My Report

Last Modified: 12/05/2011

1. 1. Name:

Statistic Value

Total Responses 33

2. 3. Organizational affiliation (please check all that apply)

# Answer Response %

1 Farmer 9 24%

2

Food Business (processing, distribution, marketing)

7 19%

3Food System non-profit organization

8 22%

4State or Federal Government organization

5 14%

5University of Wisconsin or U.W. Extension

9 24%

6 Other, please specify: 14 38%

Other, please specify:

Food Systems Coordinator for Native Tribe

Eater

env NGO

food buyer non-profit institution- hospital

community volunteer/organizer

local health department

Food Network Software programmer

facilitation and agri-tourism

Non-profit Economic Development org

business struggling because of cannabis prohibition

Food business incubator

community edible garden project; uw extension master gardener volunteer

small garden learning center

Consultant

Statistic Value

Min Value 1

Max Value 6

Total Responses 37

3. 4a. Which of the following best describes your region?

# Answer Response %

1 Northern (1) 6 16%

2 Western (2) 1 3%

3 Central (3) 4 11%

4 Eastern (4) 5 14%

5 Southeastern (5) 3 8%

6 Southern (6) 18 49%

Total 37 100%

4. 6a. Vision: Please indicate which statements you think should be included in the WLFN vision statement (note that the network supports organizations that are working in these areas, but that these statements are not part of the goals/objectives of the network itself)

# Question Strongly support

Support Neutral Oppose Strongly Oppose

Responses Mean

1

Create jobs in local and regional food economies

20 7 4 1 0 32 1.56

2

Promote thriving farms of all sizes that offer a diverse array of locally-produced items across the state

17 8 6 0 1 32 1.75

3

Ensure access to healthy, locally grown food for all Wisconsin residents

26 3 4 0 0 33 1.33

4

Establish distribution systems that connect producers with consumers

21 9 2 0 0 32 1.41

5

Improve the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of farming

21 6 4 0 0 31 1.45

6 Encourage innovation and collaboration in local food production

26 6 0 0 0 32 1.19

and distribution

Statistic Create jobs in local and

regional food

economies

Promote thriving

farms of all sizes that

offer a diverse array of locally-

produced items

across the state

Ensure access to healthy, locally

grown food for all

Wisconsin residents

Establish distribution

systems that

connect producers

with consumers

Improve the environmental,

social, and economic

sustainability of farming

Encourage innovation

and collaboration in local food production

and distribution

Min Value 1 1 1 1 1 1

Max Value 4 5 3 3 3 2

Mean 1.56 1.75 1.33 1.41 1.45 1.19

Variance 0.71 0.97 0.48 0.38 0.52 0.16

Standard Deviation 0.84 0.98 0.69 0.61 0.72 0.40

Total Responses 32 32 33 32 31 32

5. 7a. The strategic plan identifies the following as priority topics for the coming year. Please indicate, for each topic below, the degree to which you believe the network should focus effort on that topic.

# Question Very appropriate

Appropriate Neutral Not appropriate at this time

Should never be a focus

Responses Mean

1 Producer Development 19 10 3 0 0 32 1.50

2 Market Development 23 6 3 1 0 33 1.45

3 Infrastructure Development 22 5 5 1 0 33 1.55

4 Food Security & Health 14 13 4 2 0 33 1.82

5 Community Development 14 9 9 1 0 33 1.91

6Farm to School Initiatives

14 10 7 2 0 33 1.91

Statistic Producer Developmen

t

Market Development

Infrastructure Development

Food Security &

Health

Community Development

Farm to School

Initiatives

Min Value 1 1 1 1 1 1

Max Value 3 4 4 4 4 4

Mean 1.50 1.45 1.55 1.82 1.91 1.91

Variance 0.45 0.63 0.76 0.78 0.84 0.90

Standard Deviation 0.67 0.79 0.87 0.88 0.91 0.95

Total Responses 32 33 33 33 33 33

6. 8a. Structure: The proposed structure proposes that the WLFN will be an administrative "backbone organization" to regional networks and issue-based working groups. The proposed functions (goals) of the "backbone organization" are presented below. Please rate the importance and appropriateness of each of the Network’s proposed functions (for further description of the functions and goals, see the goals/objectives listed in the strategic plan)

# Question Very Appropriat

e

Appropriate Neutral Not Appropriat

e at this time

Should never be a focus

Responses Mean

1

Communication: Serve as a hub to provide information and facilitate exchange among regional networks, topic based networks, and local groups

25 6 1 0 0 32 1.25

2

Capacity Building: Encourage and support regional and topic based networks and foster new regional and topic based networks where needed

16 12 4 0 0 32 1.63

3

Fundraising: Connect local and regional food projects with resources to foster innovation

21 10 0 1 0 32 1.41

4 Collective impact: Identify

21 9 1 1 0 32 1.44

common agenda with other groups and organizations to achieve collective impact

5

Inform policy development to assure that policies support local/regional food.

24 5 2 1 0 32 1.38

Statistic Communication: Serve as a hub

to provide information and

facilitate exchange

among regional networks, topic based networks, and local groups

Capacity Building:

Encourage and support

regional and topic based

networks and foster new

regional and topic based networks

where needed

Fundraising: Connect local and regional food projects

with resources to foster

innovation

Collective impact: Identify

common agenda with other groups

and organizations

to achieve collective

impact

Inform policy development to assure that

policies support

local/regional food.

Min Value 1 1 1 1 1

Max Value 3 3 4 4 4

Mean 1.25 1.63 1.41 1.44 1.38

Variance 0.26 0.50 0.44 0.51 0.56

Standard Deviation 0.51 0.71 0.67 0.72 0.75

Total Responses 32 32 32 32 32

7. 8b. Please list any other functions (goals) that you'd like to see the WLFN undertake

Text Response

Make sure funding and staff time for this important project don't get funneled to polluters and those with the biggest lobbyists, but to sustainable operations that grow safe,healthful food. No support for corn grown for ethanol for instance.

If there is a need for state-wide communication and fundraising on local food issues, then go for it. I'm a little skeptical but yeah, I could use ideas for local food fundraisers going on in the south or central part of the state or I could use information about grants for local food projects in the state... but DATCP and USDA already try to inform the farmers about these things, so would you do it differently?

that is a lot of work.. focus on few and do them well.

None at this time, you have a full and vibrant list identified and a good place to start from.

Wisconsin hemp foods available across the state.

I see the primary function of the WLFN to coordinate among groups doing more specific work. In order to be meaningful and effective, deeper involvement in other functions would require additional staff and capacity. To this end, I rank communication as the primary function and envision WLFN playing a coordinating role to support the other functions listed.

Statistic Value

Total Responses 6

8. 8c. Please indicate the level to which you agree or disagree with the following statements concerning the structure of WLFN

# Question Strongly Agree

Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

Responses Mean

1

A paid staff person to coordinate network activities is essential

21 9 0 1 0 31 1.39

2

WLFN should operate strictly as a volunteer organization

0 1 7 14 9 31 4.00

3

The steering committee should include representatives from each region

21 10 0 0 0 31 1.32

4

The steering committee should include representatives from each topic area

12 17 2 0 0 31 1.68

5

The steering committee should include representatives from institutions involved in the network (e.g., DATCP, UW, UWEX, non-profits, tribes, etc.)

12 16 2 0 1 31 1.77

6WLFN should assist regional networks

15 11 5 0 0 31 1.68

7 WLFN should select priority

17 12 1 1 0 31 1.55

topic areas to support and focus work on

Statistic A paid staff

person to coordinate

network activities

is essential

WLFN should

operate strictly as a volunteer

organization

The steering committee

should include representatives

from each region

The steering committee

should include representatives

from each topic area

The steering committee

should include representatives

from institutions

involved in the network (e.g., DATCP, UW, UWEX, non-

profits, tribes, etc.)

WLFN should assist

regional networks

WLFN should select

priority topic areas

to support

and focus work

on

Min Value 1 2 1 1 1 1 1

Max Value 4 5 2 3 5 3 4

Mean 1.39 4.00 1.32 1.68 1.77 1.68 1.55

Variance 0.45 0.67 0.23 0.36 0.71 0.56 0.52

Standard Deviation 0.67 0.82 0.48 0.60 0.84 0.75 0.72

Total Responses

31 31 31 31 31 31 31

9. 2. e-mail Address or phone number:

Statistic Value

Total Responses 33

10. 4b. Are the farm fresh atlas boundaries representative of the region in which you work?

# Answer Response %

1 Yes 13 34%

2 No 12 32%

3 My work is statewide 13 34%

Total 38 100%

Statistic Value

Min Value 1

Max Value 3

Mean 2.00

Variance 0.70

Standard Deviation 0.84

Total Responses 38

11. 4c. Do you have suggestions on redefining/reorganizing these boundaries to better represent your region?

Text Response

Actually, the Central Wisconsin atlas now includes 11 counties and I don't believe they are all represented on your map.

No, I think the boundaries are well established.

we work in the southwest region of the state, half of the western portion and half of the southern portion. we just use both atlases.

Our region is the whole state, I couldn't reflect that above.

I have been meeting with a couple of groups that are involved with Local foods issues. They are based more to the south of me, so I think breaking the northern part into an eastern and western portion and grabbing a few counties below each would be really helpful. Have a northwest and northeast area.

I do wok in Jefferson County as well but I do not have any suggestions.

In La Crosse County, we get a lot of produce from Vernon County. I'm not sure how over-state boundaries work, but there is a lot from SE MN as well. Maybe including this in a 'beyond' WI map would be good since it is more local to get produce from across the river than from Eau Claire.

Those are big regions

The northern region is probably the weakest and also has confusing overlaps with the western region. This requires attention and thought. The Ashland area may be in the early stages of creating a FFA for the north.

Perhaps put Taylor in either Central or Western to pull into Local Food better?

It's close to the same "western region" as WIC (exception is Douglas and Sawyer). Would be great if in line with the regions for other government agencies like extension/WIC/local health depts if they are all the same.

The driftless region would be a better boundary.

In my experience with Central Rivers Farmshed, defining boundaries isn't critical, and leaving them loose has been helpful so that regardless of where people live, they can join the effort.

please make the Driftless region its own region -- this will dovetail with the work of CIAS on developing a Driftless Regional Food System --

This looks good, though you might consider redefining by bioregion, for example, Driftless Region, Central Sands etc..

My regional work includes La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, Crawford and Richland counties. It would be a better fit to include La Crosse and Monroe to our north instead of so far into Southeast Wisconsin.

No.

Yes, bring the region list into compliance with the graphic in the plan draft -- not Southern, but Southwestern.

Separate Southern into South Central and Southwestern

No--any boundary will be problematic for some reason. To the degree that people have learned to work within this system, I don't see a strong reason to change it. That being said, my work has never felt defined by these boundaries.

Statistic Value

Total Responses 21

12. 5a. Mission Statement: The proposed wording for the mission of WLFN reads: "The Wisconsin Local Food Network engages, connects, and empowers local, regional, and state efforts to build resilient and restorative food systems."Please rate the mission statement:

# Answer Response %

1 Good 22 69%

2 Okay 10 31%

3 Needs work 0 0%

Total 32 100%

Statistic Value

Min Value 1

Max Value 2

Mean 1.31

Variance 0.22

Standard Deviation 0.47

Total Responses 32

13. 5b. Does the proposed mission statement describe what the network does or should do? Please provide comment.

Text Response

I think the emphasis on connection, networking, drawing together partnerships for program/project/initiative improvement, and efficient replication (without redundancy) is a critical role of the WI local food network. Sharing best practices, facilitating collaboration,etc. Let's be sure that is prominently featured in the mission/vision.

Yes, I think there are efforts to be made at all levels: local, regional and state (and even regional again as in mid west).

Yes, it looks at local levels and expands into state levels. It also reflects the need to restore our damaged food systems.

I might add something about informing, since part of wlfn activities deal in information sharing.

works from my perspective

Most folks care about how food is produced in addition to what is produced. I'd expect to see the words Sustainable and Safe in the mission. Safe, healthful food grown near eaters is generally what I think folks want.

yes. I would; however, consider renaming the network given the vision and mission statements to be the Wisconsin Community Food Systems Network. This name better captures the work of the network, and the intent of the work. That is, "local" is geography-based, "community" is relationship-based - relationships contribute to (are essential for) creating resilient and restorative food systems.

Yes

Yes

I think that the network should emphasize connecting people to their food sources.

Its broad but maybe you need it to be. It sounds like a lot of other food organizations.

I'd like to see an explicit education component to answer the "Why" is this important. Perhaps it's implied and details addressed in another section.

I'm not familiar with the word "restorative" in regards to food systems, but I think it's a great fit - restoring the health of soil, plants, food, people, and farms. Perhaps describe this in detail in the vision statement?

I think the network conference is a good example of engaging and connecting folks around efforts to build a better food system. Empowers will take time to discern what that look like but it is a good word to come back for the steering committee. I really like resilient and restorative..

yes

Great work, the only consideration is word choice - perhaps use the word regenerative rather than restorative. Restorative might imply that we are restoring something to a certain pre-determined/conditional state. Regenerative implies that it continues to feed, generate, build, grow into something of perhaps greater value than the sum of its parts that is yet to be determined.

I'm still learning about the effort, and am open to discussion and thinking at this point.

"The Wisconsin Local Food Network engages, connects, and empowers efforts to build resilient and

sustainable food systems."

Yes, it has a lot of great content. It doesn't have the depth I would expect it to have. That doesn't mean it's wrong or bad, just that are you 100% sure that targeted of a mission doesn't box you in.

Its breadth is just fine.

I changed efforts to organizations The Wisconsin Local Food Network engages, connects, and empowers local, regional, and state organizations to build resilient and restorative food systems."

My issues with most of the initiatives in the US are that they tend to put everyday folks off by sounding too academic. I'd like all of the language to be down to earth (pun intended) and simple sentences, so the movement appeals to everyone. Instead of all the "green" talk...let's return to the language of our grandparents..."common sense"...thrifty...etc. The movements I've been involved with have estranged (see that is a one of those words) the common folks. The look upon the movements as "too high brow". that's my experience here at my gardening learning center.

Yes...it feels a little vague but maybe that's fine...allows flexibility and the vision/goals objectives clarifies and adds specificity.

Statistic Value

Total Responses 23

14. 6b. Are there other statements describing local and regional food systems that you feel should be included in the vision statement?

Text Response

local food market development

Establish distribution systems that connect producers with consumers and Encourage innovation and collaboration in local food production and distribution could probably be one statement.

I have to tell you, all the above statements should be a priority and are well written.

Educate eaters of the benefits of local food

Nope, as long as you have the intent to create infrastructure across the state, pulling in all the fragmented efforts it meets what is needed.

Safe, local, healthful community-based, family supporting jobs

the verb structure needs to match the introductory part of the vision statement. I think the environmental aspects should be highlighted more, e.g., Ensuring healthy and productive lands. Enhancing biological (including crop) diversity.

no

I think that jobs come as the result of inspiring people to do things. I don't think that job creation should be a goal, because in and of itself, it doesn't mean a thing. If farming is encouraged, then more people will move into it. This is a problem in all of government, when we emphasize 'job creation' we focus on the short term, instead of the long term. I think that thriving SMALL farmers are the ones that need the most help. I know that the large farms are not going to go away, and they do have their place in our food system, but people will connect more when they get their food from a family or a group that they can talk to instead of a large company. I get most of my food from one farmer, and am CONNECTED to what I am eating. I like the access to healthy locally grown food for all WI residents.... expand that to include schoolchildren specifically with Farm to School programs. Grants to get kids to see farms through their public school should be provided as well, maybe in the 4th grade, since they talk about WI that year.

'restorative' food systems is a vague term to me. Would it help to specifiy the part of the 'system' you are going to work on? Processing, legal, funding, etc. ?

Engage a broad array of stakeholders that represents those involved in and impacted by local and regional food systems

I'd like to see "livable wage" added to jobs in #1. I'm concerned about the "all sizes". I don't support large industrial type farms. I like the thriving as it implies profitable. I'd like to see "mainstream" distribution - implies more accessible to all. I'd like to see "strenghtening community" as part of the vision because I would hope that would occur as plans are implemented. I think that appeals to a wide range of people from many persuations.

no

Food processing or Value added products is missing from the list. More jobs can be created by the export of high end processed goods than just farming and direct sales alone. Export of products means import of capital. Wealth is created by the import of capital. Farmers do not just grow, the can and preserve as well. So should a state food system.

I suggest tweaking the 4th statement above to say "Establish distribution systems that connect producers with local and regional consumers."

something about organic food production seems to be missing. maybe the committee can work to define sustainable.

I support and commend your work and commitment to working with a diversity of farm types, sizes, and locations and the need for inclusivity. As a small-scale diversified farmer, I understand that I have a personal bias in weighing in here. My concern is that what might be the unintended consequences of stating that we support all sizes of farms, that this also includes supporting a huge CAFO-type farm that is providing local food. just some food for thought. Maybe there is a way to combine Promoting thriving farms that improve the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of farming in the vision statement.

There is no mention of traceablility. Consumers are unable to choose local if it is not farm identified. Just labeling as "local" is becoming ineffective as studies are showing up to 60% is mislabeled as local, some unintentional, some intentional.

Something regarding promotion of diversity of seeds and breeds.

No.

I don't think this is really a vision statement and is repeated (keep this document as short as possible) on page 5 under Goals & Objectives. A vision should be a statement about the future state of the organization, what does this group aspire to be? So it could be the third statement - Ensure access to healthy, locally grown food for all Wisconsin residents. The rest are goals that support the mission and vision. Other comments: Under Goals & Objectives/Communication Objective 1 - Conduct inventory of EXISTING RESOURCES and then have another objective to conduct a needs assessment so strategies can be developed to address the gaps. The needs assessment is part of the collective impact under Action Plan at the Annual WLF (and I would add N, always refer to the network consistently as WLFN). Hope you understand my comments or give me a call Kristin Abell, LTC 920-693-1658

Statistic Value

Total Responses 21

15. 7b. Are there other topic areas that WLFN should focus on at this time?

Text Response

I know this is a campaign to promote good not defend from bad. As a consumer and an environmental professional, I'd like to know the products I'm buying don't have chemicals, weren't grown with chemicals, were grown with appropriate conservation practices and that nothing I give my family to eat comes from a factory farm producing millions of gallons of toxic sludge manure to kill soil and pollute water. A certification or other symbol that truly shows the safety and integrity of products would be good.

Land access.

no

Educating the public on the real health risks of what they eat.

I feel like an organization, any organization should work toward infrastructure issues, or legal barriers that bottleneck local production, such as slaughter houses and raw milk laws.

Policy as it affects all of these topics

You've hit them all! However, after reading the statment below I'd like to see the definition of Producer broadened to include businesses like mine that produce healthy food but use only some locally produced food sources.

no, just wanted to explain my answers in 7a. Though a local food system impacts all of those things, the bottom 3 are being worked on by other statewide agencies. The top 3 are the greatest need since there doesn't seem to be an agency really directing those efforts statewide which is why its such a mess!

Processing of high end products.

Helping with education for eaters to share the benefits of local and sustainably grown food. This contributes to market development, but is somewhat separate from just getting into markets. More like creating the demand for local and sustainably-grown food.

no

I think that WLFN should also focus on ways to further develop collaborations within the priority topics listed. For example, having a clear sense of the groups in the state working on Producer Development, understanding of the strengths of each and what the possibilities might be in working together.

Locally grown hemp food products.

Small processor technical and logistical support

Statistic Value

Total Responses 14

16. 7c. If you were to choose a topic area to work on, which would it be? (please rank your top three choices - with your top choice as 1, second choice as 2, and third choice as 3). This information will help determine priorities, and will support efforts to procure funding.

# Answer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Responses

1 Producer Development 6 8 5 0 0 0 0 19

2 Market Development 7 10 6 0 1 0 0 24

3 Infrastructure Development 9 5 4 0 0 1 0 19

4 Food Security & Health 5 2 3 2 0 0 0 12

5 Community Development 2 5 8 0 0 1 0 16

6Farm to School Initiatives

4 2 3 0 1 0 0 10

7 Other 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 5

Total 33 33 33 2 2 2 0 -

Other

producer-buyer connections

Land access

Co-op development

mainstream distribution

Processing

Statistic Producer Developmen

t

Market Development

Infrastructure Development

Food Security

& Health

Community Development

Farm to School

Initiatives

Other

Min Value 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

Max Value 3 5 6 4 6 5 3

Mean 1.95 2.08 1.95 2.17 2.63 2.20 2.80

Variance 0.61 0.95 1.61 1.42 1.32 1.73 0.20

Standard Deviation 0.78 0.97 1.27 1.19 1.15 1.32 0.45

Total Responses 19 24 19 12 16 10 5

17. 7d. As currently presented in the strategic plan, WLFN will address sustainable farming practices through the ‘producer development’ topic area. Should the WLFN increase its prioritization of sustainable production practices by creating an additional (specific) topic area?

# Answer Response %

1

Sustainable farming can be addressed through 'producer development'

16 50%

2

Sustainable farming should have its own topic area

10 31%

3 Not sure 6 19%

Total 32 100%

Statistic Value

Min Value 1

Max Value 3

Mean 1.69

Variance 0.61

Standard Deviation 0.78

Total Responses 32

18. 9. Can we count on you to participate in the network? Please indicate ways that you would like to participate (multiple selections are possible)

# Answer Response %

1 Steering Committee 6 20%

2 Regional Group 13 43%

3 Topic Group 14 47%

4 Leadership 3 10%

5 Administrative 3 10%

6Communications (web-based or other)

4 13%

7 Grant writing 3 10%

8 I do not wish to participate 1 3%

10

I cannot participate now, but would consider it in the future

8 27%

9 Other form of participation 8 27%

Other form of participation

provide meeting space, etc

sharing information with others

wish I could, but not at this time.

Be a resource if needed

Anything regarding hemp

I offer my Sugar Camp garden learning center as a base for workshops

Promote awareness of the network.

info sharing, additional as it aligns with my current work

Statistic Value

Min Value 1

Max Value 10

Total Responses 30

19. 9b. If you did not provide your contact information at the beginning of this survey, but would like to get involved, please provide your name, e-mail address, and phone number.

Statistic Value

Total Responses 11