OWATONNA — Food — and accessibility to healthy options — was the topic more than 30 area representatives from different sectors of the food system discussed Thursday morning at the Steele County History Center in Owatonna.
The event called “Roots, Shoots and Boots: Healthy communities and healthy people from the ground up” was sponsored by Owatonna Hospital, part of Allina Health, Statewide Health Improvement Plan, Public Health Law Center, University of Minnesota Extension, Mayo Clinic Health System, Steele County Food Shelf and the United Way of Steele County
“Today we’re talking about the United Way’s work around health, specifically around healthy eating,” said Tanya Paley, United Way of Steele County director of strategic operations.
Barriers to health is one of three areas the United Way of Steele County has actually been focusing its efforts for months — even years — after it completed a community assessment in 2014 where Steele Countians were given the opportunity to provide input about the disparities they experience in the community. The assessment has actually been used by the United Way to understand better the hardships residents face in the areas of health, income and education and create programs to address them.
Paley said three years ago, community members ranked a list of root causes or disparities to health in order of importance along with lack of physical activity, obesity and lack of access to health foods garnering the most attention.
A committee focusing on health and three subcommittees, including a healthy eating group, were created to address those disparities and others, and that’s what brought individuals together Thursday.
And all seven areas of the food system were represented, including grow, process, distribute, get, make, eat and dispose.
“We have actually great representation from the different sectors,” said Andrea Kronbach, University of Minnesota Extension SNAP-Ed educator who facilitated the event along with Kelly Kunkel, likewise along with the Extension.
After providing an overview of the food system to the group, individuals were encouraged to share about work already being done in Steele County to improve residents’ access to food, especially healthy food.
Paley talked about the United Way’s Farm to Family program, which provides locally grown produce to residents affordably, as well as the organization’s upcoming efforts to work along with vendors at the local farmer’s market to accept alternative payments, like EBT and Allina health bucks.
Health bucks was a program Natalie Ginter, director of Community Engagement and Development for Owatonna Hospital, spoke about, while others talked about worksite-wellness programs, community meals, community gardens and weekend backpack programs for children.
But the purpose of the event was for individuals in the food system to determine if they wanted to establish a food council, which would certainly address economy, wellness, environment and equity while educating, shaping policy and coordinating programs.
Kunkel turned that question over to those in attendance during small group discussion where they were asked: Who was missing from the conversation? What tools are available? Where do you want to see more effort? What can be improved?
“Hearing so much good buzz,” Kronbach said.
When the group was asked if it was interested in creating a food council in Steele County, Marcy Sundine, unit director at Boys and Girls Club of Blooming Prairie, said it’s “definitely of interest.”
Kronbach said the next steps would certainly involve scheduling a task force as well as coordinating along with other regional and state efforts, but before any of that, she said an email requesting feedback and asking for participants would certainly be sent to those who attended the event.
Before the event concluded, Paley asked the group if “any big ideas” came out of their discussion that they’d like to share.
Stormy Trom, executive director of the Steele County Food Shelf, said bringing consumers who use the agencies’ services as well as youth to the table would certainly be beneficial.
Ginter said her table discussed a shared network where people in the food system can communicate would certainly likewise be helpful.
Reach reporter Ashley Stewart at 444-2378 or follow her on Twitter.com @OPPashley
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