooperative is a collaboration with Hattie’s Gardens that
collects food waste from nine area businesses for decomposition in approximately 16 community gardens. A further
collaboration with ReWorks and Professor Shannon Donnelly145 at University of Akron’s Department of Geosciences,
will enable the Cooperative’s expansion. Working with mapping tools, students will identify sources of food waste
within a certain proximity to community gardens. Beginning with coffee shops, garden leaders will be empowered
with educational materials developed by students, and support from Let’s Grow Akron to discuss partnership
possibilities and the logistics of diverting the establishments’ food waste to the gardens. Executive Director Lisa Nunn
indicates that City Councilman Rich Swirsky, Ward 1, Green/Sustainability Committee is interested in reviewing
Ohio’s composting policies and model zoning code​ in order to enhance local efforts.
41. Does the locality have a purchasing policy requiring that all disposable serviceware is compostable?
No ordinances were found in either the Akron Municipal Code or the Codified Ordinances of Summit
County.146 ReWorks’ support for any such policy would be contingent upon whether the materials were actually being
diverted from landfills. The agency cautions that an industrial facility must be willing and able to process the products
for such a policy to be worthwhile. The material must be certified ASTM 6400 or 6868, meaning that industrial
composting breakdown occurs in fewer than 90 days. Some facilities do not wait 90 days to turn their compost, so the
product is incompatible with their operations. Another consideration to make such a policy successful is education
and awareness. If consumers of the product do not dispose of it correctly, it may not make it to the composting
facility.
42. Does the locality provide economic or tax incentives for establishment of facilities for processing/recycling food
waste (composting, anaerobic digestion, etc)​?
Businesses and nonprofits seeking funds for composting equipment can partner with ReWorks to apply for
Market Development Grants​ offered by the Ohio EPA, which requires a commitment of 100 percent match. ReWorks
would act as the applicant and the pass-through agency for documenting and receiving funds. Several years ago, such
a sponsorship successfully funded a Class II project by Sagamore Soils. ReWorks’ Executive Director expressed an
interest in working with entities interested in applying for funds to purchase ​Big Hanna​TM​ equipment.147
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) may also be available to new businesses that are creating jobs in the City of
Akron.148 What TIF does is instead of increasing property taxes when a lot is improved, as would normally be the case,
the property tax billed to the new land owner is frozen. The tax revenue that otherwise would have been generated is
freed up by the TIF to use toward the debt incurred for any infrastructure development required to support the new
development, such as laying pipes and building curbs.
43. Does the locality's board or council include a solid waste management or planning professional​?
Summit Council Member,
Jeff Wilhite, was the founding Executive Director of the Summit/Akron Solid
149
Waste Management Authority, ​ nka ReWorks.
44. Does the locality support a program to redistribute viable uneaten food from commercial establishments to
hungry, malnourished, or low-income populations​? (​and)
UV 3.c.64 Is there a policy, program or opportunity for gleaning from local farms and restaurants​?
Gleaning is “the act of collecting excess fresh foods from farms, gardens, farmers' markets, or any other
source in order to provide it to those in need…”150 In 2015, the Foodbank distributed 10.5 million pounds of excess
143
​“Ohio Environmental Education Fund State Fiscal Year 2017 Agenda.” p. 2. Web. e​ pa.ohio.gov/Portals/42/documents/SFY2017A
genda.pdf
144
​Arroyo-Rodriguez, Angel. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Compliance Assistance & Pollution Prevention. 12
Oct. 2016. Email Interview, with follow up.
145
Professor Donnelly has done other GIS mapping projects related to local food production networks. w
​ ww.uakron.edu/geology/fa
culty-staff/bio-detail.dot?u=sd51
146
My attempts to connect with the appropriate city and county departments to learn more were unsuccessful.
147
Kress, Marci, and Carol Giulitto. Reworks Interview. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, including any subsequent email and
telephone follow up questions.
148
​DeShazior, Samuel. City of Akron Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. 3 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
149
​“Jeff Wilhite.” ​Summit County. N.p., n.d. Web. c​ ouncil.summitoh.net/index.php/council-members/jeff-wilhite
150
​“Recovery/Donations.” ​USDA Office of the Chief Economist. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste/resources/donations
.htm
23
food in Summit County, 2.8 million pounds of which was fresh produce. This surplus came from retailers, food
manufacturers, ​Ohio Agricultural Clearance Program​ (OACP), and other sources. The Foodbank reports that
151
donations from retail grocery stores have increased, making up about 75 weekly donation stops at the warehouse.
The Foodbank’s Direct Distribution program is a collaboration with partner agencies, community host
organizations, and OACP. Through the program, approximately 12,000 to 15,000 pounds of food per month (the
majority of which is fresh produce from 100 Ohio farmers, growers, and producers) is distributed for two hours at
partner locations in geographic areas of need in six of the Foodbank’s eight-county152
region. Information about the
quantity of food being gleaned strictly from Summit County farms is not available. ​ The Foodbank plans to expand
this program in 2017 through a partnership with ​Community Harvest of Stark County​
, which gleans from a number of
153
entities including restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals, and catering companies. ​ The expansion will be introduced
in Community Harvest’s home location of Stark County but could expand to Summit County in the future.
Much of ReWorks’ work is guided by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s ​Food Recovery Hierarchy​, a
tier-based system for prioritizing food waste prevention and diversion
management. Of the six tiers on this system,
154
the second is “Reduce Wasted Food By Feeding Hungry People.” ​ ReWorks offers its assistance in facilitating
relationships between potential donors and beneficiaries as a standard practice whenever speaking to organizations.
One example of a successful connection was between the Akron RubberDucks baseball team and Haven of Rest
Ministries.
All the teams’ leftover food from games, dinners, and other events were given to the homeless instead of a
155 156
landfill. ​ ​ Ohio EPA includes redistribution organizations in statewide conversations and planning, and actively
157
encourages and facilitates connections between donors and redistribution organizations at any opportunity.
UV 3.c.52 Is there a policy or program to encourage foraging from unused home fruit and other gardens​?
The Foodbank encourages gardeners in its service region to “​Plant a Row for the Hungry​.” This campaign
increases produce donation by increasing produce grown in backyards. So while this is not foraging in its true sense, it
has the potential of raising foraging awareness among participating gardeners, as it is “...rooted in the heartfelt
tradition of gardeners sharing a bountiful harvest with others.”158
ReWorks holds that such a program may be best159
managed by community gardening groups, but would
consider playing a role if there were a need it could fulfill. ​ Ohio EPA has not addressed this topic yet but
acknowledges its value as a way to manage waste.160
UV 3.c.63 Does the locality have a map for local food foraging​?
There are no maps for local food foraging.
UV 3.c.66 Does the locality offer a central site for composting home food and yard materials​?
Summit County does not have a central site for composting home food and yard materials. However, most
communities within Summit County have methods for collecting leaves to be turned into mulch either by their own
efforts or by commercial mulching businesses such as ​Earth 'N Wood Products, Inc.​, ​Sagamore Companies​
, and ​Kurtz
161
Bros., Inc.​ These commercial facilities also accept drop-offs of yard waste from households for a fee ​. The City of
Akron has a ​Leaf Removal Program​, but the details are unknown at this time.162
151
​Oldham, Jill. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 6 Oct 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​Oldham, Jill. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 6 Oct 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
153
​“Regular Food Donors.” ​Community Harvest of Stark County. N.p., n.d. Web. ​communityharveststark.org/food_donors_alt.php
154
​“Reduce Wasted Food By Feeding Hungry People.” O
​ hio EPA. N.p., n.d. Web.
www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/reduce
-wasted-food-feeding-hungry-people
155
​Kress, Marci, and Carol Giulitto. Reworks Interview. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
156
​“RubberDucks Helping Out Haven of Rest.” M
​ iLB.com. N.p., 22 July 2015. Web. ​www.milb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20150722
&content_id=138040680&vkey=pr_t402&fext=.jsp&sid=t402
157
​Arroyo-Rodriguez, Angel. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Compliance Assistance & Pollution Prevention. 12 Oct.
2016. Email Interview, with follow up.
158
​“Plant a Row for the Hungry.” ​Akron Canton Foodbank. N.p., n.d. Web.
http://www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/events/foodbank/plant-row-hungry
159
​Kress, Marci, and Carol Giulitto. Reworks Interview. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
160
​Arroyo-Rodriguez, Angel. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Compliance Assistance & Pollution Prevention. 12
Oct. 2016. Email Interview, with follow up.
161
​Prunty, Brian. Summit Soil & Water Conservation District Interview. 20 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
162
I attempted by email and phone on two and three occasions to contact Kevin Miller, of the City’s Street Cleaning Division to
inquire as to whether they compost, mulch, or both; who they contract with; whether the finished product is resold or given to
residents for no charge; and if they do not compost or mulch, what the barriers are to doing so. He did return my second phone call,
but we were not able to subsequently connect.
152
24
2. Zoning and Land Use
2.1. Urban Agriculture on Public Land
45. Does the locality clearly allow the use of public space or land for nonprofit community food gardens​?
The City of Akron hosts its own community garden 163
program called ​Akron Grows​, encouraging residents to
garden in gardens located in vacant lots throughout the city. ​ (See Question 50.)
For nonprofits wishing to start their own community gardens on vacant land, they may do so by going
through the proper permission process, which is relatively simple and inexpensive. The City requires would-be garden
leaders to speak with ​Abraham Wescott, Manager of the Department of Planning & Urban Development​ and sign a
Non Exclusive License Agreement, costing $50.164 Water is obviously necessary for a garden to grow, so the garden
leader may also want to apply for the use of a nearby hydrant through ​Kurt Mulhauser​, a Planner with the City of
Akron’s Comprehensive Planning Division (Akron Planning). These steps, as well as what to consider in terms of the
site, soil, neighbors, and additional resources, are available in an information packet that Let’s Grow Akron has
available. The City will also grant temporary residential zoning permits for community gardening in vacant lots in
non-Residential Districts.
46. Is the locality currently employing or considering a “joint use” agreement to open the use of school land for food
production (school gardens, community gardens, community urban farms)​?
Although there are not any “joint
use” agreements currently in use on Akron Public School land for food
165
production, the idea has been discussed. ​ Opportunities that may be worth
pursuing are in locations where the City
166
of Akron has swapped land with the schools in order to raze old buildings, ​ and at the Community
Learning Center
167
(elementary school buildings) where the property is jointly owned by the City of Akron and APS.
47. Does the code allow for and support protection of open space for community gardens​? ​(and)
UV 5.96 Does the locality have a policy to support and encourage land conservation, including easements, for food
production​?
The City of Akron’s Zoning Code sets land aside for ​flood plain districts​ in which the following uses are
permitted: farming; gardening; nursery; agricultural uses; public recreational uses; and conservation of natural
resources.168 None of these lands are currently being used for community gardens or agriculture.169 The City does
allow for community gardens but does not offer any means of land protection for nonprofit gardens beyond the one
year period covered in the Non Exclusive License Agreement that is required for the use of city land. Nor is the
Agreement transferable upon the Licensee’s death.
Consequences to unprotected gardening sites can be significant. The organization must find new suitable
space to use and move all the gardens’ supporting infrastructure and tools, including any raised beds, fencing, sheds,
compost bins, and rain barrels. In urban settings, where soil is often compacted and in 170
need of nutrients and organic
matter, it can take years to build nutrient-rich soil so losing a space can be devastating. ​ In the 27 seasons that Let’s
Grow Akron has been gardening, it has lost several gardens to other land uses. One was the first of Let’s Grow Akron’s
gardens located in the Summit Lake neighborhood where the organization’s founder began by planting potatoes with
her neighbors. By 2001, the garden had evolved into an income-producing activity for neighborhood children who
cultivated and sold produce. A few years ago, the organization was informed that the land was being sold, and the
garden moved. However, the original space went undeveloped because the new landowner died and transfer of the
land back to the City was delayed by the legal process. Although Let’s Grow Akron was given the go-ahead to re-till the
land, it came with a warning that the land may be sold yet again.
In Summit County, the Countryside Initiative, a partnership between Countryside and the Cuyahoga Valley
National Park (CVNP), allows farmers to lease park land for 60 years.
163
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​Nunn, Lisa. Let’s Grow Akron. 2 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
165
​Bravo, Patrick. Summit County Land Bank. 17 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
166
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
167
​Kepler, Laura. Akron Public Schools. 11 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
168
Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code ​§​ 153.235(A) ​www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT15LA
US_CH153ZOCO_ART4DIRE_153.235FLPLDILAUF
169
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
170
​Nunn, Lisa. Let’s Grow Akron. 2 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
164
25
48. Does the code allow for temporary and conditional use of abandoned lots for neighborhood gardens and/or urban
farms​?
A Non Exclusive License Agreement with the City is required for creating gardens in abandoned lots owned
by the City.171 A Conditional Use permit would be required when one wants to garden on land in Akron zoned for
industrial use.172 This permit is required because there may be soil contamination issues from previous industrial
activity. When Conditional Use permits are granted, gardening would be deemed as a useful venture for that time and
place, however,
permits are always temporary as the city may like to later use the land for its intended industrial
173
purposes.
49. Does the locality sponsor or work with an area community land trust or land bank in setting aside land for
community or nonprofit gardens, or gardens where low-income residents can grow produce for sale​?
The Summit County Land Bank (Land Bank) was established in 2012 for the purpose of”...supporting
neighborhood and community reinvestment and economic development efforts through the strategic acquisition,
reclamation, rehabilitation and reutilization of property in Summit County to revitalize neighborhoods and
communities, stabilize property
values, reduce blight, return property to productive use, and improve the quality of
174
life in our community.”
Despite its name, the Land Bank is less of a bank than it is a conduit for property and does not it acquire and
hold property. It also does not specifically set aside land for gardening. However, one of its ten Disposition Priorities
is “Urban garden/Urban agriculture/Green space” and it lists as its end-user priorities “neighborhood-based
nonprofits and/or nonprofit developers.”
If one specifically wishes to purchase a vacant lot, it can be requested from the Land Bank’s inventory. If the
SCLB does not currently own the property, and the property is certified tax delinquent, the SCLB may acquire the
property, via tax foreclosure,175
at a cost usually between $1,200 and $1,500. Vacant lots in this program typically sell
for between $200 and $400. ​ Known as the ​Side Lot and Vacant Lot Transfer Program​, this initiative’s eligible
properties include:
●
●
●
Residential zoned property (prioritized over commercial property)
Commercial zoned property (considered when redevelopment is for community benefit including, but not
limited to, community/urban garden, food forest)
Parcels that are physically contiguous to
adjacent owner-occupied residential property with at least a 50
176
percent common boundary on one side
Any Summit County political subdivision, school, qualified nonprofit, and individual is eligible to apply for
property.177 Upon receiving an application for property, the Land Bank notifies adjacent landowners who are current
on property taxes by mailing one courtesy letter --to multiple addresses if the owner’s address is different. 178 Adjacent,
residing property owners have first priority as an end-user but must also submit an application and fee within 30 days
of having been notified. Second priority is given to nonadjacent property owners who intend to redevelop the property
for a public purpose/community benefit (park, greenspace, community/urban garden, food forest,
etc.) and can
179
provide evidence of their financial ability and resources to successfully complete the project.
The reason the Land Bank does not typically acquire land is because waiting for an end-use purchaser would
be cost-prohibitive given the holding costs associated with property ownership, including special assessments and
maintenance. An exception to this practice is lots that are vacant as the result of demolitions. In this case, if an
end-user cannot be found for the property, because an adjacent neighbor cannot be located, there is no adjacent
neighbor, or the adjacent neighbor is in arrears
on property taxes, then the Land Bank holds and maintains the
180
property until an end-user can be found.
171
​Let’s Grow Akron. “Converting a Vacant Lot into a Community Garden in the City of Akron.” : n. pag. Print.
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 153.464.
https://www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT15LAUS_CH153ZOCO_ART14COUS_153.4
64USPECOUS
173
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
174
​“Our Mission.” ​Summit County Land Bank. N.p., n.d. Web. w
​ ww.summitlandbank.org/mission/
175
​Bravo, Patrick. Summit County Land Bank. 17 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
176
​Summit County Land Bank. “Policies & Procedures.” 19 May 2016: n. pag. Print.
177
​“Side Lot Program.” ​Summit County Land Bank. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.summitlandbank.org/side-lot-program/
178
​Bravo, Patrick. Summit County Land Bank. 17 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
179
​“Side Lot & Vacant Land Transfer Program Guidelines.” June 2016. Web. s​ tatic1.squarespace.com/static/563cae01e4b0de6b06b
1e023/t/57ae12cee3df28c4ce90fb34/1471025871261/Side+Lot+Program+Guidelines+FINAL+Rev+06.02.16.pdf
180
​Bravo, Patrick. Summit County Land Bank. 17 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
172
26
50. Does the locality minimize height restrictions on thru-way vegetation? If low vegetation is preferred, does the
locality give preference to edible landscaping​?
For the purpose of traffic visibility, the height of vegetation in three of the four Residence Districts
(Dwelling, Apartment House, and University), as well as in Limited Business Districts is limited to two feet six inches
above the curb. Vegetation in any front or side yard must be at least 20 feet from the street. If a building line is less
than 20 feet from the street, the setback for vegetation can be reduced to meet the building line up to ten feet.181
The City of Akron does not have a codified preference for edible landscaping, but the Zoning Division
182
Manager stated that “the city would probably not have a problem with it if it met the setback requirements.” ​ Hedge
rows are preferred for screening purposes in downtown parking lots, with only minimum height considerations,
rather than maximums. 183
UV 1.a.20 Does the locality promote or enable easy accessibility to community gardens, including offering them in
smaller pocket parks​?
Several factors can help determine easy accessibility: affordability, proximity to food deserts and bus stops,
access to water, and accommodations for people with disabilities. This section primarily discusses what is known
about the City’s Akron Grows gardens.
Are garden plots offered and maintained at a minimal cost to participants​? Yes. Residents are charged a
nominal plot fee ($20 for 10 x 20; $30 for 20 x 20) but receive most of that fee back in the form of a $20
garden center voucher. The City contracts with Let’s 184
Grow
Akron to maintain the gardens (composting,
185
tilling, grass cutting, fence repairs, and fall cleanup).
Are gardens located in food desert areas​? The city evaluates communities for food deserts in order to provide
neighborhood access to fresh fruits and vegetables to one in every 1,000 people.186 With the exception of two
gardens (nos. 1 & 6) located a quarter mile apart, the City’s ​garden map​ shows that the gardens are spread
out throughout the city. That neighborhood, though, is contained within a large area of several food deserts.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Cuyahoga Street and Uhler - Yes
Charles Street and Turner Street - No, but one block east of a food desert
Newton Street and Iroquois Avenue - Yes
Morgan Avenue, Inman Street, and Lovers Lane - No, but nine blocks west a food desert
Kenmore Avenue and Ira Avenue - Yes
187 188
Cuyahoga Street, south of Tallmadge Avenue - Yes
Are gardens in close proximity to bus stops​? Yes. All the Akron Grows gardens are located from within about
six blocks of a bus stop. Routes were not analyzed to determine frequency or other factors.
Is there reasonable access to a water source​? Varies. In Akron-sponsored gardens, the city provides a locked
spigot at the curb lawn or a hydrant and holds a water access meeting for all the site’s gardeners. Gardeners
are expected to supply their own equipment, including hoses and buckets. The fee is charged to cover the
cost of water.189
Community gardens sponsored by organizations other than the City must apply for the use of a hydrant.
Gardens must meet standards to be approved: the hydrant and garden must be on the same side of the
street, and hoses cannot cross the street or a driveway. Gardeners willing to carry water in buckets can still
apply for hydrant use, but must provide assurance that hoses will not cross streets or driveways. These
conditions can be restrictive to any neighborhood’s gardening project, but there is concern that the burden of
181
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 153.305 (D)(3).
https://www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT15LAUS_CH153ZOCO_ART6DEARDIRE_1
53.300GEPR
182
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
183
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § ​15 App. B h
​ ttps://www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TI
T15LAUS_APPASPDOPALO
184
​Nunn, Lisa. Let’s Grow Akron. 2 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
185
​“2016 Akron Grows Community Gardening Application.” 2016. Web. ​www.akronohio.gov/cms/2016_Akron_Grows_Application
_PDF/2016_akron_grows_application.pdf
186
​DeShazior, Samuel. City of Akron Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. 3 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
187
​“2016 Akron Grows Community Gardening Application.” 2016. Web. ​www.akronohio.gov/cms/2016_Akron_Grows_Application
_PDF/2016_akron_grows_application.pdf
188
​“Food Access Research Atlas.” Searchable Map. USDA Economic Research Service. N.p., 17 Nov. 2016. Web. w
​ ww.ers.usda.gov/d
ata-products/food-access-research-atlas/go-to-the-atlas/
189
​“2016 Akron Grows Community Gardening Application.” 2016. Web. ​www.akronohio.gov/cms/2016_Akron_Grows_Application
_PDF/2016_akron_grows_application.pdf
27
meeting these standards are applied more heavily in lower income neighborhoods. Other concerns in regard
to water hydrant use are:
●
●
●
●
Hoses re not to remain connected when not in use.
Access boxes can be removed without warning or recourse if misuse or abuse is suspected.
The gap between seasonal availability to hydrants and the longer growing season in high tunnels
The prohibitive cost of tapping into the water line.190
Are there reasonable accommodations at the garden for people with physical disabilities​? No. There are
many methods that community garden planners can improve accessibility for gardeners with physical
disabilities, depending on needs. This has not come up as an issue with Akron Grows’ gardens, therefore, no
accommodations have been made. Akron Planning’s Kurt Mulhauser stated that the City would be amenable
to reviewing what other cities are doing to accommodate requests.
Due to the limited information about pocket parks obtained during this research, it is unknown to the extent
that pocket parks are being used for community gardening. Malhauser does not know of any specifically being used
for community gardening. What is known is that pocket park projects have been sprouting up around Akron as the
Land Bank has acquired property for nonprofits to create pocket parks.191 With funding from the City of Akron and the
Akron Community Foundation through its Neighborhood Partnership Program,192 the ​West Hill Neighborhood
Organization​ built and dedicated the Oakdale Pocket Park in October 2015.193
UV 1.a.21 Are there land protections for farmers' markets​?
Just as there are no land protections for community gardens, there are also none for farmers’ markets, and
relocations are occasionally necessary. City of Akron Zoning Division (Akron Zoning) Manager Mike Antenucci
confirmed so stating that market organizers would “...be aware of any termination clause in the [development
agreement].” The temporary nature of outdoor farmers’ markets does make relocating logistically easier than moving
community gardens, and some moves may even work out better for the market. However, consequences often include
decreased sales, which may lead to vendors leaving a market.
2.2. Urban Agriculture on Private Land
51. Does the locality utilize zoning tools (such as overlays or subdistricts), or include language in the zoning code to
support commercial urban agriculture operations on small plots and residential lands​?
The City of Akron’s zoning code does not include language on overlays or subdistricts, but it does allow
commercial urban agriculture operations on small plots and residential lands. It also allows for gardening on
residential lots. If someone wants to use residential-zoned
land for a commercial urban agriculture operation, they
194 195
would need to apply for a conditional use permit.
52. Does the locality utilize zoning tools (such as overlays or subdistricts), or include language in the zoning code to
support non-commercial community gardens on private lands​?
The City of Akron’s zoning code does not include overlays or subdistricts. The City of Akron does not have
any codes specific to community gardening on private lands, but gardening is a permissible activity in residential
districts. Vegetable gardens are not recognized as a land use category, and fences and
beds are not land
196
improvements as these activities are too low of intensity land uses to be regulated.
53. Does the locality allow for on-site sale of products by urban agriculture operations​?
Urban agriculture operations located in areas zoned
for Retail Use within the City of Akron are permitted to
197 198
sell products on-site with no additional permit necessary. ​ ​ Anyone seeking to sell products in Residential Zones
190
​Nunn, Lisa. Let’s Grow Akron. 2 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​Bravo, Patrick. Summit County Land Bank. 17 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
192
​Ashby, Kristen. “City of Akron, Akron Community Foundation Announce Neighborhood Grants.” Fairlawn Patch 25 Aug. 2016.
Web. ​patch.com/ohio/fairlawn-bath/city-akron-akron-community-foundation-announce-neighborhood-grants-0
193
​West Hill Neighborhood Organization. “Dedication of Oakdale Pocket Park.” ​Facebook. N.p., 2 Oct. 2015. Web. w
​ ww.facebook.c
om/events/1640796112871836/?active_tab=discussion
194
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
195
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § ​1153.464. ​https://www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TI
T15LAUS_CH153ZOCO_ART14COUS_153.464USPECOUS
196
​Julien, Kyle. East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
197
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
198
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 153.280. ​www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT15LAUS
_CH153ZOCO_ART5ACUSREDI_153.280REBUDILAU3
191
28
199
must obtain a Conditional Use Permit. ​ The code states that “...conditional use may be any permitted use in §
153.240 through 153.295 which does not
for any reason comply with the use, height, or area district or development
200
regulations in which it is proposed…”
54. Do zoning codes pertaining to urban agriculture on private lands allow for construction of associated structures​?
Structures associated with urban agriculture include buildings such as sheds or barns, fencing, greenhouses,
and hoophouses (aka high tunnels).
The City of Akron
allows the construction of accessory structures as long as they meet size, height, and
201
setback requirements, ​ which, in Residential Districts (depending upon lot size) are: 202
height (up to 15 feet) and
setback requirements (three feet from the lot line and six feet from another structure). ​ Despite the code’s
requirements, both the City and County have been flexible in permitting certain projects. For example, Hattie’s
hoophouse required special permitting203
at its zoo location because, in order for it to be viable, it needed to be situated
counter to what is allowed in the code. ​ Akron’s Zoning Manager also relayed that the City recently approved an
oversized accessory structure for a hydroponics greenhouse on Romig Road. 204
Once an accessory buildings project has been approved and permitted by the City or other municipality, the
Summit County Department of Building Standards reviews the application for adherence to county and state building
codes. Pursuant to a letter from Summit County’s Chief Building Official, high tunnels are exempt from Ohio’s
building codes. (See Appendix C.) A universal waiver was issued after Let’s Grow Akron sought a building permit for a
high tunnel. While going through the approval process, the organization discovered it would have to hire a
mechanical engineer to create and submit blueprints at an estimated cost of $3,000-5,000. Due to the novelty of high
tunnels, the Building Department was unfamiliar with the structure and was concerned about public safety should a
strong wind blow it away. After additional meetings and learning more about high tunnels, the department issued a
letter explaining this concern and giving the exemption.
55. Does the locality support a program to facilitate soil testing on private lands for conversion to community
gardens? Or does the locality require raised beds for community gardens​?
Let’s Grow Akron recommends soil testing for anyone using its systems and resources. The organization will
assist with collecting soil samples, paying for testing or making referrals for analysis, interpreting the results, and
advising on soil amendments. The primary contamination concerns in Akron are lead and asbestos. If soils test highly
positive for these or other contaminants, Let’s Grow Akron may
recommend barriers or raised beds. The cost of soil
205
testing (including shipping and handling) is minimal at $23. ​ Raised beds are often recommended to urban
community gardens to minimize risk where high enough levels of dangerous soil contamination is found. There is no
requirement in the City of Akron for raised beds.
The Summit SWCD also has soil test kits available for purchase. The kits test for nutrients and other
elements that plants need. Inquiries about testing206for lead and other metals are referred out to labs that do that type
of testing. Selling approximately 70 kits per year, ​ the program is particularly well known among the gardening
community. In order to discuss the results and make soil amendment recommendations, the testing facility (Michigan
State University) sends Summit SWCD an electronic copy of its analysis.
On occasion, the ​Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA)​ offers funds through its Healthy Soils Mini-Grant
Program for free soil testing. The goal of doing so is to compare results of soils taken from organic farms to soils taken
from traditional
or synthetic style farming. Being a recent recipient of this grant, Summit SCWD was able to give away
207
50 free kits.
56. Are there funding streams for urban food production projects, such as Community Development Block Grants​?
There are not any Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs)
set aside specifically for urban food
208 209 ​
production projects, although such projects have received grant funding.
The ​Neighborhood Partnership
199
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 153.464. w
​ ww.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT15LAUS
_CH153ZOCO_ART14COUS
201
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
202
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code §​ 153.260(E) ​www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT15LA
US_CH153ZOCO_ART5ACUSREDI
203
Rheinberger, Zac. Hattie’s Food Hub. 26 Oct. 2016. P
​ ersonal Interview, with follow up.
204
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
205
​Nunn, Lisa. Let’s Grow Akron. 2 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
206
​Bravo, Patrick. Summit County Land Bank. 17 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
207
​Prunty, Brian. Summit Soil & Water Conservation District Interview. 20 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
208
​Julien, Kyle. East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
209
​DeShazior, Samuel. City of Akron Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. 3 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
200
29
Program (NPP)​ is a fund-matching program between the City of Akron and the Akron Community Foundation. One of
its focuses is on beautification projects. Block clubs, neighborhood-based organizations, businesses, and community
development corporations are eligible to apply for funds of up to
$7,500 for a variety of “...small, innovative
210
neighborhood-based211
projects...” including community gardens. ​ A number of community gardens have used NPP
grants to get started.
Summit County
also does not have any food-specific funds, but has used CDBGs to fund Hattie’s greenhouse
212
at Old Trail School and Crown Point Ecology Center projects in the past. Because CDBG
is a HUD program, all
213
funds must provide benefit to low and moderate income individuals or block groups. ​ Hattie’s automatically meets
eligibility requirements because the organization provides job training for people with disabilities, who themselves
are eligible for CDBGs. Crown Point was eligible214for providing education to people with low to moderate incomes. The
county also has a revolving loan fund available.
Thus far, the Land Bank has distributed “...nearly $2.2 million in grant funds to local communities to
support their efforts in rebuilding neighborhoods, ...acquire[d], and demolishe[d], its first properties as part of the
Neighborhood Initiative Program, was...awarded more than $6.4 million in additional
Neighborhood Initiative
215
Program funds, [and] expand[ed] its target area for those funds county-wide.” ​ Also while still in the programmatic
planning stages, it currently offers two funding programs that urban food production projects may qualify for. An
outline of both the Discretionary Grant Fund Program and the Community Development Matching Grant Fund
Program are in Table No. 1.
Summit County Land Bank Grant Programs, 2015, Table No. 1
Discretionary Grant Fund
Community Development
Matching Grant Fund
Available to:
Summit County political
subdivisions & qualified nonprofits
Summit County political subdivisions
& qualified nonprofits
Available for:
Projects that further Summit
County Land Bank’s mission
Projects that further Summit County
Land Bank’s mission
Funds available per application: $25,000
$50,000
Matching funds required?
50% match required
No match required
2.3. Home Gardening and Agricultural Use of Residential Land
57. Does the zoning code allow small-scale beekeeping on residential land​?
Akron Code allows small-scale beekeeping on residential land by way of the Animals section. The cost of the
permit application is minimal at $5 annually. If kept on property not owned by the beekeeper, written permission is
required. In addition to requiring that a beehives’ entrance cannot directly face adjoining properties, the Code
outlines the distance that parts of beehives are required to be from adjoining residential properties, public roads, or
public right-of-ways. These distances are: the back, no less than six feet; the sides, no less than 15 feet; and the front,
no less than 25 feet. Bees must have “adequate, accessible and usable supply of water,” within ten feet of the hive and
with backflow prevention technology.
Finally, hives must not create a nuisance, not disturb neighborhood tranquility,
216
and not pose a public hazard.
58. Does the zoning code have language that supports residential “farm” animals: chickens, goats, roosters, etc​.?
Besides honeybees, the most common urban farm animals are chickens, roosters, and goats. In addition to
these, common hobby farm animals also include rabbits and Dexter cattle.217 One interviewee was curious about the
210
​City of Akron, and Akron Community Foundation. “Neighborhood Partnership Program.” Web. w
​ ww.akronohio.gov/cms/2017NP
P manualPDF/2017_npp_manual.pdf
211
​“ACF, City of Akron Announce Grants for Local Neighborhoods.” A
​ kron Community Foundation. N.p., 1 July 2014. Web.
www.akroncf.org/contactus/newsevents/viewarticle/tabid/96/articleid/134/neighborhood-partnership-program-awards-grants.asp
x
212
Rheinberger, Zac. Hattie’s Food Hub. 26 Oct. 2016. P
​ ersonal Interview, with follow up.
213
​Krauss, Connie. Summit County Dept. of Community & Economic Development. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
214
​Krauss, Connie. Summit County Dept. of Community & Economic Development. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
215
​“Our Mission. History & Timeline.” ​Summit County Land Bank. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.summitlandbank.org/mission/
216
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 92.29. ​www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9GEPR_C
H92AN_92.29BE
217
​Frost, Jesse. “6 Farm Animals Perfect For City Living.” Hobby Farms. N.p., 18 Jan. 2016. Web.​www.hobbyfarms.com/6-farm-ani
mals-perfect-for-city-living/
30
possibility of allowing two other types of animals: alpaca so that natural fleece can be harvested and made into fibers;
and potbellied pigs as a meat animal.218
Akron Code address all these animals in the Animals section. Much of the language is restrictive, discussing
what is ​not​ allowed rather than what ​is​. As such, permitted activity can be deduced from what is not permitted.
Chicken and other poultry or fowl are permitted outside as long as the coop is more than 100 feet from any dwelling.
This requirement would prohibit many city residents from raising the most widely kept urban farm animal. How
strictly this restriction is enforced is unknown as there is speculation that people may have chickens anyway and the
only time the City becomes involved is if a complaint is made.219
Rabbits cannot be kept in any dwelling or within 25 feet of any dwelling but are permitted outside if kept
more than 25 feet from any dwelling. No horse, pony, cow, calf, goat or other hoofed animal can be kept in the city,
except when permitted on parcels of one acre or more. One spayed or neutered Pygmy Goat is permitted as a pet in a
single-family dwelling. Hogs are not permitted under any circumstance. No more220than one miniature potbellied pig
can be kept in a single-family dwelling as a pet and not for human consumption.
59. Does the zoning code allow for the construction of structures associated with backyard agriculture​?
The City of Akron allows the construction of accessory structures as long as they meet size, height and
setback requirements. (See question no. 54 for details.)
60. Does the zoning code minimize restrictions on lawn vegetation height​?
The Nuisance221Compliance Division of the Neighborhood Assistance Department takes complaints regarding
high grass and weeds. ​ Pursuant to the Q&A section of the associated website, the ordinance restricting grasses and
weeds to under eight inches in height is intended to “...reduce pollen, litter, and other offensive (and concealable)
materials...primarily for vacant lots, abandoned buildings or vacant houses…and does not222extend to plant growth
(other than grasses and weeds)” and “[t]here are no established standards for lawn care.”
However, the Akron Code that addresses the types of vegetation restricted from being grown over eight
inches may be troublesome for certain plants that Summit Beekeepers ​list​ as attractive to honeybees.223 Goldenrod,
dandelions, globe thistle, and milkweed are restricted, pursuant to the City’s Noxious weeds ordinance.224
61. Does the zoning code allow for the sale of homegrown produce on residential property​?
In the City of Akron,225this is considered to be a “home occupation,” which is defined by Akron Code as having
“...no sales on the premises.” ​ Instead, homegrown produce can be taken to a farmers’ market for sale, but may not
be sold on residential property. As an exception, Akron 226
Code also allows for anyone seeking to sell products in
residential districts to obtain a Conditional Use Permit, ​ stating that “...conditional use may be any permitted use in
§153.240 through 153.295 which does227
not for any reason comply with the use, height, or area district or development
regulations in which it is proposed…”
62. Does the zoning code allow for the sale of value-added products on residential property​?
228
Akron Code does not allow for sales on a residential
premises. ​ It specifically defines a “home occupation”
229 ​
stating that “[t]here are no sales on the premises.” However, Akron
Code also allows for those seeking to sell
230
products in residential districts to obtain a Conditional Use Permit, ​ stating that “...conditional use may be any
218
​Betterly, Gale. Summit County Farm Bureau. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​Nunn, Lisa. Let’s Grow Akron. 2 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
220
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 92.18. ​www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9GEPR_C
H92AN_92.18RECEAN
221
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
222
​“Residents. Nuisance Compliance Division.” ​City of Akron. N.p., 2016. Web. ​www.akronohio.gov/cms/site/cb2586e8f07d6380/i
ndex.html
223
​“Honeybee Plant List for Northeast.” S
​ ummit Beekeepers. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.summitbeekeepers.com/members-resources/pla
nts-for-bees
224
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code §​ ​94.29.​ ​https://www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9
GEPR_CH94HESASA_ART2NU_94.29NOWE
225
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 153.140. ​www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT15LAUS
_CH153ZOCO_ART1GEPR_153.140DE
226
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
227
​Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 153.464. w
​ ww.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT15LAUS
_CH153ZOCO_ART14COUS
228
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
229
Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 153.150. ​www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT15LAU
S_CH153ZOCO_ART1GEPR_153.140DE
230
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
219
31
permitted use in §§ 153.240 through 153.295 which does not for
any reason comply with the use, height, or area
231
district or development regulations in which it is proposed…” ​ In addition, Ohio Revised Code (O.R.C.) permits
home sales of “cottage foods,” defined as “...food items that are not
potentially hazardous foods, including bakery
232
products, jams, jellies, candy, fruit butter, and similar products.” ​ It is unknown if the question has been tested as to
whether these laws are in conflict under Ohio’s ​Municipal Home Rule​.
63. Does the locality have limited restrictions on yard waste (compostables) in residential areas​?
* ​The response below treats this question as if it also asked about kitchen waste.
The Ohio EPA defines yard waste as “vegetative waste resulting from the care and maintenance of
landscaped areas, lawns, and gardens. Yard waste includes leaves, grass clippings, brush, garden wastes, tree trunks,
holiday trees and prunings from trees or shrubs.”233
Akron Code addresses yard waste as compostable material and defines it as “...any outdoor pile of organic
waste matter permitted to decompose” and lists “...leaves, grass clippings, herbivore animal manure, garden plants
and vegetable trimmings, fruit and vegetable material, nitrogenous based chemicals or fertilizers, and water” as
permissible ingredients. Restricted ingredients are “...animal manure,234fruit or vegetable substances other than those
specified herein, cooked kitchen waste, grease, meat, bones or fats…” ​ The visibility and setback requirements may
be restrictive for some city residents whose small or irregular lots do not allow for composting bins to conform to the
code’s requirements. These include a height limit of five feet above ground, no visibility from the street or sidewalk, at
least ten feet from any building and 15 feet from an inhabited dwelling.
SCPH responds to nuisance complaints concerning backyard composting. Of the few complaints that SCPH’s
former Code Enforcement Officer (now Environmental Health Supervisor) was aware of during her tenure, the issue
was usually that people were not composting correctly. In such cases, SCPH provides education, including Ohio EPA
materials, on proper composting procedures. In severe cases involving rodents, if education does not remedy the
problem, the composting would no longer be permitted.
2.4. Traditional Agriculture and Rural Land Use
There is no rural land or traditional agriculture in Akron. Summit County is considered an urban county and
none of its nine townships or nine villages can be considered rural, according to Jason Segedy, Director of Planning
and Urban Development in the City of Akron.235 Therefore, in responding to questions concerning rural land, it would
be more useful to consider what municipalities in Summit County most ​resemble​ rural areas. Six township blocks in
Summit County fit--Bath, Copley, Franklin, Green, Norton, and Richfield. Since this inventory is limited in scope to
Summit County and Akron, specifics regarding those townships may or may not be discussed.
64. Are there regulations allowing flexibility for food producers to engage in minimal on-site processing​?
Minimal on-site processing can vary depending on the size and type of agriculture operation being referred
to. Processing in general refers to animal processing, harvest handling, and value-added processing.236 All the state’s
food licensing requirements are listed on the ​Ohio Department of Agriculture website​.
65. Does the zoning code allow for the sale of unprocessed farm products on agricultural lands​?
Whole, uncut fruits and vegetables are permitted to be sold without a license regardless of sale location.237
Ohio’s laws pertaining to food safety are addressed in ​3717-1-01​. Therein its definitions it states “[t]he term ‘approved
source’ is not applicable to fresh unprocessed fruits and vegetables with the exception of mushrooms and sprouts.”238
O.R.C. ​925.01 through 925.10​ addresses the permitted sale of eggs on site, which is allowed without a license. A
Department of Agriculture Factsheet​ explains the details.
231
Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 153.464. w
​ ww.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT15LAUS
_CH153ZOCO_ART14COUS
232
​“Cottage Foods.” ​Agri Ohio. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.agri.ohio.gov/foodsafety/food-cottageindex.htm
233
​“Yard Waste: Frequently Asked Questions.” Apr. 2012. Web. ​epa.ohio.gov/portals/34/document/guidance/gd_664.pdf
234
Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code § 94.34. ​www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9GEPR_C
H94HESASA_ART2NU_94.34COPI
235
​Segedy, Jason. “24 Maps to Help You Understand Greater Akron.” ​Notes from the Underground. N.p., 24 Jan. 2015. Web.
thestile1972.tumblr.com/post/108115291000/24-maps-to-help-you-understand-greater-akron
236
​“Local Food: Food Processing.” ​SARE Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education. N.p., 2012. Web. w
​ ww.sare.org/LearningCenter/Topic-Rooms/Farm-to-Table-Building-Local-and-Regional-Food-Systems/Local-Food-Food-Processing#Processing
237
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
238
Ohio Rev. Code § 3717-1-01(B)(4)(d). ​http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/3717-1
32
66. Does the zoning code allow for the sale of value-added products on agricultural lands​?
As described in question 62, cottage food laws apply.
67. Does the locality offer working farmland tax incentives, such as agriculture / forestal districts​?
A common tool that farmers use to reduce their property tax burden is the ​Current Agricultural Use Values
(CAUV)​. Rather than the property being taxed at its "highest and best" potential use, farmland used completely for
commercial agriculture is taxed according to its current use, which is below the land’s true market value. Qualifying
farmland must equal ten or more acres or, if fewer than ten acres, must produce an annual gross income of not less
than $2,500. The values change every three years, although they do
not necessarily go into effect for each county at
239
the same time. OSU Extension educates farmers on CAUV values.
68. Does the locality have a policy or program (such as conservation easements) to support land conservation for food
production​?
The ​Western Reserve Land Conservancy​, a Northeast Ohio nonprofit whose mission 240
is “[t]o provide the
people of our region with essential natural assets through land conservation and restoration,” ​ preserved its first
Summit County farm in 2015. The 119-acre Lonesome Pine farm in Copley Township produces hay, corn, soybeans
241
and sunflowers. It has been in the same family since 1923 and is “[t]he last remaining farm in the township.
Countryside’s Farmers’ Market Manager wonders if some landowners may be put off by the process of
obtaining a 242
conservation easement as well as the restrictions of having one and whether a mid-range policy could be
considered.
69. Are there creative leasing or financing models to reduce start-up farming debt​?
Although this programmatic partnership between Countryside and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is
operating at capacity, it is a good model for creative leasing to reduce start-up farming debt and is the subject of
national attention among the farming community. How it works is when property becomes available for leasing,
interested parties submit competitive proposals describing their ideas for utilizing the land, very much like a business
plan. Whomever is selected signs a 60-year lease.
The rental amount for the lease is based on its fair market value, which is 1) the rental value of the residence
and 2) the productivity of the farm’s buildings and land. Discounts to the lease amount can be applied against the
resulting fair market value. Discounts are based on 1) the loss of privacy due to living on land that allows public access
and 2) if living in a dwelling that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rent is then annually adjusted
based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for local residential rents.243 244
Other creative ways to reduce farming start-up costs include equipment share programs that are taking place
around the country. Equipment costs are being offset in the Hudson Valley by the use of equipment share programs.
Incubator farms take large pieces of property and subdivide
them so that farmers have access to land but are not
245
responsible for anything larger than they are ready for.
70. Does the locality have a map of its prime agricultural lands for conservation​?
Of those asked this question, no one was aware of any existing county maps showing prime agricultural
lands for conservation. Summit County’s GIS Director stated that if anything, agricultural lands would “fall under a
sensitive areas data set, which covers a broad range of land types.”246 Upon request and within a day, Sarah Kitson of
the Western Reserve Land Conservancy created two maps. Both are attached in Appendix D. The first shows cropland
data from 2011 and the second shows 2013
land zoned for agricultural use. As an organization that “...use[s] maps to
247
help us plan, prioritize, and navigate,” ​ it has the capabilities to add in other layers as needed.
239
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​“Our Mission and Vision.” ​Western Reserve Land Conservancy. N.p., 2017. Web. ​www.wrlandconservancy.org/who-we-are/ourmission/
241
​“Family permanently preserves Copley Township farm.” ​Western Reserve Land Conservancy. N.p., 13 Jan 2015. Web. w
​ ww.wrla
ndconservancy.org/articles/2015/01/30/family-permanently-preserves-copley-township-farm/
242
​Molnar, Erin. Countryside Conservancy. 13 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview.
243
​Knorr, Beth. Countryside Conservancy. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
244
“Countryside Initiative Request for Proposals.” 2015. p. 19 Web. w
​ ww.cvcountryside.org/documents/CFM_CountrysideInitiative
RFP_FINALlowres.pdf
245
​Molnar, Erin. Countryside Conservancy. 13 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview.
246
​Tubbs, Dennis. Summit County Planning, GIS Division. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
247
​“Maps.” ​Western Reserve Land Conservancy. N.p., 2017. Web. ​www.wrlandconservancy.org/resources/maps/
240
33
71. Does the locality limit development potential in prime agricultural land through purchase of development rights,
transfer of development rights, establishment of agricultural districts, or through other means​?
Development is restricted in the City 248
of Akron’s Floodplain Districts, which include “1. Farming; gardening;
nursery; agricultural 249
uses;” as permitted uses. ​ In addition, private property owners may attain an Agricultural
District Designation.
3. Addressing Public Health and Food Access
3.1. Healthy Food, Wellness, and Physical Activity
72. Does the locality express a concern or goal for improving public health​?
Improving public health is a topic that has recently gained prominence as a mission and goal throughout
Akron and Summit County. The City of Akron held its first ​Health Equity Summit​ in November 2016. During the
inaugural topic of Maternal and Child Health, healthy, nutritious food
was introduced by an audience member and
250
discussed by participants and panelists as an integral piece of health. ​ In 2010, SCPH was created251
from a merger of
the Summit County Health District, Akron City Health Department, and Barberton Health District. ​ Its mission “…is
to protect and advance the health of the entire community through252
its policies, programs and activities that protect
the safety, health and well-being of the people in Summit County.” ​ Tasked with “...protect[ing] and promot[ing] the
health of the entire community…,” the agency has food-related goals, programs, and initiatives. The multi-agency
group, SCCHI, was formed in the fall of 2015 with the mission of “...identifying key health priorities
in Summit
253
County and coordinating action to improve health outcomes and promote health equity for
all.” ​ Food insecurity is
254​
one of the goals of its Policy Committee. The Wellness section of APS’ Bylaws & Policies, states “...Board 255
recognizes
that good nutrition and regular physical activity affect the health and well-being of the District's students.” ​ Of the
Foodbank’s four goals discussed in Foodbank 2020, two include commitments and plans aimed at improving public
health: The first, “Enough Food For All” aims to provide more fresh produce and nutritious foods. The second “Food
256
as a Community Catalyst” makes the connection of food with collective wellbeing, including community health.
Among those whose missions do not explicitly state health goals, they do recognize the intersections between
their programs and public health. With its work in developing a ​Bike Plan​, ​Sidewalk Inventory​, ​Sidewalk Gap
Analysis​, and ​District-Wide Travel Plan​, ​Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS)​
has been described
257
by SCPH as being “at the forefront in considering the health impacts of various public policies.” ​ OSU Summit
Extension’s health goals are implicitly expressed through its free cooking nutrition classes with its ​Expanded Food
and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)​ and explicitly expressed through its free nutrition
education and obesity
258
prevention through its ​Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program (SNAP-Ed)​.
73. Does the locality mention a goal to reduce obesity and/or chronic illness​?
A suggested intervention strategy for the goal to “improve essential health behaviors” in SCPH’s Community
Health Improvement Plan is to “[w]ork with health care providers and other interested stakeholders to set targets for
reducing the
incidence of three chronic diseases: diabetes, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
259
(COPD).” ​ These goals are being supported by several grants including the Communities Preventing Chronic Disease
grant and a Creating Healthy Communities grant, both from the Ohio Department of Health (Ohio Health); an
American Planning Association / American Public Health Association Plan4Health Grant; and an NACCHO Health in
All Policies Grant from the National Association of City and County Health Officials. OSU Summit Extension attempts
to prevent obesity and its associated health risks through free nutrition programs. (See Question 83.)
248
Akron, Ohio, Municipal Code, § 153-235 (2016) w
​ ww.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT
15LAUS_CH153ZOCO_ART4DIRE_153.235FLPLDILAUF
249
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
250
​“Health Equity Summit.” Health Equity Summit. Akron Summit County Public Library, Akron, OH. 2016.
251
​Powell, Cheryl. “Health Merger Deal Done.” ​Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com 2 Sept. 2010. Web. w
​ ww.ohio.com/news/healthmerger-deal-done-1.178550
252
​“About Us. Mission Statement.” Summit County Public Health. N.p., 2015. Web. w
​ ww.scphoh.org/PAGES/AboutUs.html
253
​Summit County Health Improvement Plan. Akron, OH: Summit County Public Health, 2015. Web. s​ cphoh.org/PDFS/PDF-Rep
orts/CHIP2015.pdf
254
​“Akron City Schools, Bylaws & Policies, Section 8510.” A
​ kron City Schools. N.p., n.d. Web. w
​ ww.neola.com/akron-oh/
255
​Kepler, Laura. Akron Public Schools. 11 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
256
​“Foodbank 20/20 Strategic Plan.” Web. ​www.foodbank2020.org/wp-content/themes/foodbank/img/CampaignBookletWEB.pdf
257
​Making the Link - Transportation, Planning and Health. Akron, OH: N.p., 2015. Film. a
​ matsplanning.org/making-the-link-tran
sportation-planning-and-health/
258
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
259
​Summit County Community Health Improvement Plan. Akron, OH: Summit County Public Health, 2015. Web.
scphoh.org/PDFS/PDF-Rep orts/CHIP2015.pdf
34
74. Does the locality have an overall wellness plan​?
SCPH publishes a ​Community Health Improvement Plan​. Stakeholders are represented across a range of
health topics, including six food related entities. The introduction of the Plan states, “[g]ood health starts with people
taking care of themselves: eating good food and exercising; not smoking; getting all recommended immunizations
and screenings; and seeing a doctor when sick or injured...People’s
health also depends on things like access to clean
260
water, food and air, and effective and affordable health care.”
3.2. Food Offerings in Schools and Other Public Institutions
75. Does the locality clearly allow, support, or advocate for Farm to School (or similar) programs​?
Farm to School​ is a USDA program managed by its Food and Nutrition Service’s Office of Community Food
Systems (OCFS). Its regional offices work with child nutrition program operators and tribal communities to
incorporate local and traditional foods into school food plans and associated programs. It annually offers up to $5
million in grants to schools to use toward implementing Farm to School plans and programs. 261 The nonprofit
National Farm to School Network​ is a collaborative advocacy organization of over 30 organizations working in various
sectors of the Farm to School movement. It also serves as a source of information and a hub for networking.262
This movement, being fairly independent and not centralized, enables schools to adapt programs to their
unique needs and abilities. Because the only real centralization is in the offering of resources to schools, there is no
mechanism for tracking which school systems or individual schools are participating and what they are doing.
Therefore, though OSU Summit Extension can report that several schools in Summit County do have programs, it is
not aware of specifics. SCPH has written letters of support for Farm to School grant opportunities,263 indicating some
level of participation in the county. What can be determined for certain is that APS was the only district in Summit
County to receive the USDA’s grant funds between 2013 and 2016.264
Because of the mass quantity of meals that APS serves, (1,469,391 breakfast meals, 2,762,472 lunches, and
114,019 snacks free for all 20,990 students in 17 schools),265 time limits on lunch periods, and standardization of the
food system is prioritized. At the same time, administrators are encouraging small scale programs while working to
develop district-wide initiatives for a more complete implementation of Farm to School programs. Several APS
schools are already participating in Farm to School or other similar programs and all seven elementary schools are
using a USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable grant, which allows schools to serve fresh produce two to three times per week
in addition to lunch. 266
Toward district-wide implementation, APS was awarded a USDA Farm to School Planning Grant in 2015. As
a grant to support planning, it serves as a foundation building tool in preparation of applying for an Implementation
Grant. During the planning stage of the grant, APS discovered that it would first need to set some funds aside for an
evaluation of its programs to see how realistic the chances of winning it would be compared to the resources required
to apply. Applicants must be strong in all three
components required by the Implementation Grant: education, school
267
gardens, and procurement to have a chance.
Hattie’s is currently supplying up to a couple hundred units268 of local foods per week to APS. It recently
applied for a Support Service Farm to School grant in an effort to scale the snack program up from 3,500 to 5,000
pieces of fresh fruits, packaged fruits, or frozen fruit per week. This partnership could support 3,000 meals per week.
Starting on a small scale will allow time to partner with additional organizations to slice and package apples. Slicing
and packaging is required because whole apples are too time consuming to eat during limited lunch times. APS
Childhood Nutrition works with its current vendors to determine what might be procured locally. An Akron
260
​Summit County Health Improvement Plan. Akron, OH: Summit County Public Health, 2015. Web. s​ cphoh.org/PDFS/PDF-Rep
orts/CHIP2015.pdf
261
​“Community Food Systems.” ​USDA Food and Nutrition Service. N.p., 17 Oct. 2016. Web. ​www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/farm
-school
262
​“National Farm to School Network.” ​Farm to School. N.p., 2017. Web. ​www.farmtoschool.org
263
Burford, Tonia; Foster, Elizabeth; Kato, Kristi. Summit County Public Health. 26 Oct. 2016. ​Personal Interview, with follow up.
264
​Benson, Matthew. ​USDA Farm to School Program. FY 2013 – FY 2016 Summary of Grant Awards. United States Department of
Agriculture, 2016. Web. ​www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/f2s/FY13-FY16_Summary_of_Grant_Awards.pdf
265
​“APS Facts & Stats.” Feb. 2016. Web. ​https://s3.amazonaws.com/AkronPublicSchools/file/attachment/2016/03/2725c913a527
6d43d32bc459f0ca8839.pdf
266
​Tompkins, Becky. “APS in the News.” ​Akron Public Schools. N.p., 25 Aug. 2016. Web. ​www.akronschools.com/school/King+CL
C+ K-5/headlines/3949
267
Kepler, Laura. Akron Public Schools. 11 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
268
Rheinberger, Zac. Hattie’s Food Hub. 26 Oct. 2016. ​Personal Interview, including any follow up. “​How units are measured: the
government assigns certain weights to foods ensure adequate nutrition.Unit variance changes whether it’s frozen, fresh, or
dehydrated. Example (X measurement of dry fruit = X measurement of fresh fruit)”
35
University student, in 2011, had sent surveys to regional farmers to gage their interest and ability in “...selling produce
to the Akron Public Schools (for at least fair market price) in an effort to bring more locally grown foods into the
nutrition program.”269 Of the eight people who responded from the 57 contacted, six were interested. 270 271 APS Child
Nutrition Coordinator Laura Kepler stated that interest has grown since then, providing greater opportunity within
the school system.
76. Does the locality have other provisions for school purchasing of local or organic foods​?
The 2008 Farm Bill encourages school districts to “purchase locally grown and locally raised products ‘to the
maximum extent practicable and appropriate’” and allows them to give extra allowance to procurement bids based on
geographical preferences. Applicable272
products
include unprocessed or minimally processed fruits, vegetables, meats,
273
fish, poultry, dairy, eggs, and grains.
Some of APS’ contracts are currently sourcing from within the Northeast Ohio region. All the apples come
from ​Bauman Orchards, Inc.​ in Rittman and some leafy greens are available from Cleveland's ​Green City Growers
through a contract with ​Sysco​. All dairy is sourced within 60 miles. APS also buys produce from Hattie’s Gardens.
(See Section 3.2.) Its bid application that will be released in Spring 2017 for the 2017-18 academic year is modeled
after the Request for Information that Minneapolis Public Schools, a national Farm to School program leader, uses.274
77. Does the locality clearly have a policy to reduce availability of junk food in schools and other public buildings (e.g.
vending machines/purchasing options)​?
SCPH is currently working under a Communities Preventing Chronic Disease grant that has such an
outcome as a deliverable. SCPH actively recruits local higher educational institutions, hospitals, YMCAs, libraries,
parks and recreation departments, and city and county buildings to implement healthy food and beverage guidelines
and standards. Helping develop guidelines and policies regarding the food275
offered in vending machines, cafeterias,
and meeting rooms is one example of how SCPH assists these institutions.
APS follows the 2012 USDA policy called ​Smart Snacks in School​ requiring that any food or beverage sold to
students during school hours must meet certain nutrition standards. Specific standards differ between elementary
and middle-high school students. As a result, bake sales are not permitted during regular school hours, but other
snack foods can still be ​given​ to students during school events such as a class party, or sold ​after​ regular school hours
such as at a football game.
78. Do the schools have a policy or program to educate cafeteria workers on preparation of fresh, local food and/or
nutrient-rich food​?
APS has policies regarding food preparation, but they are not directed at providing education to cafeteria
workers because cafeteria workers do not have culinary freedom. Everything they prepare is specified by menus and
instructions provided by the Childhood Nutrition Department.
79. Is the locality clearly encouraging or supporting the inclusion of food-based lesson plans in schools​?
APS does not have a formal district-wide program, but teachers are incorporating curriculum such as ​Veggie
U​, which is “...dedicated to increasing children’s awareness of healthy food options, and teaching them how real food
reaches their plate” 276 into the classroom.277 Additionally, Childhood Nutrition Department professionals support
teachers’ food education programs by attending events, providing resources, serving a meal, and showcasing local
food. As part of nationwide Farm to School events held on October
26, 2016, the Childhood Nutrition participated in
278
school events by providing local cider, apples, and other produce.
SCPH will begin working with Head Start on menu changes and food based education in 2017. The SCPH
staff member responsible for this program has been training with the ​Ohio Healthy Program​, which is Ohio Child
269
​Stephenson, Paul. “Survey Monkey, Survey Results. Local Produce and APS. Response Summary.” 21 Dec. 2010: n. pag. Print.
​Stephenson, Paul. “Survey Monkey, Survey Results. Local Produce and APS. Response Summary.” 21 Dec. 2010: n. pag. Print.
271
​Stephenson, P. “Local Producer/Group Contact List.” 2010: n. pag. Print.
272
​Kepler, Laura. Akron Public Schools. 11 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
273
​USDA Farm to School Program. “Geographic Preference. What It Is and How to Use It.” July 2013. Web. w
​ ww.fns.usda.gov/sites
/default/files/F2S_geo_pref.pdf
274
​“Minneapolis Farm to School.” ​Minnesota Department of Agriculture. N.p., 2016. Web. ​http://www.mda.state.mn.us/food/farm
toschool/stories/minneapolis.aspx
275
Burford, Tonia; Foster, Elizabeth; Kato, Kristi. Summit County Public Health. 26 Oct. 2016. ​Personal Interview, with follow up.
276
​“​Veggie​ U.” ​Veggie U. N.p., n.d. Web. ​http://www.veggieu.org/
277
“Akron Public School Teachers Will Share Their Recent Farm to Cafeteria Project, Lessons Learned and next Steps!” October
Community Forum. Akron-Summit County Public Library, Akron, OH. 2016. Forum. h
​ ttps://www.facebook.com/events/310348116
023842/
278
​Kepler, Laura. Akron Public Schools. 11 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
270
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Care Resource & Referral Association (OCCRRA)’s “response to the growing concern surrounding childhood obesity.”
SCPH is also involved in ​Coordinated Approach
to Child Health (CATCH)​, an after-school program at the YMCA, and
279
attends Harvest Days events at schools.
Schools and other youth-oriented
programs can partner with OSU Summit County Extension office to
280
introduce food-based lesson plans. ​ OSU’s ​Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)​ is a six-week
class that mixes group discussion and hands-on activities
concerning nutrition and healthier choices, food safety, food
281
resources, food preparation and physical activity.
80. Does the locality clearly encourage and/or directly support establishment of school garden programs at all levels
of K-12​?
Within APS, some do programs exist, such as at the Buchtel Cluster, but there are no district-wide programs.
A barrier to implementing programs on a wide scale is that they require 100 percent support from282all stakeholders,
which includes tending the garden during the regular academic year, and also doing the summer. ​SCPH has been
involved in a number of K-12 initiatives schools in Summit County. Through grant awards, the agency installed two
raised garden beds and provided lesson planning at The University of Akron Head Start location. They installed
garden beds and access to a walking trail at Buchtel High School. The agency has also supported school gardens by
working closely with schools to ensure that projects are compliant with safety codes and will pass any required health
department inspections. A good working relationship between
SCPH and agricultural-based Arrowhead Primary
283
School has enabled the school to add chickens and bees. ​ OSU Summit Extension supports the establishment of
school garden programs with ​Farm to School Curriculum​.
UV 4.c.79 Do local faith, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions (public and private) have policies to
buy local food for events when available​?
Providing a complete answer to this question would require a separate research project to be undertaken.
APS’ food policies and practices are discussed in section 3.2.
3.3. Community Education and Empowerment
81. Does the locality encourage that chain restaurants provide consumers with calorie information on in-store menus
and menu boards​?
Five restaurants in Akron (one with four locations) and 19 in other Summit County municipalities are
partnered with Western Reserve Hospital in its ​Doctor’s Order​ program. By choosing a menu item with the associated
logo, diners can eat restaurant meals that physicians and nutritionists have selected as being “...savory, delectable
meals that satisfy hunger and benefit heart health.”284
An idea for a project SCPH would like to implement is a related voluntary initiative tentatively titled “Clean,
Green and Lean.” Participating restaurants would be provided with a logo-based certification showing that they have
passed a three-tiered criteria based on 1) good health inspections, 2) a healthy menu, and 3) environmentally friendly
practices. To move it conceptualization to implementation, SCPH anticipates needing to coordinate with partner
agencies to develop appropriate criteria.
82. Does the locality have a clear tax or other strategy to discourage consumption of foods and beverages with
minimal nutritional value, such as sugar sweetened beverages​?
SCHD recently began discussing the possibility
of a soda tax. The first steps the agency is undertaking is
285
learning what topics of research need to be conducted.
279
Burford, Tonia; Foster, Elizabeth; Kato, Kristi. Summit County Public Health. 26 Oct. 2016. ​Personal Interview, with follow up.
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
281
​“EFNEP.” ​Summit OSU Extension. N.p., 2017. Web. ​summit.osu.edu/program-areas/efnep
282
​Kepler, Laura. Akron Public Schools. 11 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
283
Burford, Tonia; Foster, Elizabeth; Kato, Kristi. Summit County Public Health. 26 Oct. 2016. ​Personal Interview, with follow up.
284
​“Doctor’s Order.” ​Western Reserve Hospital. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.westernreservehospital.org/about-us/community-programs/d
octors-order.aspx
285
Burford, Tonia; Foster, Elizabeth; Kato, Kristi. Summit County Public Health. 26 Oct. 2016. ​Personal Interview, with follow up.
280
37
83. Does the locality have educational/promotional programs to discourage the use of Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for sodas, high sugar, and low nutrient foods​?
The OSU Summit Extension offers free nutrition education programs for adults and youth. The ​Expanded
Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)​ consists of a program designed for low-income adults with children
and another for youth. Both incorporate a mix of group discussion and hands-on activities concerning nutrition and
healthier choices, food safety, food resources, food preparation, and physical activity. OSU Summit County offers a
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program (SNAP-Ed)​. 286
Also free and open to low-income adults and
youth, this program has a focus on nutrition and obesity prevention.
84. Does the locality develop media campaigns, utilizing multiple media channels (print, radio, internet, television,
social networking, and other promotional materials) to promote healthy eating​?
When funding is available, SCPH conducts media campaigns. Recent examples include billboard spots
promoting the statewide ​Good Food Here​ initiative. SCPH has used radio and
Pandora Internet Radio to promote its
287
diabetes prevention programs, which healthy eating has a significant
role in. ​ OSU Summit County reports having
288 ​
done such media campaigns, with the exception of television ads. Examples are on its ​Facebook page​.
85. Are community members involved in the organization of markets or other food opportunities​?
As farmers’ markets in the area are primarily run either by nonprofit neighborhood groups or municipality
departments, they are reliant on the local community for success. Thus, there are plenty opportunities for community
members to be involved. To inspire the emergence of a leadership structure to support a newly-identified potential
farmers’ market location, the City of Akron is willing to collaborate with other organizations to convene community
members for an open forum to discuss logistics and answer questions.289
Toward fulfilling its mission of “...connect[ing] food, land, and people,” 290 Countryside involves the
community in its farmers’ markets by “[c]reat[ing] a space that allows for community interaction and enjoyment,
informal public education and civic engagement.”291 Visitors to its markets can participate in yoga sessions and enjoy
live music. Countryside’s Mini-Market program is instrumental in assisting community-based organizations manage
their own markets, which involves participation of community members. (See Question 22.)
As an organization whose mission includes “...​empowering citizen involvement…”​ EANDC’s market seeks to
involve people in the neighborhood at various stages. Some community members are involved in food production by
working in EANDC’s community gardens, as well as organizing and facilitating the farmers’ market. In order to make
this a sustainable program that a community member can step into at any given time, an AmeriCorps staff
member at
292
EANDC is creating a market operations manual and training volunteers to help manage market logistics.
Let’s Grow Akron exists to “...alleviate hunger in the community by teaching people to grow, prepare and
preserve their own food and working alongside them to beautify their neighborhoods.” At times, it assists groups of
neighbors who seek to organize themselves to start gardens. At other times, Let’s
Grow Akron begins the process in
293
lower income neighborhoods and encourages the community to be involved. ​ It also offers gardening workshops in
the winter months to prepare for the next season.294
Summit County Council reports that community members are indeed involved voluntarily with the markets,
gardens, or informal food swaps. As an example, University Park Alliance in Akron’s University Park Middlebury
Neighborhood, provides tools and trainings is a volunteer neighborhood
group that facilitates community gardens,
295
backyard gardening, seed saving, and other food-oriented events.
3.4. Transportation Options for Accessing Food
86. Do safe biking and walking paths exist between neighborhoods and food stores and markets​?
AMATS’ ​Connecting Communities Initiative​ revealed that sidewalks are plentiful throughout nearly all of
Akron, Barberton, and Cuyahoga Falls. It is the suburban and exurban areas where sidewalks are sparser. AMATS’
286
​“SNAP-ED.” ​Summit OSU Extension. N.p., 2017. Web. ​summit.osu.edu/program-areas/snap-ed
Burford, Tonia; Foster, Elizabeth; Kato, Kristi. Summit County Public Health. 26 Oct. 2016. ​Personal Interview, with follow up.
288
​Kowalski, Jacqueline. OSU Extension, Summit County. 18 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
289
​DeShazior, Samuel. City of Akron Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. 3 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
290
​“About Us. Mission.” ​Countryside Conservancy. N.p., n.d. Web. h
​ ttp://countrysideconservancy.businesscatalyst.com/about-us.htm
291
​“Eat. How to Become a Vendor.” ​Countryside Conservancy. N.p., n.d. Web. h
​ ttp://www.cvcountryside.org/eat-how-to-become-a-vendor
292
​Julien, Kyle. East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
293
​Nunn, Lisa. Let’s Grow Akron. 2 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
294
Summit Food Coalition. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, including any follow up.
295
​Walters, Elizabeth. Summit County Council. 14 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
287
38
has also conducted a ​Sidewalk Inventory​ and ​Sidewalk Gap Analysis​. The Sidewalk Gap Analysis shows in a GIS map
layer where gaps exist between sidewalks and transit service in “heavy commercial activity areas such as Montrose,
Arlington Road in Green, Chapel Hill, Macedonia.”296 Overall, AMATS’ Director stated, “I think we have very good
access here.”297
While the City of Akron’s rotating ​sidewalk replacement plan​ to replace crumbling sidewalks does not
address the issue of sidewalk access to markets, it would be worthwhile to find out whether it allows for any
expeditious repairs to sidewalk locations where repair would increase access for people who may use mobility
enhancement technologies.
Kyle Julian, Director of Urban Planning at EANDC, gave an overview of accessibility to stores and markets
by bicycle and on foot on the Eastside of Akron. The two grocery stores in the neighborhood are the Dave’s
Middlebury Market on Exchange Street and ALDI on South Arlington Street. From EANDC offices, in the middle of
the neighborhood, Dave’s is 1.1 miles away but has sufficient sidewalks the entire way. Cycling is more dangerous as
there are no dedicated bike
lanes. ALDI is located .8 mile from the EANDC office. It also has sufficient sidewalks, but
298
crosswalks are lacking.
87. Does the locality have a bus service that connects neighborhoods directly with food stores and markets, requiring
no more than one bus change​?
The ​Akron METRO Regional Transit Authority​ (METRO RTA) has daily routes dedicated to taking people
directly to and from apartment complexes and major food stores in Akron, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn,
Stow, and Tallmadge. The complexes are a mix of subsidized housing; most of them being for seniors and low-income
renters. A couple complexes have rental units for people with disabilities. One is for people who are homeless, people
with special needs, and veterans. Grocery stores are Acme, Giant Eagle, Marc’s, Save-A-Lot, and Wal-Mart.299 RTA is
currently going through the process of redesigning routes and is expected to be finished by April 2017.300 However,
there are no proposed changes to the Grocery Bus Service301 nor are there any changes associated with these routes.
88. Does the locality have a low-cost taxi or ride-sharing service that connects neighborhoods directly with food stores
and markets​?
There are no low-cost taxi or ride-sharing services specifically geared toward connecting neighborhoods
directly with food stores and markets, but a ride matching service ​OhioRideShare​, offered in part by AMATS, is
available. Although it is intended for commuters, it can be used for any purpose. To date, the only data tracking
capability it has is viewing new sign-ups, which currently totals approximately 1,000. AMATS is exploring a system
upgrade since technology improvements have resulted in a number of new software options302
for ride mapping. With
such an update, AMATS could incentivize use with the goal of increasing service and access.
89. Are transportation services available in rural as well as urban areas​?
Summit County’s urban core areas--Akron, Barberton, and Cuyahoga Falls--are generally well-supported by
METRO RTA. Three out of six township blocks in the county that most resemble rural areas--Richfield, Bath, and
Green--are serviced by at least one bus route. The other three--Copley, Norton, and Franklin---are not serviced by any
bus routes. It is presumed that this is because ridership demand dictates route supply, so where there is a need, it is
serviced. For instance, Richfield
may not have much demand for 24/7 bus service, but its commuter route services the
303
demand that does exist.
90. Are transportation services available at multiple times of the day and evening​?
Multiple times of day and evening are available for routes within Akron city limits. Availability of regularly
scheduled bus services varies for other municipalities in the county.304 Several routes run late at night from midnight
to 1:00 a.m. delivering passengers to points in Akron, Barberton, Boston, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Green, Hudson,
Lakemore, Northfield, Springfield, Stow, Tallmadge, and Twinsburg. These buses do not pick up passengers after
leaving the Transit Center in Downtown Akron.
296
​Baker, Curtis. Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study. 24 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​Baker, Curtis. Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study. 24 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
298
​Julien, Kyle. East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
299
​“Grocery Shopping Bus 91-95.” Web. w
​ ww.akronmetro.org/SharedFiles/Download.aspx?pageid=76&mid=118&fileid=2622
300
​“Driving Metro Forward Project. Frequently Asked Questions – June 2016 Round 2 Public Meetings.” June 2016. Web. w
​ ww.akr
onmetro.org/Data/Sites/2/pdf/phaseii_faq_062116.pdf
301
​Akron METRO RTA. “Route by Route Changes.” PowerPoint. w
​ ww.akronmetro.org/Data/Sites/2/pdf/dmf---route_by_route.pdf
302
​Baker, Curtis. Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study. 24 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
303
​Baker, Curtis. Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study. 24 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
304
​“Printed Schedules.” ​Akron METRO RTA. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.akronmetro.org/metro-specialized-schedules.aspx
297
39
91. Does the locality have a bike path or sidewalk plan​?
The City of Akron has its own ​Bicycle Plan​, as do Hudson and Tallmadge. AMATS is working with both
Twinsburg and Green to develop their own bike plans. AMATS has both a regional ​Bike Plan​ and sidewalk plan. The
purpose of the plans is to address gaps in the transportation system by adding to the connectivity of the network. The
goal with AMATS’ Bike Plan is to connect regional trails such as the ​Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail​ to
neighborhoods and communities where access is limited. Bike paths have been found to be quite effective and are
especially popular with people not comfortable riding in bike lanes on roads shared with motorized vehicles. The
purpose for the sidewalk plan is to locate nonpaved paths where people are walking and making “goat paths.”
Examples are 1) on the north side of Montrose on West Market at a bus stop, and 2) at a low
income housing area in
305
Ravenna Township (Portage County) where there was a 100-200 yard gap in the sidewalk.
UV 1.a.27 Does the locality offer multi-modal transportation in the community​? ​(and)
UV 1.a.28 Does the locality have a policy or programs to provide multimodal transportation options in the community
to enable transportation of low-income populations to grocery stores? Does it reference or include transportation for
migrant farm workers from camps​?
AMATS reports that there is “pretty good coverage throughout most of the county for riding a bike and
walking.” All fixed route buses have bike racks so people can combine riding and cycling to their destinations. 306
METRO RTA’s on-demand ​SCAT​ and ​ADA​ services are available to take seniors and people with permanent
or temporary disabilities to grocery stores and on other convenience trips. There are time and location limitations
depending on the service. SCAT is only offered on weekdays but will travel anywhere in the county. ADA services are
only available within ¾ mile of any fixed route. The ​DASH​ is a free downtown shuttle loop that runs every 10 to 15
minutes from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on weekdays.307
For partially urbanized municipalities where bicycle and sidewalk coverage is not as broad, retrofits to
become multi-modal friendly can be more difficult. Curtis Baker, Director of AMATS, explained:
Usually the areas are in townships where some development has happened, but there were no real codes in
place to force development to build sidewalks or additional multimodal infrastructure. An example of this
kind of development is a small strip mall that has a big parking lot nestled right against the street. Trying to
retrofit sidewalks becomes more difficult because the development typically extends to the road. So to build
a sidewalk, additional right-of-way or the permission of the property owner is required. In cities like
Hudson, Twinsburg, and Stow, many developments had to build sidewalk connections when they were
constructed, so they do not require retrofits.308
Other transportation options include a ​free bike-share​ program and the fee-based ​Summit Bike Share​, both
managed by the ​Summit Cycling Center​. The free program is geared more toward recreational riders, but may be
indicative of an expansion since it is “...designed to introduce our community to the use of a bike share system.”309
The City of Akron is currently using a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to
transform part of Main Street into a green corridor with multimodal transportation options including “street and
sidewalk repairs, new on-street parking and dedicated bike lanes.”310 A Livable, Complete and Green Streets Task
Force is also working toward making city streets more bike and pedestrian friendly.311
4. Fostering Social Equity
4.1. Food Security for Disadvantaged Populations
92. Does the locality have a policy to provide access to quality food for all citizens, especially those with greater need​?
While not an official governmental policy, by signing onto SFC’s Resolution and Food Charter, the City of
Akron and Summit County have indicated that access to quality food for all citizens is a priority. As demonstrated
throughout this report, the City of Akron has been involved with and continues to be supportive of efforts that enable
305
​Baker, Curtis. Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study. 24 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​Baker, Curtis. Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study. 24 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, including any subsequent email
follow up questions.
307
​“DASH.” ​Akron METRO RTA. N.p., 2017. Web. ​www.akronmetro.org/dash.aspx
308
​Baker, Curtis. Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study. 24 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, including any subsequent email
follow up questions.
309
​“Summit Bike Share.” ​Summit Share. N.p., 2017. Web. ​www.summitshare.org/
310
​Conn, Jennifer. “Multi-Million-Dollar Transformations Await Downtown Akron, Neighborhoods in 2017: See What’s in Store.”
Cleveland.com. N.p., Jan. 2017. Web. ​http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2017/01/downtown_akron_and_neighborhoo.html#2
311
​Folkerth, Kathleen. “Complete Streets Concept Rolling out in Akron.” W
​ estside Leader. 31 Mar. 2016. Web.
306
40
citizens, especially those with greater need, to have better access to quality food. Prior to the term “food desert”
becoming popularized, the City recognized the need for a full service grocery store in the East Akron neighborhood
and contributed in multiple ways to bring Dave’s Middlebury Market to East Exchange Street.​ ​It identified and
applied for federal funding needed to do environmental cleanup of the site, and to build the shopping center. The City
then donated the land (property tax free) to EANDC to lease the shopping center to Dave’s and other tenants.312
Solidifying its commitment, it is expected that healthy food access will be part of the city’s health policy it has been
developing (along with education and income), which was reported to be unveiled by Mayor Horrigan in early 2017. 313
Furthermore, the missions of several local organizations have the values of access to quality food embedded
in their missions, goals, and actions. These organizations are making strides toward providing healthy quality food for
their clients and other citizens in need. Those who were interviewed include APS, Countryside, Let’s Grow Akron, and
SFC.
Committed to ensuring that distribution of fresh nutritious produce makes up at least 25 percent of its total
distribution annually over the next five years,314 the Foodbank’s overall mission is: "[t]o lead a collaborative network
that empowers people to experience healthy and hunger-free lives.
We distribute food to feed people and we advocate,
315
engage and convene our community in the fight to end hunger.” ​ Households in which all
those under the same roof
316
earn annual gross wages of up to 200 percent of the poverty level are eligible for services. ​ This guideline captures a
wide variety of need as it encompasses a range of situations - from
a single person earning $23,760, a household of
317
four earning $48,600, or a household of eight earning $81,780. ​ At these income levels, some households are
ineligible for reduced price school meals or SNAP.
The Foodbank’s ​Feeding Kids​ program aims to proactively ensure that children and their families have
supplemental access to nutritious food over the weekend and school holidays. One such initiative it works with in
collaboration with schools is Feeding America’s ​Backpack Program​. In Summit County, there are ten Foodbank
Network Partners providing backpacks to 1,400 kids weekly, including
350 in Akron. Coming up in spring 2017 is
318
Senior Boxes, which will provide food to senior populations in need.
The Foodbank encourages and enables its network partner agencies (or neighborhood pantries) to use its
Choice Pantry​ model. This allows clients to choose their own food rather than simply being handed a pre-picked bag
of food that may not meet their household needs.319Clients can choose healthier foods if they are so inclined and are
“...serve[d] in a dignified and personal manner.”
As part of its strategic goal to “.....to increas[e] the percentage of free food provided
to partnering agencies to
320
at least 80%,” the Foodbank plans “...to provide more fresh produce and nutritious foods… ​” Through its ​Produce
Initiative​, fresh food distribution has increased from 2.6 million in 2007 to 7.2 million in 2015 in its eight county 321
program area. Though the initiative accepts bulk donations of “...fruits and vegetables from around the country….”
it also seeks to increase the amount of produce from its existing produce donors such as the ​Ohio Agricultural
Clearance Program​ (OACP). OACP procures and donates excess farm produce from participating farmers statewide,
with four322
in Summit County: Hillandale Farms; ​Dunlap Orchards​, ​Kuner Fruit Farms​, and ​Country Maid Ice Cream
&
323
Orchard​. ​ In addition to relying on donations, the Foodbank is also committed to purchasing fresh produce.
Hattie’s expanded its brand in spring 2016 by opening ​Hattie’s Food Hub​. In addition to remaining true to
Hattie’s overall mission by being
a “...farm-to-table work training program for people with intellectual and
324
developmental disabilities,” ​ the Hub also provides fresh, healthy, and local food to Akron’s Cedar-Douglas
neighborhood, which was a food desert. Using grant funds, the Hub’s Produce Perks program allows it to contribute
$5 toward any future purchase when customers purchase a given dollar amount of fresh produce. Eventually,
this will
325
be rolled into a dollar-to-dollar matching program that customers will be able to use with EBT cards.
312
​Julien, Kyle. East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​DeShazior, Samuel. City of Akron Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. 3 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
314
​Oldham, Jill. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 6 Oct 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
315
​“About Us.” Akron Canton Foodbank. N.p., n.d. Web. w
​ ww.akroncantonfoodbank.org/about
316
​Oldham, Jill. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 6 Oct 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
317
​“Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines.” F
​ ederal Register. N.p., 25 Jan. 2016. Web. w
​ ww.federalregister.gov/documents
/2016/01/25/2016-01450/annual-update-of-the-hhs-poverty-guidelines
318
​Oldham, Jill. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 6 Oct 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
319
​“Client Choice Pantry Handbook.” May 2012. Web. ​www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/sites/default/files/Choice-Pantry-Handbook
_May2012.pdf
320
​“Foodbank 20/20 Strategic Plan.” Web. w
​ ww.foodbank2020.org/
321
​“Produce.” ​Akron Canton Foodbank. N.p., n.d. Web. w
​ ww.akroncantonfoodbank.org/agency/produce
322
​“Ag Partner Map.” ​Ohio Foodbanks. N.p., n.d. Web. o
​ hiofoodbanks.org/docs/publications/agpartnersmap.pdf
323
​Oldham, Jill. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 6 Oct 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
324
​“Hattie’s Food Hub.” 2017. ​Hattie Larlham. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.hattielarlham.org/v/hatties-food-hub.asp
325
Rheinberger, Zac. Hattie’s Food Hub. 26 Oct. 2016. P
​ ersonal Interview, with follow up.
313
41
93. Has the locality done any infrastructure, transportation or other studies to identify issues of low-income
neighborhoods gaining access to quality food, in rural as well as urban areas​?
SFC’s policy team conducted research on community assets resulting in a ​Food Observations​ report and a
Market Distribution Survey​. These reports outline observations made in regard to access, gardening, the availability
of farm to market opportunities, locally-owned food stores, food assistance, agricultural land use, farming activity,326
and the potential share of the Northeast Ohio food economy.327
328
A Food Desert Map of Summit County ​ was created by Jerry Egan, SFC Steering Committee member
Emeritus, and former City of Akron Planning Department employee; and Chris Norman formerly of Crown Point
Ecology Center. The City of Akron was aware
of the map and used it in applying for federal dollars for the Mustard
329
Seed Market & Café in Highland Square.
Foodbank data is included in a Feeding America’s ​Map the Meal Gap 2016​. As a national umbrella
organization, Feeding America evaluates the effectiveness and equitable distribution of each of its food banks based
on a measure of pounds of food per person in need. Levels of food insecure individuals in each county are calculated
based on 2014 Food Insecurity rates by county. Though not noted in the final report, the Foodbank is in compliance330
with the current requirement to distribute a minimum of 38.95 pounds per person in need in each of its 8 counties.
Also, the Foodbank keeps records of how many people are accessing their network partners’ food pantries daily.
Though not AMATS’ regular order of business or the impetus of any project, it periodically undertake studies
by way of requests made by others to be involved in projects or when a situation otherwise arises in projects that
AMATS is working on. One such study happened in Twinsburg where a stretch of Route 82 over I-480 did not have
sidewalks, limiting access by people living in low income housing on the south side to food options on the other side.
331
94. Does the locality have a policy or program to support stores that offer fresh produce, meats, dairy, and eggs to
low-income populations​?
With specialty crop block grant funds, SFC previously conducted a short-term
Corner Store Project to
332
provide refrigeration in a corner stores located in food desert neighborhoods. ​ SCPH began its Healthy Corner Store
program in 2015 with a grant from the American Planning Association.333 The initiative helps corner stores located in
food deserts to provide healthy fresh produce to residents by connecting store owners with suppliers and acquiring
the infrastructure needed to keep produce in stock. 334
To help support stores in promoting their produce to customers, SCPH held a series in 2015 called Taste it
and Make It. Similar to tasting stations at supermarkets and bulk-buying warehouses, they set up a table and offered
customers to taste sample healthy dishes made from products available at the corner store, including fresh
produce.
336
Customers were given the recipe so they could purchase the products necessary to make it at home. 335 ​ Still in the
preplanning stages, SCPH is also attempting to launch a healthy checkout lane program to replace candy with healthy
snack options at grocery store checkout lanes throughout Summit County.337
95. Does the locality have a system for directing/referring people in need of food to the places that can help​?
Summit County’s 24-hour338
phone referral service ​2-1-1​, a program of ​Info Line, Inc.​ lists food pantry referrals
as one of its most popular services. ​ Its other food services
include referrals for meals, food stamps and WIC, food
339
programs for kids, seniors, and holiday food assistance. ​ The accompanying website lists 93 Summit County food
326
​“Summit County Food-Related Information.” 30 Jan. 2012. Web. s​ tatic1.squarespace.com/static/57854bd89de4bb340b88867c/t
/579cfbbd9de4bb7ff3124816/1469905854224/summitfood-observations1.pdf
327
​“Summit County Food Market Distribution.” Web. s​ tatic1.squarespace.com/static/57854bd89de4bb340b88867c/t/579cfbe29de
4bb7ff3124920/1469905890795/marketdistribution-observations2.pdf
328
​Summit County Health Improvement Plan. Akron, OH: Summit County Public Health, 2015. Web.​ scphoh.org/PDFS/PDF-Rep
orts/CHIP2015.pdf
329
​Julien, Kyle. East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
330
​Oldham, Jill. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 6 Oct 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
331
​Baker, Curtis. Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study. 24 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
332
​Summit Food Coalition. 16 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
333
​Summit County Health Improvement Plan. Akron, OH: Summit County Public Health, 2015. Web. s​ cphoh.org/PDFS/PDF-Rep
orts/CHIP2015.pdf
334
​“State of the County’s Health: Q&A.” Web. s​ cphoh.org/PDFS/PDF-Reports/State%20of%20the%20Countys%20Health%20QA.pdf
335
Kato, Kristi, Tonia Burford, Elizabeth Foster. Summit County Public Health. 26 Oct. 2016. ​Personal Interview, with follow up.
336
​Nunn, Lisa. Let’s Grow Akron. 2 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
337
Kato, Kristi, Tonia Burford, Elizabeth Foster. Summit County Public Health. 26 Oct. 2016. ​Personal Interview, with follow up.
338
​“Top 25 Services.” 2-1-1- ​Summit County Resource Database. N.p., 2017. Web. ​www.211summit.org/Subcategory.aspx?;;0;;N;0;
548711;Top%2025%20Services
339
​“Food.” 2-1-1-​ Summit County Resource Database. N.p., 2017. Web. ​www.211summit.org/Subcategory.aspx?;;0;;N;0;548723;Food
42
340
service locations, ​ which can also be viewed in a map, and includes some food related metrics.341 It lists the
Countryside farmers’ market in Peninsula and states that it accepts Carrot Cash. It does not state what Carrot Cash is
or that EBT cards are accept there. It also does not list the several other urban area farmer’s markets, run by
Countryside or others, that offer Carrot Cash dollars and/or accept EBT cards. Finally, it does not list Hattie’s Food
Hub. Info Line, Inc. is supported
in part by the City of Akron and Summit County, among many other municipalities,
342
agencies, and foundations. ​ Anyone dialing into the 343
City of Akron’s 3-1-1 call center looking for help with food will
likely find themselves transferred to the 2-1-1 system.
UV 1.a.29 Does the locality have a program that transports local produce to low-income neighborhoods and migrant
farm worker camps (e.g., trucks, food carts, etc.)​?
Pursuant to the Northeast District Office of the Ohio Department of Health, “[t]here are no licensed
Agricultural Labor Camps in Summit County, and the H2A housing in Summit County is associated with the
greenhouse/retail nursery [primarily flowers and other non-edible plants] industry.”344
The Foodbank periodically distributes to low income neighborhoods through its Direct Distribution
program. (See Question UV 3.c.64.) These distributions are not made directly to the public, but through a partner.
Occasionally, the Foodbank may send a Direct
Distribution truck to an event servicing low-income needs, such as the
345
Fuel Fund Assistance Day in Tallmadge. ​ The Foodbank has delivered an average of 80,000 pounds of food to its
500 network partners in low-income neighborhoods throughout its entire service area, which includes Summit
County as well as Portage and Stark, where migrant farm workers camps are known to be.346
UV 4.b.71 Does the locality recognize through policy or programs the need for low income, immigrant populations,
and migrant farm workers, to have access to grocers that provide local, fresh foods - in rural as well as urban areas​?
Akron’s North Hill neighborhood, where most of Akron’s immigrant and refugee residents first settle, is
listed as a food desert. Filling the gap for many in the area is ​Family Groceries​, a small centrally located store on
North Main Street owned by Bhutanese refugee Naresh Subba. The store sells fresh produce, some of which may be
coming from Amish farmers in Holmes County. To meet the demands of the neighborhood, Subba drives to New York
for the culturally appropriate fresh produce.347 IIA reports that Subba would like to procure more local produce but
does not know of any local farmers growing what is needed. Some area ​Vegetable U-Picks​ have been requested to
grow different types of eggplants, squash, and beans. ​Boughton Farms​ in Copley is one that is planting requested
vegetables.348 Whether Subba is aware of this option is unknown.
Because Family Groceries caters to ethnic palates and customs, it does not attract many U.S. born
customers.349 The next closest grocery stores are Save A Lot and Giant Eagle, (1.1 and 1.9 miles from Family Groceries,
respectively), rendering the neighborhood a food desert for many other residents.
Within the Summit County Jobs and Family Services (JFS) offices, staff members have formed an internal
working group with the goal of improving their services, including SNAP, to the immigrant population.350
UV 4.c.77 Are markets and stores accessible at multiple times and days to accommodate varying work schedules​?
With the exception of Monday, there is at least one farmers’ market open in Summit County every day of the
week during growing season. Most are operating in accordance with the schedules of people who have typical
business hour work schedules, meaning that weekday markets are from late afternoon to early evening, and weekend
markets are held in the morning hours. The exception is Downtown Akron’s Friday lunchtime Market on Cascade
Plaza.351 Hattie’s Food Hub, in West Akron just outside of Highland Square, is open in recognition of the changing and
unpredictable nature of schedules
(Mon.-Fri., 10-7; Sat. 10-4) and is planning on extending its daily hours, and
352
remaining closed on Sunday ​. All the major grocery chains in Summit County are open seven days a week. Times
340
​“Find the Help You Need > 3. Food Pantries > Food Pantries.” 2
​ -1-1- Summit County Resource Database. N.p., 2017. Web.
www.211summit.org/MatchList.aspx?c;;0;;N;0;548723;Top%2025%20Services;3.%20Food%20Pantries;2801;Food%20Pantries~
341
​“Community Needs Prior 12 Months.” ​Referweb.net. N.p., 2017. Web. ​www.referweb.net/211ohtrends/?66;summ
342
​Info Line. “Annual Report 2015.” Web. ​www.infolineinc.org/Data/Sites/10/annualreport/annual-report-2015-final-online.pdf
343
​DeShazior, Samuel. City of Akron Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. 3 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
344
​Roberts, Eric. Ohio Department of Health. 20 Dec. 2016. Telephone Interview.
345
​Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com. “Summit County to Host Fuel Fund Assistance Day.” 1 Sept. 2015. Web. ​www.ohio.com/blogs
/your-business/your-business-1.567844/summit-county-to-host-fuel-fund-assistance-day-1.620710
346
​Oldham, Jill. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 6 Oct 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
347
​Walters, Elizabeth. Summit County Council. 14 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
348
​Betterly, Gale. Summit County Farm Bureau. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
349
​Byard, Katie. “Stores in North Hill Neighborhood of Akron Reflect Influx of Asian Immigrants.” A
​ kron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com 25
Sept. 2014. Web. ​www.ohio.com/news/local/stores-in-north-hill-neighborhood-of-akron-reflect-influx-of-asian-immigrants-1.525919
350
Walters, Elizabeth. Summit County Council. 14 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
351
​“Farmers’ Markets.” ​Summit Food Coalition. N.p., n.d. Web. h
​ ttps://www.summitfoodcoalition.org/farmers-markets
352
Rheinberger, Zac. Hattie’s Food Hub. 26 Oct. 2016. P
​ ersonal Interview, with follow up.
43
were not researched in depth, but it is believed that most are open from morning to night with Walmart open 24
hours.
4.2. Business Incentives for Low-Income Food Access
96. Does the locality have an expedited development and/or permitting process for grocers that will provide healthy,
local foods in underserved locations, in rural as well as urban areas​? ​(and)
98. Does the locality offer any predevelopment assistance to developers to expedite the review process for grocery
stores in underserved areas​?
Both these questions are similar yet ask for such specifics that to provide complete answers to each based on
the responses received, would be repetitious. Therefore, for the purposes of this section, the answer is presented as if
the following one question was asked rather than all three:
Does the locality offer any of the following for developers of grocery stores that will provide healthy, local
foods in underserved urban and rural locations?
● An expedited development process
● An expedited permitting process
● Predevelopment assistance
The City of Akron does not have any expedited processes for development or permitting, or any
predevelopment assistance targeted toward grocery stores in underserved areas.
The Director of Summit County Community and Economic Development (Summit C&E) expressed that this
type of development is desired and that the County would do what it could to help any such development succeed,
however, permitting is handled on a first-come-first-served basis. In addition, the County would only be involved to
the extent that a building permit is required, which is handled through the building department. The department
holds several pre-construction meetings so that when a plan is submitted, the approval process will be seamless. The
State of Ohio dictates the oversight that county building departments have, and there are no stipulations allowing for
expedited permit processing for any category of industry.
97. Are there any regulatory incentives, such as relaxed zoning requirements or tax credits, that can facilitate new
stores in underserved areas​?
The City of Akron’s zoning laws do not contain any relaxed requirements to facilitate new stores in
underserved areas. However, the City does have the option of using TIF for new developments, including grocery
stores in underserved areas. The City used TIF for the former Henry’s Acme in Hawkins Plaza, Dave’s Middlebury
Market on Arlington Street, Mustard Seed Market & Cafe in Highland Square, Save-A-Lot on Miller Avenue and
South Main Street, and the future Whole Foods Market at the old West Point Market site.353 EANDC also used federal
tax credits available through the ​New Market Tax Program​ to build Dave’s Middlebury Market on East Exchange
Street. That program
makes $200,000 available for economic development within qualified census tracts or federal
354
food deserts.
4.3. Equitable Conditions for Farm Laborers
As confirmed by Ohio JFS, Summit County is not home to any migrant farms or large groups of migrant
farm workers.355 Much of the discussion in this section instead relates to Akron’s flourishing immigrant and refugee
populations. In the interest of providing as complete a picture as possible available so that if outreach to regional
migrant farms is later desired, what was discovered about migrant farm services is also discussed.
99. Does the locality support a living wage policy for all those who work, including migrant farm labor​?
Ohio’s minimum wage increased from
$8.10 to $8.15 as of January 1, 2017. While this rate is greater than
356
the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour ​ which has not been raised since 2009, it is still much less than the
$15.00 per hour commonly cited by the living wage advocacy group, ​Fight for $15​. Residents in Cleveland were to vote
on a $15.00 wage policy in the next election, but Ohio Governor John Kasich signed a bill into law on December 19,
353
​Antenucci, Mike. City of Akron Zoning Department. 25 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
​Julien, Kyle. East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. 21 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
355
​Ramirez, Oscar. Ohio Jobs and Family Services. 20 Dec. 2016. Telephone Interview.
356
​“Minimum Wage.” ​United States Department of Labor. N.p., n.d. Web. w
​ ww.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/minimumwage
354
44
2016 restricting municipalities from raising the minimum wage that employers in their jurisdictions are required to
pay workers. 357
Several nonprofits based358
in Summit County have endorsed the concept of “...index[ing] the federal minimum
wage to the local cost of housing.” ​ These organizations are: ACCESS Inc., Asbestos Workers Local 84, Greater
Akron Committee for Better Housing, HM Life Opportunity Services, Housing Network, Legacy
III, Tri-County
359
Independent Living Center Inc. (all in Akron); and UNITE HERE! Local 10 in Macedonia. ​ It is unknown what
actions these organizations are taking to affect wage policy.
IIA serves 700 immigrants and refugees annually, populations that are typically more vulnerable to
unscrupulous wage practices than native-born Americans. As a component of its job placement services that place
clients primarily in full time entry-level manufacturing positions, IIA makes a concerted effort to avoid minimum
wage positions. Tracking wages, it increases starting wages over time, thereby helping to ensure that members of this
community are able to meet their basic needs and have the opportunity to advance in society.
100. Does the locality provide or ensure that training for farm workers is provided in a comfortable training
environment, and that the training is adequate and in their native language, and that someone is available to answer
farm worker questions in their own language​?
Ohio JFS partners with ​Pathstone​, a nonprofit that 360
“...builds family and individual self-sufficiency by
strengthening farmworker, rural and urban communities....” ​ Its closest location is Toledo, but staff is available361
to
travel to Summit County to provide “...training and employment services to migrant and seasonal
farm
workers.”
362
Training is usually provided in migrant housing quarters or in the field during lunch break. ​ Pathstone did not
mention training in native languages or translation services, but it can be presumed that an organization such as this
would have such services as a standard operating procedure.
UV 1.a.28(b) Does the locality have a policy or programs to provide multimodal transportation options in the
community to enable transportation for migrant farm workers from camps​?
There are no policies or programs established at the city or county level to provide transportation for farm
workers unless they qualify for transportation assistance under another funded status. Organizations serving
immigrant and refugee populations must also make their own transportation arrangements. ​Asian Services In Action,
Inc. (ASIA, Inc.)​ “...strive[s] to empower and advocate for Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders (AAPIs); and to
provide AAPIs and other communities access to quality, culturally, and linguistically appropriate information, health
and social services.” 363 ASIA Inc. transports its farm worker clients to its farm in Medina County and to farmers'
markets in Cleveland.364
UV 1.e.37 Does the locality have or support a policy or program to ensure appropriate protection of all farm workers
from exposure to pesticides (e.g., training in farm worker language about dangers of pesticides, appropriate
application and protection measures, provision of equipment, etc.)​?
The training that Pathstone provides includes heat stress prevention, safe pesticide application, and ​Project
LEAF (Limiting Exposures Around Families)​, an EPA program designed to keep families and children safe from
residual pesticide365
chemicals brought home on clothing and other work-related items. Special training is available for
pregnant women.
UV 1.e.38 Does a program or regulation exist that ensures proper communication of sanitation and hygiene practices
for farm workers to ensure food safety​?
New ​Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)​ regulations are going into effect. OSU Summit Extension,
Countryside, and Farm Bureau teamed
up on November 10, 2016 in Hartville in Stark County to offer an educational
366
seminar to all farmers and producers. ​ At least one Stark County farm
owner who employs migrant workers was in
367
attendance. The frequency of future events will depend upon demand. ​ Countryside’s Knorr stated “there are a
357
​Pelzer, Jeremy. “Gov. John Kasich Signs Bill Blocking Cleveland’s $15 Minimum Wage Proposal.” ​Cleveland.com. N.p., 19 Dec.
2016. Web. ​www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2016/12/gov_john_kasich_signs_bill_blo.html
358
​“Advocates of a Universal Living Wage.” ​Universal Living Wage. N.p., 2015. Web. w
​ ww.universallivingwage.org/advocates.html
359
​“Advocates of a Universal Living Wage.” ​Universal Living Wage. N.p., 2015. Web. w
​ ww.universallivingwage.org/advocates.html
360
​“Pathstone.” ​Pathstone. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.pathstone.org/
361
​“OhioMeansJobs Summit County Partners.” S
​ ummit Ohio Means Jobs. N.p., 2017. Web. ​www.summitomj.org/who-we-are/partners
362
​Cruz, Heather. Pathstone. 17 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview.
363
​“Mission and Vision.” ​ASIA, Inc. N.p., 2016. Web. ​www.asiaohio.org/about-us/mission-vision/
364
​“HAPI Fresh Program.” ​ASIA, Inc. N.p., 2016. Web. ​www.asiaohio.org/our-work/self-sufficiency/hapi-fresh-farmers-market/
365
​Cruz, Heather. Pathstone. 17 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview.
366
​“Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Seminar.” O
​ hio Farm Bureau Federation. N.p., 10 Nov. 2016. Web. o
​ fbf.org/events/foo
d-safety-modernization-act-fsma-seminar/
367
​Betterly, Gale. Summit County Farm Bureau. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
45
whole host of requirements based on farm and producer scale, and trainings are being coordinated nationwide. This
is a huge piece of legislation with many moving parts and will be implemented incrementally.”
UV 4.e.86 Does the locality support access to fresh, healthful food by the farm laborers who are helping to produce
the food​?
Crown Point Ecology Center promotes free vegetables as a perk of being in the Farming Internship Program.
UV 4.e.89 Does the locality host a program to encourage and enable transitional farm labor to become engaged in,
participate in, or become integrated into community events - such as through volunteering for county fairs,
agricultural events​?
According to Pathstone, ​Hartville Migrant Ministries​ in Stark County, also welcomes migrant workers from
surrounding counties. In addition to ministry services, 368
it offers a free medical clinic, hospitality services, education
services, property maintenance, and a dance company.
UV 4.e.90 Does the locality have a clear contact for migrant farm workers to contact, to participate in any aspect of
the community​?
Oscar Ramirez is the Summit County contact for Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker outreach of Ohio JFS.
It is unknown what the extent of services is or how well known this information is to migrant farm workers in any
county. Hartville Migrant Ministries is also a contact for migrant farm workers, as discussed in the previous question.
369
UV 4.e.91 Does the locality have a map of where farm worker camps are, to facilitate understanding and planning for
their needs​?
Pathstone indicated that a map of migrant farms had been created through a partnership between Ohio JFS,
Ohio Health, and the Farm Worker Agencies Liaison and Communication Outreach Network (FALCON). Through a
series of additional conversations with Ohio JFS and Ohio Health, it was revealed that no such map exists370 but there
may instead be a list available through the Ohio JFS.371 Once it was confirmed that no migrant farms exist in Summit
County, research on this question ceased.
UV 4.e.92 Are housing options available for migrant workers​?
Pathstone was not aware of any in Summit County.372
UV 4.e.95 Does the locality support or have a program to incorporate the participation of local migrant workers into
local food farmers' markets and farm stands, to integrate and protect workers while they're in the community, as
isolation is a major factor in migrant worker life​?
Refugee farm workers from Africa, Bhutan, and Burma who are involved in ASIA, Inc.’s ​Healthy Asian
Pacific Islander Fresh Program (HAPI Fresh) Farm​ program also participate in its farmers’ markets in Akron and
Cleveland.
REFLECTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Policy Gaps and Opportunities
Below are some actions for SFC to consider in its effort to strengthen the local food landscape.
●
Using the ​Ohio EPA’s Model Zoning Code​ as a guide, work with Akron Zoning to create a code specific for
community gardens to reflect what is already being practiced and to preserve such practices for future
gardeners and city leaders.
●
Review and update the codes pertaining to bees, chickens, and other urban agriculture farm animals. The
City of Cleveland’s ​Chickens and Bees Ordinance​ could serve as a useful guide. “​Akron Chickens!​,” a
Facebook “...group hoping to get the chicken laws changed in Akron so everyone has access to fresh and
368
​“Services.” ​Services - Hartville Migrant Ministry. N.p., n.d. Web. h
​ artvillemigrantministry.org/blog/services/
​Cruz, Heather. Pathstone. 17 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview.
370
​Ramirez, Oscar. Ohio Jobs and Family Services. 20 Dec. 2016. Telephone Interview.
371
​Roberts, Eric. Ohio Department of Health. 20 Dec. 2016. Telephone Interview.
372
​Cruz, Heather. Pathstone. 17 Oct. 2016. Personal Interview.
369
46
healthy eggs!”373 may be a starting place to find people willing to collaborate toward that end374. Though
discussions in this Facebook ceased in February 2016, it appears that the group has conducted some
background research as there are files on its page titled “Proposed Chicken Law,” and “Revise Ordinance.”375
373
374
375
376
●
Consider ways that are agreeable to all stakeholders for protecting thriving community gardens from
development. At the very least, perhaps those who have operated a garden for a certain number of years or
more should be given the opportunity to present their case to council if the municipality decides it wants to
sell the land.
●
Convene stakeholders, including policy makers and urban planners, to learn about the social, economic,
health, and environmental benefits that can be realized from having strong and well-planned local food
policies and to discuss ways to advance efforts.
●
Engage with ​Akron City Council’s Green/Sustainability Committee​ to get involved in local food initiatives.
They could be particularly influential in developing departmental and administration-wide policies and
preferences for purchasing local food. Likewise, if there is not a County Sustainability Committee, one
should be convened and can begin working on county-level programs to enhance local food initiatives.
●
Encourage a collaborative effort between organizations that have GIS mapping technologies. Between
Summit GIS’ ​Maps and Apps​, AMATS, Akron University, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, and METRO
RTA, questions such as whether safe biking and walking paths exist between neighborhoods and food stores
and markets could be answered more thoroughly and quickly. If coordinated, the information could assist in
making food access a consideration in all planning efforts. Dennis Tubbs, Deputy Director of Summit County
Planning GIS Division, stated that not only is its GIS system available online, but that the Division has the
capability and is available to assist with an expansion of this research.376
●
Develop a website and phone application that links multi-modal transportation options to farmers' markets,
Corner Store program participants, community gardens, Hattie’s Food Hub, and grocery stores. The purpose
would be so that a user can, for example, quickly map out a plan for traveling from home to a Carrot Cash
farmers’ market using any combination of transportation options.
●
Continue building Summit County’s Food Policy Inventory by researching the remaining municipalities.
Consider limiting the scope of interviews to focus on ordinances and government programs only.
●
Create a way to spotlight new programs in the locality, including the details of their applicability to local food
and the process of using their resources, so that stakeholders are able to fully understand how to apply the
programs to their work. There is some confusion among interested parties about how the first right of refusal
works with the Summit County Land Bank’s Side Lot program.
●
Include information about which farmers' markets accept EBT and offer Carrot Cash or other nutrition
incentives on the Summit County JFS website. Council Member at Large Elizabeth Walters eagerly stated
that it would be relatively easy to add a page to the County’s much-accessed website that would provide food
access information. Going further, a link to SFC’s farmers’ market website where the latest incentive
information would always be available, should be shared on a variety of websites that assist people with food
access. Finally, print basic info quarter cards (with URL) to be distributed at places where people go for
services and for food. (Foodbank, pantries, 2-1-1, JFS, community centers, etc.)
●
Many area farms are extending their growing seasons with high tunnels and indoor growing, potentially
providing more consistent employment opportunities. Organizations with mutually beneficial interests in
this regard may consider partnering to take advantage of such opportunities.
●
The locality’s emergency preparedness seems very well-coordinated and planned, with frequent
management techniques being employed. Some next steps in plan considerations could be to include local
food sources in its plans for protection and distribution. This could be considered at both the daily
emergency and community emergency levels.
●
Any way that ReWorks can be supported in its food waste reduction efforts would be beneficial. The City
indicated that TIFs are a possibility for enterprises that create jobs. Perhaps this is one way that that a
composting facility can be built in Summit County.
●
Health is a priority in the locality. Be involved in the City’s health initiatives whenever possible so that the
connections to local food can be continually promoted and discussed.
​“Akron Chickens!” ​Facebook. N.p., n.d. Web. ​www.facebook.com/groups/462987217112778/
Nunn, Lisa. Let’s Grow Akron. 2 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, including any follow up.
​“Akron Chickens! Files.” ​Facebook. N.p., n.d. Web. w
​ ww.facebook.com/groups/462987217112778/files/
Tubbs, Dennis. Summit County Planning, GIS Division. 1 Nov. 2016. Personal Interview, with follow up.
47
●
Be sure to include both representatives of low income and other disadvantaged community members into
conversations about food access. A bottoms up approach to policy-making is crucial for awareness,
involvement, creativity, and empowerment.
Strengths and Limitations of the SFC Model
Recording and transcribing the interviews resulted in incredibly complete notes that could not have been
realized with my onsite notetaking. The information obtained by this practice contributed greatly to the richness of
knowledge. It also permitted me the ability to realize important pieces of information that I may have initially
overlooked during the actual interviews. At the same time, this process was much more time-consuming than
anticipated. Time spent on transcribing interviews and organizing notes took time away from being able to conduct
more in-depth reviews of documents, which may or may not have revealed additional information. Given a longer
duration for the entire project, both processes could have been more meticulous, however, there also comes a time
when information gained must be shared, so further delays in pursuit of more details can also be counterproductive.
By interviewing a wide range of people from organizations whose actual daily work involves the issues of
local food access, production, and distribution, I was able to learn about some of the real life challenges of working
within the parameters of ordinances. Much information would not have been revealed without these perspectives.
While the strength of this tactic was more than worth it, the number of interviews undertaken resulted in practically
back-to-back meetings. This left little time to process and absorb the content of each interview, thereby limiting the
ability to take advantage in what the FCFPA researcher called the “snowball effect.”377
Recommendations for Future Inventories
●
Review other inventories and recommendations that have been completed in the state.
●
Have an inventory conducted of the state’s laws as applicable to these questions, as well as how they must be
applied in incorporated and unincorporated municipalities. Keep it updated as changes are made. This
would prevent the possibility of multiple researchers conducting the same research.
●
Create a glossary of the terms used. This would be especially useful for researchers who do not have a
background in local food.
●
A statewide coalition effort may wish to collaborate on editing the questions for greater consistency and
preciseness. In the meantime, future researchers should consider these suggestions:
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
●
Scope and clarity: Prior to interviewing, consider the scope of the questions. Several contain so
many variables that a concise response is difficult. There is also a lack of consistency between the
level of support inquired about (e.g., policy, program, declaration, goal, or support.)
Conciseness v. ambiguity: The broad phrasing of many questions invites a wide range possible
Yes/No answers. Which questions should be solely focused on government policy and which might
include nonprofit programs?
Redundancy: Reduce the number of questions that are similar to others.
Follow up: Where it might add depth to responses, add a couple additional questions to the
original.
Tips: Include a one or two sentence summary of what questions might be looking for, as a guide for
researchers who might need to explain or probe for more in-depth responses.
Additions: Consider how local food has evolved since the questions were originally developed or
revised. Add or remove questions as deemed fit for the locality. For example, there are no questions
about rain barrels. Regulations regarding storm water diversions may be present in some localities,
restricting their use.
Rephrase: Consider the phrasing of the questions. For example, question no. 10 was changed in this
inventory from “...harmful effects of animal manure” to “...​potential​ harmful effects of animal
manure.”
Prior to interviewing, consider how concepts such as local, sustainable, support, healthy, and minimal will be
presented in the final report to encourage a common understanding of the questions in which these concepts
are at issue.
377
​Marquis, Caitlin. ​The Franklin County Food Policy Audit. Columbus, OH: N.p., 2012. Web.​ ​static1.squarespace.com/static/530
68bfee4b0b4d1ce2e0bcf/t/5306a8dce4b04d9d2fa96cbd/1392945372437/FCFPA+Report+Final+w+pics.pdf
48
●
Each researcher will find that certain methods do or do not work for them and that certain tasks take more
or less time than thought. Test the designed process by completely processing the information from two or
three interviews from start to finish. This will enable researchers to determine where to allow more time, to
be as efficient with their time as possible, and to discover other snags in the process.
●
Take a list of questions for the interviewee to refer to during the interview. Even if sent in advance, the
interviewee may not have had a chance to fully digest them and/or may not have brought them to the
interview. Having a list printed will make it easy for them to follow along and take notes if they wish to.
●
If planning to record interviews, find out if transcription software with or without voice recognition is
feasible and worthwhile. Perhaps coalitions can share both the cost and the resource.
49
Mark Mitchell
Food & Facility Safety Manager
Contact's Name, Email, & Title
Abraham L. Wescott
GV Manager
Samuel DeShazior
GV Deputy Mayor for Economic Development
APS
--Akron Planning
Akron
Development
Mayor’s
Economic
Development
Office
Akron Zoning
Countryside
EANDC
Hattie's
IIA
Lisa Nunn
Let's Grow Akron NP Executive Director
Akron Public Schools
Child Nutrition Department
Akron Public Schools
Health Education
City of Akron
Comprehensive Planning Division
City of Akron
Development Services Division
City of Akron
Mayor's Office of Economic Development
City of Akron
Zoning Division
Countryside Conservancy
East Akron Neighborhood
Development Corporation
Hattie Larlham
International Institute of Akron
Let's Grow Akron
[email protected]
Kyle Julien
Director of Urban Planning
NP w/ Caitlin Joseph, Americorp Staff Member
[email protected]
Tiffany Stacy
NP Regional Manager of Employment Services
[email protected]
[email protected]
Dotty Grexa
NP VP, Vocational & Enterprise Services
[email protected]
[email protected]
Erin Molnar
NP Farmers' Market Manager
Zac Rheinberger
Director of Food Operations, Hattie's Hub
w/ Audrey Arend, Admin Assistant
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Contact's Email
Beth Knorr
Director of Markets
Mike Antenucci
GV Manager
Helen Tomic
GV Manager
Katrina Halasa
ED Learning Specialist
Laura Kepler
ED Coordinator
Curtis Baker
QG Director
AMATS
Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation
Study
Jill Oldham
NP Network Partners and Programs Director
*
Foodbank
Abbreviated
Name
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
Department, Agency, or
Organization
APPENDIX A - Stakeholder Table
In-person
Email
In-person
Email
Document
In-person
Email
In-person
Email
In person
In-person
Email
In-person
Email
In-person
NA
NA
NA
In-person
Email
In-person
Email
In-person
Email
In-person
Email
Interview
Type
Yes
Yes
NA
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
---
---
---
---
Yes
Yes
Yes
Accuracy
Sign Off
Pathstone
Popsmith
Reworks
Ohio Health
Ohio EPA
SCCHI
Summit
Purchasing
Summit Council
Summit
Emergency
Farm Bureau
Land Bank
Summit C&E
Summit GIS
Pathstone
Popsmith
Reworks
State of Ohio
Ohio Department of Health
Northeast District Office - Akron
State of Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency
Summit Coalition for
Community Health Improvement
Summit County
Department of Purchasing
Summit County Council
Summit County
Emergency Management
Summit County Farm Bureau
Summit County Land Bank
Summit County
Community and Economic Development
Summit County
Planning, GIS Division
In-person
Email
Gale Betterly
(Former) President / State Board of Trustees
NP Member
[email protected]
Patrick Bravo
QG Executive Director
Dennis Tubbs
GV Deputy Director
Connie Krauss
GV Director
In-person
[email protected]
Valerie DeRose
Senior Administrator
GV w/ Andrew Kluge, Admin Assistant
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
In-person
Email
[email protected]
Elizabeth Walters
GV Council Member-at-Large
In-person
Email
In-person
Email
In-person
[email protected]
NA
In-person
In-person
Email
Telephone
In-person
Email
In-person
Email
In-person
Emaill
Phone call
GV Shannon McNulty
[email protected]
[email protected]
v
Angel.Arroyo-Rodriguez
Environmental Planner &
GV Sustainability Coordinator
Marie Curry
CC Policy Committee Chair
[email protected]
[email protected]
Carol Giulitto
QG Program Coordinator
GV Eric Roberts, RS
[email protected]
[email protected]
Marcie Kress
Executive Director
Beth Knorr
FP Co-owner
Gloria Gutierrez
NP Director of Training and Employment
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
---
Yes
NA
NA
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Momo
Three Sisters Momo
* TYPE OF ENTITY
ED = Education
FP = For Profit
GV = Government
NP = Nonprofit
QG = Quasi Government
Jacqueline Kowalski
ED Educator, Agriculture & Natural Resources
OSU Summit
Extension
The Ohio State University
Summit County Extension Office
Tiffany Stacy
FP (Former) Co-owner
[email protected]
Brian Prunty
GV District Administrator
Summit Soil & Water Conservation District Summit SWCD
[email protected]
[email protected]
SFC
Beth Knorr
NP Director
Summit Food Coalition
[email protected]
[email protected]
Elizabeth Foster
Public Health Coordinator
Kristi Kato
GV Community Health Supervisor
SCPH
Summit County
Public Health
[email protected]
Tonia Burford
Assistant Director of Environmental Health
In-person
Email
In-person
Email
In-person
Email
In-person
Email
In-person
In-person
Email
In-person
Email
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Appendix B
Geographic Accessibility of Farmers’ Markets to Low Income Neighborhoods
Urban or
Rural *
Market and Address
Proximity to Food Desert by Census Tract
Urban
Akron Farm and Flea
51 E. Market St, Akron 44308
In Tract 39153508301
Rural
Akron General Farmers Market
4125 Medina Rd, Bath 44333
About 5-6 miles from edge of Tracts 39153506400,
39153506500, 39153508600, 39153506700
Urban
Anna Dean Farm Market
248 Robinson Ave., Barberton 44203
About .8 miles from edge of Tract 39153510400
Rural
Central Market (fka Green Farmers' Market
1755 Town Park Blvd, Green 44232
About 6 miles from edge of Tract 39153503800
Rural
Copley Creekside Farmers Market
1265 S. Cleveland-Massillon Rd., Copley 44321
A little over 4 miles from edge of Tracts
39153506400, 39153506500, 39153508600,
39153506700
Urban
Countryside Farmers' Market at Highland Square
Conger Ave. & West Market St., Akron 44303
In Tract 39153506400
Urban
Countryside Farmers’ Market at Howe Meadow
4040 Riverview Rd., Peninsula 44264
About 4 miles from edge of Tract 39153507500
Urban
Countryside Farmers' Market at Old Trail School
2315 Ira Rd., Cuyahoga Falls 44210
About 6 miles from edge of Tract 39153507500
Urban
HAPI Fresh Farmers' Market
730 Carroll St., Akron 44307
In Tract 39153508900
Urban
HAPI Fresh Farmers' Market
730 Carroll St., Akron 44307
In Tract 39153508900
Urban
Hudson Farmers Market
103 N. Main St., Hudson 44236
About 2.5 miles from edge of Tract 39153530105
Urban
Munroe Falls Farmers Market
128 N. Main St., Munroe Falls 44262
About 3 miles from edge of Tract 39153507600
Urban
Night Market on Arlington
550 S. Arlington St., Akron 44306
Tract 39153503500
Urban
Stow Community Farmers Market
1567 Pilgrim Dr., Stow 44224
About 4 miles from edge of Tract 39153507600
Urban
Summit Lake Neighborhood Farmers' Market
380 W. Crosier, Akron 44311
About 900 feet from edge of Tract 39153505600
Urban
The Market on Cascade
Cascade Plaza, Akron 44308
In Tract 39153508301
Urban
Tallmadge Farmers Market
46 N. Munroe St., Tallmadge 44278
A little over a mile from edge of Tract 39133601701
Urban
Twinsburg Farmers Market
2695 Creekside Commons, Twinsburg 44087
In Tract 39153530105
* See Section 2.4. for discussion of what constitutes a rural area in Summit County.
53
Appendix C
54
Appendix D
55
56
Appendix E
At the end of each interview, participants were asked about what policies or programs, they (either
personally or representing their organizations), would like to see implemented toward strengthening the
Akron-Summit County local food system? Their responses are shared here to spark ideas and conversations between
stakeholders who might wish to partner on programs and initiatives.
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank​ ~Jill Oldham, Network Partners and Programs Director
● The Foodbank aspires to close the 41 million meal gap in our service area by continuing to develop new and
innovative partnerships and strategies to expand opportunities to capture all usable surplus food and ensure
that it is easily accessible to those in need.
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank ​~​Mark Mitchell, Food & Facility Safety Manager
● Keep striving to do a better job of working with disaster response organizations.
Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study​ ~​Curtis Baker, Director
● Better access to healthy food in urban areas. Many farmers' markets are held in wealthier communities
because, economics being what it is, vendors go where they’ll make the most money for their efforts.
City of Akron, Mayor's Office of Economic Development ​~​Samuel DeShazior, Deputy Mayor for Economic
Development
● A cradle to completion concept ought to be developed so people, from primary school to the end of their
professional life, can keep learning and understanding how human life can be improved by life sciences and
how all these systems work together.
City of Akron Zoning Division​ ~​Mike Antenucci, Manager
● More farmers' markets around the city.
● More permanent production and sales like Hattie Larlham is doing. We’d like to see vacant storefronts
converted to small community grocery stores in food desert areas so people can have more access to produce
and healthy foods. There are a lot of people in City administration who are interested in seeing that happen.
We are all ears for any entrepreneur wants to do it.
Countryside Conservancy​ ~​Beth Knorr, Director of Markets
● It isn’t necessarily a policy, but based on inquiries we’ve had from local food producers and would-be local
food producers who want to bring their products to market, having a place where people can make their
product is important. As a community, we need to make that happen.
● Something I think farmers’ markets are plagued with is the notion that they’re elitist. It’s a gathering of
farmers for goodness sake! I can’t think of anything else so ​not​ elitist. They’re very hard working people
doing their best to bring quality products to market and they deserve to make a good living. So I do think it’s
important for markets to accept SNAP, so that all community members can participate. I would like to see a
policy that encourages that but I don't’ think mandates are productive. So, in certain instances, if there is a
group that absolutely feels they cannot, maybe they can’t use public property for their market.
● Some kind of policy that addresses land access. Maybe using Countryside’s lease model for long term land
access would be beneficial, especially with urban agriculture. Building soil takes a long time so to lose it and
start from scratch is pretty devastating.
Countryside Conservancy​ ~Erin Molnar, Farmers' Market Manager
● For EBT to be accepted county wide.
● Akron and Summit needs a commercial kitchen available.
● Auxiliary services for small food businesses such as Cleveland Culinary and ACEnet in Athens.
● Reduce the gaps in dairy. This would need to be more statewide. There are many restrictions and challenges
with licensing. It’s well-meaning for bigger agricultural operations but overboard for smaller ones.
East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation​ ~​Kyle Julien, Director of Urban Planning
● I’d like to see Countryside Conservancy’s Farm Initiative with the National Park around Summit County’s
periphery. Instead of farmers selling land to developers when they retire, it would go into a trust.
● We have to recognize that bringing agriculture to scale in the city will upend the relationship between
outlying areas and the core. We want scaled-up agriculture to be 20 miles away. That’s not far, and it’s would
not undermine regional food sovereignty, but it would mean that people drive a lot less and it would
strengthen the city’s tax base. We want to bring people back to the city and stop the transformation of
farmland more than we want to hasten the transition of urban land to agriculture. One of the reasons we
have a surplus of vacant land is because of a failed real estate market which encourages sprawl. It’s not
healthy for a city to devote large chunks of land to urban agriculture, because doing so means that we’re not
57
●
●
a city anymore. We need to be able to have food and everything else within walking distance but not take
land off the housing market to do that.
Improving public transit and the development that compliments it would create density, enabling people to
have an easier way to do their grocery shopping.
Getting kids to choose healthy foods instead of giving them an introduction to high salt stuff.
Hattie’s Hub​ ~​Zac Rheinberger, Director of Food Operations, Hattie's Hub
● More art worked into the local food system. I think it has to be beyond just buying food from a farm that’s
processing and dropping it off in a truck. It would be nice to have a local food festival. Maybe some art
around the city by people who live in the city depicting local foods, local flower production. I think art helps
pull a lot of things together. It helps create a community.
● I think a public market place would do well. There’s a group that’s been meeting and I’ve gone occasionally.
It would definitely help if there was some sort of open-to-the-public West Side Market type place with a
backend processing kitchen. That would do a lot to promote local foods.
International Institute of Akron​ ~​Tiffany Stacy, Regional Manager of Employment Services
● More support for the farmers’ markets.
● Nutritional education is important for our clients. I wish we could do more with our limited resources in
terms of providing nutritional education.
● Money to organizations for interpreters. There’s lots of business incubating and advising in Akron, but they
don’t have the resources to pay for interpreters. So immigrants, who are three times more likely than native
born Americans to start a business, cannot engage in those services.
● A great way to support local food, as well food entrepreneurs (many of whom would be immigrants and
refugees) is to have an incubative indoor bazaar with small stalls, like Cleveland’s West Side Market, because
farmers' markets are only seasonal.
Let’s Grow Akron​ ~​Lisa Nunn, Executive Director
● Secured land tenure is important.
● Access to water is also important. The City wants us to move toward putting in own meters. I’m trying to
figure out what exactly they want me to do. I’m willing to navigate the process to help other people who have
to do it later, but I want them to work with me. I don’t have $1,200 as an organization to put water in.
There’s got to be some sort of compromise.
● There’s a program in Cleveland called ​Summer Sprouts​ run through the Extension office to start community
gardens. People are required to pay for and attend six weeks of classes in the winter. In exchange they get a
site assessment, soil testing, and if they need to have raised beds, the program provides money for materials
or tilling. There are incentives to attend other educational talks throughout the summer, like seeds or plants
or cover crops seeds at the end of the season. I’d love to see something like that in place here to incentive
people to get and stay organized and committed. Training is important for gardeners, like fall clean up and
how weeds going to seed in one plot becomes everyone’s weeds and plant spacing. Community garden
leaders who have all this information can teach the gardeners all this. So I’d like to see a program that
educates and strengthens community garden leaders so gardens can be more successful and sustainable.
People give up easily if overwhelmed with weeds and pests or disease.
ReWorks​ ~​Marcie Kress, Executive Director
● I’d love to focus on waste reduction and getting it sized correctly. That is not to take away from donations
because they can work hand in hand. Restaurants or producers can create an economical size of food and
still be able to donate.
● There’s a belief that there would not be an open conversation among stakeholders. People tend to view food
waste as being equal to having poor operations. ReWorks would like help generators of food waste to realize
that we are not trying to criticize or penalize but want to help them improve operations and cost efficiencies.
So that open conversations can be had toward improving system that need reviewed and adjusted. ​Lean Path
software allows restaurants to figure out how to reduce the processing that causes waste.
● Tax incentives for food donations, otherwise it’s just a hindrance.
● Community support from entities such as SFC for a facility. There can be pushback from communities and
entities who don’t want the facility in their community.
ReWorks​ ~​Carol Giulitto, Program Coordinator
● We tend to consider what we are going to do with how much extra food we have. So much extra shouldn’t
have been created to begin with, so we like to focus also on reduction.
● Policies and legislation from our lawmakers. Ohio struggles compared to other places around the country.
We just watched a webinar ​video​ about how well Massachusetts, Vermont, and California are doing in using
state legislation to reduce food waste.
● More help locally and federally with educational resources such as staff, facilities, and generators.
Summit County Community and Economic Development​ ~​Connie Krauss, Director
58
●
We understand the need to provide support for people without access to food. The County’s strength is not in
passing regulations because we don’t have the purview to do so. That’s done at the local level with zoning
and with supporting particular types of business. We can’t decide for Akron what their business development
support is going to be. We do try to support whatever we can in what is happening in neighborhood
developments with food policies though.
Summit County Community Health Initiative​ ~​Marie Curry, Policy Committee Chair
● I would like to see much healthier school breakfasts and lunches.
● One of the things I hope to come from this food inventory is some direction with respect to additional food
policy work that needs done. I think SCCHI may be able to partner in that work.
Summit County Council​ ~​Elizabeth Walters, Council Member-at-Large
● At the County level, the biggest thing we have the ability to effect policy change on is in the rural villages and
townships that don’t have the infrastructures that Akron, Barberton, and Cuyahoga Falls do. I’d like some
actionable goal to support farmers’ markets out there. I think there’s a market in every small community,
and it would be a great to find ways to support small scale agriculture and remove barriers to folks using it as
a tool for economic independence.
● I’d love to know where the local restaurants get their food. It seems to be a big opportunity. I’d also love to
know what the barriers are to starting restaurants because I think we make it hard in this community.
Everything that has started in the last 3-4 years has been doing fairly well, if it has strong management and
good advertising, so how can we do more? I think there’s such a need because what drives the cultural center
of a city is food.
● A training program, whether it’s through our economic development department or not, to help all our local
farmers and growers be EBT accessible so that everyone with an Ohio Direction Card can use it at any
farmers' market or orchard.
● How do we get people on Ohio Direction Cards into a CSA program? We have a couple small local CSAs that
have a hard time finding a good customer base because they’re competing with really great regional ones like
Fresh Fork in Cleveland. One barrier is transportation if the CSA doesn’t deliver.
Summit County Emergency Management​ ~​Valerie DeRose, Senior Administrator
● Better networking between different food growers and distributors to increase the spread of knowledge of
available resources, reduce unnecessary duplication of services and enable better cohesion, especially
between the southern and northern parts of the county.
Summit County Farm Bureau​ ~​Gale Betterly, (Former) President / State Board of Trustees Member
● We need to investigate where the barriers are to encourage new people to raise their own sources of food.
Examples are livestock such as chickens, primarily hens; or even some of the more exotic animals like alpaca
that produce fiber (it’s not food, but fiber is important to stay warm). Another is potbellied pigs. They’ve
been raised for meat in large Vietnamese cities for centuries.
● Reduction of the barriers of being able to market things out home gardens.
Summit County Planning, GIS Division ​~​Dennis Tubbs, Deputy Director
● If Council came up with something, we would definitely support it and do our best to makes sure that the
requirements are met.
Summit County Public Health​ ~​Kristi Kato, Community Health Supervisor
● Increase the number of corner stores providing produce.
● Have more conversions to Client Choice pantries.
Summit County Public Health ​~​Elizabeth Foster, Public Health Coordinator
● Increase the number of community gardens.
Summit County Soil & Water Conservation District​ ~​Brian Prunty District Administrator
● Developing a network like how Whole Foods does to provide products from within a certain local or regional
radius but aim for something like Athens County’s “​30 mile meal​.”
● Newer farming methods like hydroponics can play a role in the future because they produces high yields.
They’re typically in urban cores, in abandoned buildings. Akron would need to be business friendly to those
endeavors.
● At larger farms, I’d like to see carbon sequestration become implemented more, through rotational grazing
instead of farmers leasing out land for more corn and soybean. I understand that’s easier for farmers who are
offsite or who leasing the land, but it would be nice to see that more implemented. We know the benefits of
grass fed beef.
● The City of Akron is so big that sometimes departments don’t know what another is doing. One might have a
certain rule that prevents people from being able to do things. One is simply a downspout disconnect from
your drain gutters to be able to spill into a rain garden because downspouts have to be tied into the system,
59
which is contradictory to other rules because we’re sending additional storm water from rooftops into the
combined sewer causing overflows.
The Ohio State University, Summit County Extension Office​ ~​Jacqueline Kowalski, Educator, Agriculture & Natural
Resources
● I’d like to see a strong urban agriculture policy from the City of Akron that includes land use, market stands,
water use, high tunnels, and signage. And more specifically, on keeping chickens and bees. Some of that
already exists, but I don’t think it’s in a form that can be easily accessed by people who are interested.
Three Sisters Momo​ ~​Tiffany Stacy, (Former) Co-owner
● An industrial kitchen for mobile food businesses because many brick and mortar businesses start as mobile
food businesses.
60
Question
Akron
Y/N
Does the locality have a policy that its citizens have a “right to food security”?
Does the locality have a declaration of food sovereignty?
Has the locality adopted a clear policy defining "local" food?
2
3
4
UV 1.a.15
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
Is there a local government policy or preference for local agencies to purchase lowspray, sustainably grown, or organic food?
Does the locality have a policy, program, or goal to reduce nonpoint source pollution
from agricultural operations?
Does the locality have a policy, goal or program to manage the potential harmful effects
of animal manure?
Does the locality support an organization or agency that can advise farmers on
sustainable growing practices?
Does the locality have a policy or program to reduce pesticide use, with appropriate
enforcement?
Does a policy or program exist to encourage transition to sustainable or organic
agricultural methods, to provide increased carbon sequestration?
Does the locality have a policy or goal to fence out all livestock from streamways?
Does the locality have a policy or goal or participate in a program to manage excess
animal manure?
6
7
8
9
10
UV 1.e.36.
UV 1.e.40
UV 3.b.61
UV 3.b.64
NO
NO
NO
YES
NO
Does the locality have a clear goal that supports the production and distribution of local
food?
Does the locality have economic development goals to support regional food
production?
Is there a support system to supply existing farmers with steady and seasonal farm
labor?
Are there local government or other programs to inspire and train new farmers,
including assistance to immigrants who may come from farming families?
Is there a USDA-inspected community cannery, kitchen, or other processing facility
open to local farmers, food entrepreneurs, and the public?
11
12
13
14
15
1.3 Encouraging Production for Local Markets
NO
Is there a local policy or program that offers incentives to farmers to switch to more
sustainable growing methods?
5
NO
YES
Does a policy or program exist to encourage transition to low-spray, sustainable, or
organic agricultural methods, to reduce human and environmental exposure to
potentially harmful chemicals?
1.2 Supporting Sustainable Agriculture
YES
Does the locality have a policy or goal to reduce its community environmental
“foodprint”?
NO
YES
Does the locality support or participate in a Food Policy Council?
1
NO
YES
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
YES
Summit
Y/N
1.1 Systemic Approaches (involving public health, ecological sustainability, and economic development)
1. Promoting Local Food, Sustainability, and Community Food Security
Sections & Item
Details
Other facilities with varying licenses do exist and efforts are underway to expand
resources.
Several organizations offer opportunities such as internships, agricultural job
training, and farming workshops for urban and traditional farms.
There may be opportunities for clients of organizations that offer job training
services under the right conditions.
There are funding mechanisms available, but none specifically set aside to support
regional food production.
To the extent that the City of Akron and Summit County signed onto the Summit
County Food Charter, they support the production and distribution of local food.
However, no clear quantifiable goals are currently in place.
See Question no. 9.
See Question no. 9.
Carbon sequestration is one of the main goals of Summit SWCD's cover crop and
intense rotational grazing workshops.
Regulations and enforcement is handled at the state level by the Ohio Department of
Agriculture. Local training is available.
Numerous resources exist throughout Akron and Summit County.
Summit SWCD is the first point of contact for addressing pollution complaints.
Countryside Conserancy has organizational level policies and programs. Summit
County OSU Extension offers training.
See Question no. 5.
Practices are (or have) occuring(ed), but there are no policies. Preferences are
unknown.
See Question no. 5.
Summit SWCD manages the Agricultural Pollution Abatement Program (APAP) to
help farmers institute best management practices (BMPs) through cost share
assistance.
Due to the widely varying needs and operations of local food stakeholders, creating
an official definition of local food may be more prohibitive than useful.
To the extent that the City of Akron and Summit County signed onto the Summit
County Food Charter, there is a declaration of food sovereignty.
No codified policy exists, but both the City of Akron and Summit recognize the
importance of and support the right to food security by their signing onto the
Summit County Community Food Charter.
Two Summit County agenices, ReWorks, and Summit SWCD, which serve all of the
county including Akron, work in accordance with state mandates to reduce waste
and agricultural inputs.
The Summit Food Coalition exists to represent local food policy interests in the City
of Akron and throughout Summit County. Both municipalities signed Resolutions
adopting the Summit County Community Food Charter.
APPENDIX F - Summit Food Coalition - Food Policy Inventory
YES
NO
Does the locality support an organization, agency, or individual who is able to provide
farmers with technical assistance regarding financial solvency, and/or regulatory
compliance?
Does the locality have incentives for supporting agri-tourism, heritage tourism, or
other purposes supporting local food production?
16
UV 5.99
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
Are there economic development programs, incentives or other tools for retailers to
favor purchasing local food?
Are there financial or other programs to support or incubate food-related businesses?
Does the locality have a policy to allow local farmers' markets or tailgate markets?
Does the locality provide institutional support for local farmers' markets or tailgate
markets?
Is there economic development support for businesses that provide regional
distribution of local food, such as a Food Hub?
Does the locality provide tax incentives, leasing agreements, or other incentives to
support development of businesses using locally produced food?
Does the locality support, or are there programs for, mobile farm stands and food
carts?
Does the locality have a clear policy of encouraging (or giving preference to) event
caterers or vendors that will use locally sourced food?
Is there a local government purchasing preference of local food when available?
Does the locality have a policy or program to support the identification and
development of local heritage seeds, crops, foods, and heritage food products?
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
UV 2.a.43
UV 2.a.45
UV 2.a.56
NO
NO
NO
Does the locality support the policy of $1 for every EBT dollar, when the EBT is used at
grocery stores or market venues for fresh, local food?
Do farmers' markets and/or grocery stores accommodate WIC coupons, Senior
Nutrition coupons, or EBT machines?
Are farmer's markets geographically accessible by low income neighborhoods, in rural
as well as urban areas?
26
27
28
UV 4.a.69
YES
YES
Does the locality have an emergency preparedness plan that includes contingency plans
for short-term interruptions of food deliveries?
Does the locality support the provision of a central directory of all emergency food
providers?
29
30
1.6 Emergency Preparedness and Food Provisions
NO
Does the locality support the purchase/use of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards
to provide low-income access to farmers' markets?
1.5 Making Local Food Accessible to Low-Income Populations
NO
Is there a local government policy recommendation for purchase of local food when
available?
18
NO
NO
Does the locality publish or support a public guide to local food?
17
1.4 Creating Markets for Local Foods
Akron
Y/N
Question
Sections & Item
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
Summit
Y/N
Details
The City of Akron provides a 211 system for referral and the Akron-Canton Regional
Foodbank has a searchable web-based directory of all emergency food providers in
its network.
The Summit County Emergency Management Agency and the Akron-Canton
Regional Food Bank have comprehensive plans that provide for many types of
emergency scenarios.
Only six of the county's 22 farmers' markets are located in food deserts. Of those,
several are located at the border of food desert areas rather than being more
centrally located.
The majority of farmers' markets do not accommodate WIC coupon, Senior
Nutrition coupons, or EBT cards.
There is no policy for EBT dollar matches, but Countryside Conservancy's farmers'
markets and a few other markets do offer this incentive to EBT customers.
Only eight of the county's 22 farmers' markets accept EBT cards. Countryside
Conservancy has been leading efforts to make EBT cards more widely accepted at
farmers markets.
There are no policies or programs in existence specific to this purpose.
There are no programs for mobile farm stands. They may be regulated in the City of
Akron by its Mobile Retail Food Establishment (food truck) laws.
There are incentives available but none speciifc to support regional distribution of
local food.
There is assistance available but none speciifc to support regional distribution of
local food.
The City of Akron and local nonprofits offer assistance with starting farmers'
markets. Countryside Conservancy can help markets setting up to accept nutrition
incentive currencies.
There are no codified policies specific to farmers' markets, but the atmosphere in the
City of Akron and throughout Summit County is friendly and welcoming of markets.
There are programs and incentives available, but none specifically to support
regional food production.
This was a goal of the Corner Store program, but there are no economic
development programs or incentives available.
Several organizations publish some guides or lists, but none are currnetly allencompassing. SFC and Countryside plan to create comprehensive guides in 2017.
No such incentives exists but touring options are available and happening via the
City of Akron and Countryside Conservancy.
Both the Summit County OSU Extension and the Summit Farm Bureau have several
offerings for technical assistance.
APPENDIX F - Summit Food Coalition - Food Policy Inventory
YES
YES
Does the locality employ strategies for increasing food donations for emergency
provisions and food banks?
Does the locality support a method, structure, or storage facility for donations of fresh
foods to emergency providers?
32
33
NO
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
Does the locality support a compost pick-up program that processes food waste for
recycling? Or does the locality provide another method of recycling/disposing of nonedible food waste?
Does the locality allow for storage and pick-up of compostable items at commercial
establishments?
Does the locality support commercial composting or anaerobic digester facilities for
food waste recycling?
Does zoning code allow community gardens to bring food waste from off-site sources
for composting?
Does the locality support educational programs encouraging backyard composting of
food wastes?
Does the locality support programs to encourage synergies for byproduct use among
food producers and processors?
Does the locality have a purchasing policy requiring that all disposable serviceware is
compostable?
Does the locality provide economic or tax incentives for establishment of facilities for
processing/recycling food waste (composting, anaerobic digestion, etc)?
Does the locality's board or council include a solid waste management or planning
professional?
Does the locality support a program to redistribute viable uneaten food from
commercial establishments to hungry, malnourished, or low-income populations?
Is there a policy or program to encourage foraging from unused home fruit and other
gardens?
Does the locality have a map for local food foraging?
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
UV 3.c.52
UV 3.c.63
NO
UV 3.c.66
Does the locality offer a central site for composting home food and yard materials?
YES
Is there a policy, program or opportunity for gleaning from local farms and
UV 3.c.64(b)restaurants?
NO
NO
Does the locality support a policy or program to divert a given percentage of bio-waste
away from landfills?
34
1.7 Diverting and Recycling Food waste
YES
Akron
Y/N
31
Question
Does the locality support coordination and cooperation among emergency food
providers?
Sections & Item
NO
YES
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
Summit
Y/N
Details
AKRON: Only has a leaf removal program. Whether it composts leaves or not is
unknown.
SUMMIT: Many other municipalities have leaf removal programs. Some contract
wtih commercial mulching businesses.
See Question 44.
While Reworks believes that such a program may be best managed by community
gardening groups, the organization would consider playing a role if there were a
need it could fulfill.
Reworks uses the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Hierarchy
as a guide for its food waste initiatives. “Reduce Wasted Food By Feeding Hungry
People” is the second priority on the hierarchy. In 2015, the Foodbank distributed
1.8 million pounds of produce from its participation in the Ohio Agricultural
Clearance Program.
Summit County Council Member, Jeff Wilhite, was the founding Executive Director
of the Summit/Akron Solid Waste Management Authority
AKRON: Tax Incentive Financing (TIF) may be available to businesses creating jobs.
SUMMIT: Reworks will sponsor Ohio EPA grant applications.
AKRON: Let's Grow Akron is partnered with University of Akron and ReWorks to
grow its composting program in this way.
SUMMIT: Specifics outside of Akron are unknown, but ReWorks services all of
Summit County.
Composting programs can be found throughout Akron and Summit County.
AKRON: Zoning code does not mention off-site sources.
SUMMIT: Not involved in composting.
Ohio law exempts composting operations smaller than 300 square feet from its
licensing and registration laws in order to encourage smaller composting operations.
The nearest such facility is in Cleveland.
Ohio EPA regulations allow waste to be stored at the site of its production. Local
health policies come into effect if a nuisance complaint is made.
ReWorks managed a popular and successful program for several years that was
discontinued due to its contractor's difficulties in finding licensed facilities nearby.
ReWorks has a time-based action plan to reduce food waste from 3 to 25 percent
and yard waste from 72 to 85 percent by 2026.
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank site is adequately equipped for its daily
operations. The Summit County Emergency Management Agency coordinates with
others for additional storage and other resources in community emergency
situations.
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank's donation and fundraising strategies are
part of its Business Continuity Plan, whether independently or in times that the
Summit County Emergency Management Agency is leading efforts.
Coordination is managed by the Summit County Emergency Management Agency
and includes many different stakeholders.
APPENDIX F - Summit Food Coalition - Food Policy Inventory
NO
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
NO
YES
Does the code allow for and support protection of open space for community gardens?
Does the code allow for temporary and conditional use of abandoned lots for
neighborhood gardens and/or urban farms?
Does the locality sponsor or work with an area community land trust or land bank in
setting aside land for community or nonprofit gardens, or gardens where low-income
residents can grow produce for sale?
Does the locality minimize height restrictions on thru-way vegetation? If low vegetation
is preferred, does the locality give preference to edible landscaping?
Does the locality promote or enable easy accessibility to community gardens, including
offering them in smaller pocket parks?
Are there land protections for farmers' markets?
Does the locality have a policy to support and encourage land conservation, including
easements, for food production?
46
47
48
49
50
UV 1.a.20
UV 1.a.21
UV 5.96
YES
YES
YES
YES
Does the locality allow for on-site sale of products by urban agriculture operations?
Do zoning codes pertaining to urban agriculture on private lands allow for construction
of associated structures?
Does the locality support a program to facilitate soil testing on private lands for
conversion to community gardens? Or does the locality require raised beds for
community gardens?
Are there funding streams for urban food production projects, such as Community
Development Block Grants?
52
53
54
55
56
57
Does the zoning code allow small-scale beekeeping on residential land?
YES
YES
Does the locality utilize zoning tools (such as overlays or subdistricts), or include
language in the zoning code to support non-commercial community gardens on private
lands?
51
2.3 Home Gardening and Agricultural Use of Residential Land
YES
Does the locality utilize zoning tools (such as overlays or subdistricts), or include
language in the zoning code to support commercial urban agriculture operations on
small plots and residential lands?
2.2 Urban Agriculture on Private Land
YES
Is the locality currently employing or considering a “joint use” agreement to open the
use of school land for food production (school gardens, community gardens,
community urban farms)?
Akron
Y/N
45
Question
Does the locality clearly allow the use of public space or land for nonprofit community
food gardens?
2.1 Urban Agriculture on Public Land
2. Zoning and Land Use
Sections & Item
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
Summit
Y/N
Details
AKRON: The code does allow beekeeping, but the setback restrictions may be
restrictive for some city lots.
There are no local funds set aside specifically for urban food projection projects, but
several projects and programs have been funded by local dollars that are available
for projects meeting neighborhood beautification, job training, and low income
standards.
Soil testing is available through Let's Grow Akron, and Summit SWCD. Raised beds
are not a requirement.
AKRON: Construction of accessory structures is allowed so long as requirements are
met. The City also uses special permitting for certain projects outside the
parameters.
SUMMIT: The County waived hoop houses from having to comply with ordinary
Ohio building codes.
AKRON: Urban agriculture operations located in areas zoned for Retail Use are
permitted to sell products on-site with no additional permit necessary.
AKRON: The code is not specific to community gardening on private lands, but
gardening is a permissable activity in any of its four Residence Districts.
AKRON: The code allows for gardening on residential lots. For commercial
gardening on residential lots, a conditional use permit is required.
See Question 47.
AKRON: Accessibility is measured by cost, location in proximity to food deserts and
bus stops, access to water source, and accommodations for people with physical
disabilities. On most counts, the city enables easy accessibility.
AKRON: Vegetation height is limited for traffic visability purposes. It does not have
a preference for edible landscaping but would not be opposed if it met height and
setback requirements.
The Summit County Land Bank has programs that enable individuals and nonprofits
to buy land for use as a community garden, but there is no land set aside specifically
for this purpose.
AKRON: Community gardens may operate on abandoned lots with the proper
permissions and permits.
AKRON: Open space, although not specifically for community gardening, is
protected by flood plain districts where gardening is permitted with other uses.
However, no community gardens are operating in these areas. The gardens in use in
other districts are not protected in the long term.
AKRON: None exist currently but the idea has been discussed.
AKRON: There are no codes specific for community gardening but the city runs a
program called Akron Grows and has a process for nonprofits wishing to garden on
vacant land.
APPENDIX F - Summit Food Coalition - Food Policy Inventory
YES
YES
NO
YES
Does the zoning code allow for the construction of structures associated with backyard
agriculture?
Does the zoning code minimize restrictions on lawn vegetation height?
Does the zoning code allow for the sale of homegrown produce on residential property?
Does the zoning code allow for the sale of value-added products on residential
property?
Does the locality have limited restrictions on yard waste (compostables) in residential
areas?
58
59
60
61
62
63
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
Does the zoning code allow for the sale of value-added products on agricultural lands?
Does the locality offer working farmland tax incentives, such as agriculture/forestal
districts?
Does the locality have a policy or program (such as conservation easements) to support
land conservation for food production?
Are there creative leasing or financing models to reduce start-up farming debt?
Does the locality have a map of its prime agricultural lands for conservation?
Does the locality limit development potential in prime agricultural land through
purchase of development rights, transfer of development rights, establishment of
agricultural districts, or through other means?
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
Does the locality express a concern or goal for improving public health?
Does the locality mention a goal to reduce obesity and/or chronic illness?
72
73
3.1 Healthy Food, Wellness, and Physical Activity
3. Addressing Public Health and Food Access
NO
Does the zoning code allow for the sale of unprocessed farm products on agricultural
lands?
YES
YES
NO
NO
Are there regulations allowing flexibility for food producers to engage in minimal onsite processing?
64
2.4 Traditional Agriculture and Rural Land Use
NO
Does the zoning code have language that supports residential “farm” animals: chickens,
goats, roosters, etc.?
NO
Akron
Y/N
Question
Sections & Item
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
NO
YES
NO
Summit
Y/N
Details
SCPH is working with grant funds from several sources with health care and other
stakeholders to reduce diabetes, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease.
Improving public health is topic that has recently gained prominence as a mission
and goal throughout Akron and Summit County. Akron held its first Annual Health
Summit in 2016. SCPH publishes a Community Health Improvement Plan. A multiagency group, Summit Coalition for Community Health Improvement is working on
county health priorities and actions. The Foodbank includes health goals in its new
strategic plan.
AKRON: Development is restricted in its Floodplain Districts.
No such maps are known to exist with the City or County. Western Reserve Land
Conservancy was able to create two maps upon request and are attached in
Appendix D.
The Countryside Initiative model to reduce start-up farming debt is the subject of
national attention among the farming community.
SUMMIT: The regional nonprofit Western Reserve Land Conservancy works with
landowners toward conservation purposes. It preserved a Summit County farm in
2015.
There are no local farmland tax incentives, but Current Agricultural Use Values
(CAUV) are used statewide by farmers to reduce their property tax burden. OSU
Extension educates farmers on CAUV values.
The State of Ohio permits home sales of what is known as “cottage foods.”
The State of Ohio allows for whole, uncut fruits and vegetables are permitted to be
sold without a license regardless of where they are sold.
The State of Ohio dictates the licensing requirements for processing.
AKRON: Restrictions are limited but visibility and setback requirements may still
leave some city residents whose small or irregular lots unable to conform to codes.
SUMMIT: SCPH responds to nuisance complaints and provides education on proper
composting procedures. If not remedied, composting is no longer permitted at the
location.
AKRON: The City of Akron’s Municipal Code does not allow for sales on a
residential premises. However, the State of Ohio permits home sales of what is
known as “cottage foods.” It is unknown if the Question has been tested as to
whether any of the laws are in conflict under Ohio’s Municipal Home Rule.
AKRON: The Code indicates that home occupations in residential zones may not sell
on the premises. As an exception, the Code also allows for obtaining a Conditional
Use Permit to conduct such sales.
AKRON: There is a height restriction with the intent to reduce litter and pollen at
abandoned lots. However, the language of the code may be construed to restrict
some common bee-friendly plants.
See Question 54.
AKRON: The code addresses some residential farm animals, but is not particularly
conducive of residential animal farming.
APPENDIX F - Summit Food Coalition - Food Policy Inventory
Does the locality have an overall wellness plan?
Question
YES
NO
YES
YES
NA
Does the locality have other provisions for school purchasing of local or organic foods?
Does the locality clearly have a policy to reduce availability of junk food in schools and
other public buildings (e.g. vending machines and purchasing options)?
Do the schools have a policy or program to educate cafeteria workers on preparation of
fresh, local food and/or nutrient-rich food?
Is the locality clearly encouraging or supporting the inclusion of food-based lesson
plans in schools?
Does the locality clearly encourage and/or directly support establishment of school
garden programs at all levels of K-12?
Do local faith, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions (public and
private) have policies to buy local food for events when available?
76
77
78
79
80
UV 4.c.79
NO
NO
YES
Does the locality have educational/promotional programs to discourage the use of
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for sodas, high sugar, and
low nutrient foods?
Does the locality develop media campaigns, utilizing multiple media channels (print,
radio, internet, television, social networking, and other promotional materials) to
promote healthy eating?
Are community members involved in the organization of markets or other food
opportunities?
83
84
85
86
Do safe biking and walking paths exist between neighborhoods and food stores and
markets?
YES
NO
Does the locality have a clear tax or other strategy to discourage consumption of foods
and beverages with minimal nutritional value, such as sugar sweetened beverages?
82
3.4 Transportation Options for Accessing Food
YES
Does the locality encourage that chain restaurants provide consumers with calorie
information on in-store menus and menu boards?
81
3.3 Community Education and Empowerment
YES
Does the locality clearly allow, support, or advocate for Farm to School (or similar)
programs?
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
NA
YES
YES
NO
YES
NA
YES
YES
YES
YES
Summit
Y/N
Akron
Y/N
75
3.2 Food Offerings in Schools and Other Public Institutions
74
Sections & Item
Details
Generally, sidewalks are plentiful in Akron, Barberton, and Cuyahoga Falls. They are
less prolific in suburban and exurban areas.
Farmers’ markets are primarily run either by nonprofit neighborhood groups or
municipality departments and present plenty opportunities for community
members to be involved. Nonprofits and neighborhood groups also offer
opportunities.
SUMMIT: SCPH has conducted media campaigns when funding permitted. OSU
Summit County has also done media campaigns.
SUMMIT: The OSU Summit Extension offers free nutrition education programs for
adults and youth.
SCPH recently began discussing the possibility of a soda tax.
Western Reserve Hospital is partnering with area restaurants on its Doctor’s Order
program.
Too broad to answer completely.
AKRON: Some school garden programs exist in the public schools but there is no
district-wide program.
SUMMIT: SCPH supports initiatives by helping with gran-funded installations and
helping schools ensure that projects are compliant with safety codes and will pass
any required health department inspections. OSU Summit Extension supports the
establishment of school garden programs with Farm to School Curriculum.
AKRON: The Childhood Nutrition Department of APS is available to support
teachers food education programs.
SUMMIT: SCPH will begin working with local Head Start on menu changes and
food based education in 2017. OSU Summit County Extension also has programs for
schools.
AKRON: Akron Public Schools has policies but cafeteria workers do not have
culinary freedom so there are no education-based policies.
SUMMIT: Any school serving food from a kitchen must be licensed and are held to
SCPH standards.
AKRON: Akron Public Schools follows the 2012 USDA policy Smart Snacks in
Schools, which mandates that any food or beverage sold to students during school
hours must meet certain nutrition standards.
SUMMIT: Summit Public Health is using a Communities Preventing Chronic
Disease grant that has such an outcome as a deliverable.
AKRON: Some contracts are currently from within the Northeast Ohio region. Its
2016-17 bid application is modeled that of Minneapolis Public Schools, a national
Farm to School program leader.
SUMMIT: UNKNOWN
AKRON: Akron Public Schools received the USDA’s grant funds between 2013 and
2016. Small scale programs are in place with the intention toward district-wide
initiatives. Hattie Larlham is a partner in providing fresh local produce.
SUMMIT: Several Summit County schools are known to have similar programs, but
specifics are unknown.
SCPH publishes a Community Health Improvement Plan. Stakeholders are
represented across a range of health topics.
APPENDIX F - Summit Food Coalition - Food Policy Inventory
Are transportation services available in rural as well as urban areas?
Are transportation services available at multiple times of the day and evening?
Does the locality have a bike path or sidewalk plan?
Does the locality offer multi-modal transportation in the community?
89
90
91
UV 1.a.27
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
Does the locality have a policy to provide access to quality food for all citizens,
especially those with greater need?
Has the locality done any infrastructure, transportation or other studies to identify
issues of low-income neighborhoods gaining access to quality food, in rural as well as
urban areas?
Does the locality have a policy or program to support stores that offer fresh produce,
meats, dairy, and eggs to low-income populations?
Does the locality have a system for directing/referring people in need of food to the
places that can help?
Does the locality have a program that transports local produce to low-income
neighborhoods and migrant farm worker camps? (e.g., trucks, food carts, etc.)
Does the locality recognize through policy or programs the need for low income,
immigrant populations, and migrant farm workers, to have access to grocers that
provide local, fresh foods - in rural as well as urban areas?
Are markets and stores accessible at multiple times and days to accommodate varying
work schedules?
93
94
95
UV 1.a.29
UV 4.b.71
UV 4.c.77
YES
YES
YES
YES
92
4.1 Food Security for Disadvantaged Populations
4. Fostering Social Equity
Does the locality have a policy or programs to provide multimodal transportation
options in the community to enable transportation of low-income populations to
UV 1.a.28(a) grocery stores?
NO
88
YES
YES
Does the locality have a low-cost taxi or ride-sharing service that connects
neighborhoods directly with food stores and markets?
Akron
Y/N
Does the locality have a bus service that connects neighborhoods directly with food
stores and markets, requiring no more than one bus change?
Question
87
Sections & Item
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NA
NO
YES
Summit
Y/N
Details
Farmers markets throughout Summit County are open six days of the week, typcially
during the lunch or evening hours. Supermarkets are open seven days a week from
morning till night. Walmart is open 24 hours.
AKRON: The International Institute of Akron works with the immigrant popultion
in North Akron and does recognize this need, citing several efforts to increase local
fresh foods options in the area.
SUMMIT: A working group at Summit County Jobs and Family Services are working
to improve SNAP services for immigrants.
There are no licensed Agricultural Labor Camps in Summit County. The Foodbank
periodically distributes to low income neighborhoods through its Direct Distribution
program.
AKRON: The City's 3-1-1 call center will direct people to 2-1-1.
SUMMIT: 2-1-1 refers people to the Foodbank's network of suppliers.
SCPH began a Healthy Corner Store program in 2015 with a grant from the
American Planning Association, helping with refridgeration so stores could have
fresh produce for sale. It is also planning to launch a healthy checkout program in
stores throughout Summit County.
AKRON & SUMMIT: The Summit Food Coalition’s policy team published a Food
Observations report and a Market Distribution Survey in regard to access. A Food
Desert Map of Summit County was created by stakeholders.
AKRON: The City signed Summit Food Coalition’s Resolution and Summit County
Community Food Charter which states that access to quality food for all citizens is a
priority.
SUMMIT: The County also signed the Resolution and Community Food Charter.
Entities and organizaitons throughout the city and county have demonstrated this
priority through numerous programs.
See Question UV 1.a.27
Bus transportation is generally good throughout the county, with the exception
being in areas where demand is not great. METRO RTA offers on demand services
to fill some of that gap. All fixed route buses have bike racks. Bike sharing servicese
have been introduced recently. Plans and work is taking place to make streets more
pedestrian and bike friendly and to make connections between localities using the
Ohio and Erie Towpath Trail and The Summit Metro Parks Bike and Hike Trail.
AKRON: The City has a bicycle plan.
SUMMIT: The County has not created a plan, but the regional organization Akron
Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan has a Bike Plan that covers Summit County,
stated that Hudson and Tallmadge have plans and that it is helping Twinsburg and
Green to create plans. AMATS also has a Sidewalk Plan.
AKRON: Multiple times of day and evenings are available.
SUMMIT: Regularly scheduled bus services vary for other municipalities.
The urban core areas are generally well-supported. Only half of the six township
blocks in Summit County most resembling rural areas are serviced by at least one
bus route.
AMATS is exploring a system upgrade to its OhioRideShare program, which may
result in more usage.
METRO RTA has daily routes dedicated to taking people directly to and from
apartment complexes and major food stores located in Akron, Barberton, Cuyahoga
Falls, Fairlawn, Stow, and Tallmadge.
APPENDIX F - Summit Food Coalition - Food Policy Inventory
Question
NO
Does the locality offer any predevelopment assistance to developers to expedite the
review process for grocery stores in underserved areas?
97
98
Does the locality support a living wage policy for all those who work, including migrant
farm labor?
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
Does a program or regulation exist that ensures proper communication of sanitation
and hygiene practices for farm workers to ensure food safety?
Does the locality provide or ensure that training for farm workers is provided in a
comfortable training environment, and that the training is adequate and in their native
language, and that someone is available to answer farm worker Questions in their own
language?
Does the locality support access to fresh, healthful food by the farm laborers who are
helping to produce the food?
Does the locality host a program to encourage and enable transitional farm labor to
become engaged in, participate in, or become integrated into community events - such
as through volunteering for county fairs, agricultural events?
Does the locality have a clear contact for migrant farm workers to contact, to
participate in any aspect of the community?
Does the locality have a map of where farm worker camps are, to facilitate
understanding and planning for their needs?
Are housing options available for migrant workers?
Does the locality support or have a program to incorporate the participation of local
migrant workers into local food farmers' markets and farm stands, to integrate and
protect workers while they're in the community, as isolation is a major factor in
migrant worker life?
UV 1.e.37
UV 1.e.38
100
UV 4.e.86
UV 4.e.89
UV 4.e.90
UV 4.e.91
UV 4.e.92
UV 4.e.95
NO
Does the locality have or support a policy or program to ensure appropriate protection
of all farm workers from exposure to pesticides? (e.g., training in farm worker language
about dangers of pesticides, appropriate application and protection measures,
provision of equipment, etc.)
Does the locality have a policy or programs to provide multimodal transportation
options in the community to enable transportation for migrant farm workers from
UV 1.a.28(b) camps?
99
NO
YES
Are there any regulatory incentives, such as relaxed zoning requirements or tax credits,
that can facilitate new stores in underserved areas?
4.3 Equitable Conditions for Farm Laborers
NO
96
Akron
Y/N
Does the locality have an expedited development and/or permitting process for grocers
that will provide healthy, local foods in underserved locations, in rural as well as urban
areas?
4.2 Business Incentives for Low-Income Food Access
Sections & Item
NO
NO
NO
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
YES
Summit
Y/N
Details
ASIA Inc.'s refugee farm worker clients can participate in its farmers’ markets in
Akron and Cleveland.
Oscar Ramirez is the Summit County contact for Migrant and Seasonal Farm
Worker outreach of Ohio Jobs and Family Services
The closest such program is in Stark County.
Crown Point Ecology Center promotes free vegetables as a perk of being in the
Farming Internship Program.
Summit County Jobs and Family Services partners with Pathstone to provide such
services.
SUMMIT: OSU Summit Extension, Countryside, and Farm Bureau recently offered
an educational seminar to all farmers and producers on new regulations. At least
one Stark County farm owner who employs migrant workers was in attendance.
SUMMIT: Pathstone can provide several types of training programs if requested.
There are no programs at the city or county level. ASIA Inc. provides transportation
for its clients working on its farms.
There is no official goal policy, goal, or local community coalition of organizations
supporting a living wage policy. However, several organizations in Akron and
Summit County are part of a national living wage organization. The State of Ohio
recently passed legislation restricting municipalities from passing their own
minimum wage laws.
See Question 96.
AKRON: Not specific to grocery stores in underserved areas, Akron has used Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) for new developments, including grocery stores in
underserved areas.
SUMMIT: Not specific to grocers, but anytime a building permit is required, the
Summit County Building Department holds several pre-construction meetings so
that when a plan is submitted, “it will be free of hiccups.”
APPENDIX F - Summit Food Coalition - Food Policy Inventory