By SUE RYAN
News staff writer
November 14, 2007

A roomful of people interested in improving food security for Hood River County threw out ideas left and right at a Nov. 7 planning session at the Rockford Grange Hall.

The 25-plus participants were there as part of a new project being administered by the Gorge Grown Food Network.

The intent of the community project is about an adequate food supply for Hood River County and not so much about food safety concerns in the main media.

Facilitator Sharon Thornberry, of the Oregon Food Bank, explained the intent.

“Keep in mind the goals of the grant: Increase opportunities for low-income residents to improve their self-reliance, sustainability of the county’s emergency food network and enhance the viability of local farmers,” she said.

Maintaining and also increasing the number of local farmers markets throughout Hood River County was mentioned more than once. People also thought of decreasing food waste in the Gorge, teaching cooking skills and education. That included improving public awareness on why “eating locally” is important.

Gorge Grown received a $25,000 grant for the project from USDA Community Food Projects along with several other partners including Mid-Columbia Community Action Council.

Director Jim Slusher said his agency wants to build a permanent building for the FISH food bank instead of its current location in a church. He also sees local sources becoming more important.

“Because donations to the Oregon Food Bank have dropped, we need to depend more on regional resources than ever before,” he said. “It’s vitally important to get help with support from others.”

Oregon Food Bank has depleted its salvaged and frozen-food inventories. The agency also continues to see a severe decline in U.S. Department of Agriculture commodities.

Local self-sufficiency is one reason why Gorge Grown went after the grant to conduct the assessment. The initial training looked at an overview but also addressed how to start gathering information.

Part of that effort involves assessing the community’s food system. That involves organizing, planning, research and advocacy.

Thornberry talked about how the local group doesn’t need to re-invent the wheel but can gain a lot of knowledge by compiling information that already exists.

Gorge Grown plans to work together with its community partners during the next year to identify both community assets and needs of the regional food system.

Network Coordinator Sarah Hackney said the next steps involve five smaller break-out groups which will meet by December to design survey questions.

She estimated the group would have a compiled survey ready to mail out in January and would also hold community focus group meetings.

Those who want more details before then can contact Hackney at (541) 490-6420 or sarah@gorgegrown.com.