Envisioning a Collaborative Kansas City Foodshed
KC Healthy Kids, along with partnering organizations Cultivate KC, Mid-America Regional Council and New Growth, received funding from the USDA Regional Food System Partnerships program to connect and strengthen our regional foodshed.
Assessment Report
The assessment report distills key data insights organized around the Whole Measures for Community Food Systems assessment framework. It provides a baseline for the regional foodshed and will inform an action plan later this year. Read the Report
Assessment Data
As part of our commitment to equity and transparency, data from our surveys and focus groups are publicly available using the links below. Some, but not all, of this data is included in the assessment report. Secondary data is accessible through the food system dashboard. The survey responses have been aggregated and visualized. To access raw survey data, contact Andrea at aclark@kchealthykids.org.
Food System Organizations Survey Data
Local Production Survey Data
Distribution and Retail Survey Data
2022 Focus Group Comments
2023 Focus Group Comments (available fall 2023)
Food System Dashboard
Mid-America Regional Council pulled together thousands of data points from various state and federal agencies into one dashboard on topics ranging from food access to food service wages to specialty crops. Data is currently available for the eight priority counties. Explore the Data
Assessment Report
The assessment report distills key data insights organized around the Whole Measures for Community Food Systems assessment framework. It provides a baseline for the regional foodshed and will inform an action plan later this year. Read the Report
Assessment Data
As part of our commitment to equity and transparency, data from our surveys and focus groups are publicly available using the links below. Some, but not all, of this data is included in the assessment report. Secondary data is accessible through the food system dashboard. The survey responses have been aggregated and visualized. To access raw survey data, contact Andrea at aclark@kchealthykids.org.
Food System Organizations Survey Data
Local Production Survey Data
Distribution and Retail Survey Data
2022 Focus Group Comments
2023 Focus Group Comments (available fall 2023)
Food System Dashboard
Mid-America Regional Council pulled together thousands of data points from various state and federal agencies into one dashboard on topics ranging from food access to food service wages to specialty crops. Data is currently available for the eight priority counties. Explore the Data
About the Project
A foodshed is the geographic area in which food flows from producers to consumers. For this project, the regional foodshed is identified as the area within a 100-mile radius of Kansas City. Eight priority counties were selected for focused engagement: Allen, Douglas, Leavenworth and Wyandotte in Kansas and Cass, Jackson, Lafayette and St. Clair in Missouri.
The main goal of the project is to identify actionable strategies to develop a sustainable, systematic connection between food producers and consumers in the region. The project objectives are to:
A foodshed is the geographic area in which food flows from producers to consumers. For this project, the regional foodshed is identified as the area within a 100-mile radius of Kansas City. Eight priority counties were selected for focused engagement: Allen, Douglas, Leavenworth and Wyandotte in Kansas and Cass, Jackson, Lafayette and St. Clair in Missouri.
The main goal of the project is to identify actionable strategies to develop a sustainable, systematic connection between food producers and consumers in the region. The project objectives are to:
- Bring together diverse stakeholders to build connections, collaboration and a shared understanding of the current food system and establish a collective vision for a resilient food system.
- Conduct an equity-based food system assessment to understand inequities in the regional food system and highlight structural barriers as well as identify assets and opportunities, including an inventory of food system organizations.
- Develop recommendations and an action plan for building a collaborative, resilient and equitable food system.
Coordinating Team
Andrea Clark, AICP
Director of Food System Planning, KC Healthy Kids
Ami Freeberg
Assistant Director of Strategy & Partnerships , Cultivate KC
Katie Nixon
Food Systems Director, West Central Missouri Community Action Agency & New Growth
President, The KC Food Hub
Co-Operator, Green Gate Family Farm
Marlene Nagel
Community Development Director, Mid-America Regional Council
Rachael McGinnis-Millsap
Vice President of Programs & Policy, KC Healthy Kids
Interim Director, Greater KC Food Policy Coalition
Andrea Clark, AICP
Director of Food System Planning, KC Healthy Kids
Ami Freeberg
Assistant Director of Strategy & Partnerships , Cultivate KC
Katie Nixon
Food Systems Director, West Central Missouri Community Action Agency & New Growth
President, The KC Food Hub
Co-Operator, Green Gate Family Farm
Marlene Nagel
Community Development Director, Mid-America Regional Council
Rachael McGinnis-Millsap
Vice President of Programs & Policy, KC Healthy Kids
Interim Director, Greater KC Food Policy Coalition
Advisory Board
Anita Muniz-GrandPre Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, K-State Research & Extension Leavenworth County Daniel Robinson Northeast Grocers Project Coordinator, Groundwork NRG Member, KC Young Farmers Coalition Ed Smith Consultant, Kansas City Indian Center Elizabeth Reynoso Director of Community Education & Outreach, El Centro, Inc. Jamie Placht Community Engagement Coordinator, Kanbe's Markets Jose Leon Union Representative, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 2 |
Karen Siebert Advocacy & Public Policy Advisor, Harvesters-The Community Food Network Robert Hicks Chair, Indigenous Community Center of Lawrence Semra Fetahovic Juniper Gardens Training Farm Program Manager, Cultivate KC Shanita McAffee-Bryant Executive Director, The Prospect KC Susan Jaster Farm Outreach Worker-West Central Missouri, Lincoln University Tom Buller Executive Director, Kansas Rural Center |