As promised, here’s 4 apps you can download today all about food. Get creative in the kitchen, find good grocery deals, manage your benefits, or divert waste to a neighbor’s yard. Which one will you try first?
Erie Declares August 6-12 Erie County Farmers Market Week
From left to right: Stephanie Ciner, Doug Smith, Stephanie Thauer
August 6 to 12 has been declared Erie County Farmers Market Week to support and encourage farmers markets in conjunction with National Farmers Market Week. A proclamation signed by County Executive Brenton Davis was presented by Doug Smith, Director of Administration, to Stephanie Ciner and Stephanie Thauer – farmers, food system advocates and co-founders of the Parade Street Fresh Food Farm Stand.
“Farmers markets celebrate seasonal, nourishing, locally grown food. I shop at our Erie farmer’s markets to support other farmers and small businesses, find great food, and spend time outside with friends and neighbors,” said Ciner.
To find a schedule of upcoming farmers markets in Erie County, visit https://eriefarmersmarkets.org/find-farmers-markets/
The Parade Street Fresh Food Farm Stand is a successful pilot of the “pay-what-you-can” model. “We recently started another stand in Edinboro and other community organizations are establishing a pay-what-you-can stand for their neighbors. We feel it’s so important to get fresh produce into areas with limited access, but also make it affordable,” said Thauer.
In addition to running the farm stand, Ciner and Thauer are involved in improving our local food system as a member and co-chair (respectively) of the Erie Food Policy Advisory Council.
The Erie Food Policy Advisory Council aims to gather partners from across Erie County to streamline efforts in improving local our food system. “The goals are to identify the biggest barriers facing our food system and to identify how we can work toward finding some solutions. Establishing more pay-what-you-can stands creates a bridge between farmers’ and community members and redirects unsold produce to different markets,” said Thauer.
The Erie Food Policy Advisory Council is a network of several organizations including government agencies, community-based organizations and non-profits, food retail outlets, farmers and food business owners, schools and universities, healthcare organizations, community leaders and advocates. “Anyone involved in the food system from farm to fork is welcome to join,” said Thauer.
Follow the Erie Food Policy Advisory Council at facebook.com/ErieFPAC or email eriefpac@gmail.com.
Food Policy Audit Update
During the next few general meetings the FPAC is discussing the food policy audit tool. The FPAC is using the results of the policy audit to learn more about food access in Erie and to identify some possible areas of action.
This audit was made in collaboration with a public health class at Mercyhurst University. To conduct the audit, students chose an area of food policy they were curious about, conducted research on how that policy affected our Erie community, and interviewed stakeholders. The topics covered include transportation to food, access to land for growing food, protection of migrant farm workers, emergency food directories and school lunches.
When the general group met on January 13, one of the topics discussed was transportation to food. The recent snow has reminded us all what it is like to experience barriers to transportation.
Interviews and data collection on transportation to food in Erie revealed that while there are several alternatives in our community for accessing food, it can still be a challenge. Getting to food when you’re homebound or don’t have a car complicates what others experience as a simple errand. SNAP online purchasing, Meals on Wheels, and using the EMTA are alternatives available in Erie.
However, SNAP online purchasing gets expensive with tipping and delivery fees, not to mention lengthy wait times. Meals on Wheels, a program that serves hundreds in Erie, often has a long wait list to get into the program. EMTA provides valuable transportation resources to us all, but getting to and from a grocery store efficiently is not always easy.
Members of the FPAC and beyond can have an immediate impact by volunteering for organization like Meals on Wheels and Second Harvest Food Bank.
If you’re curious about any of these topics or have something you’d like to share, please join our next general meeting on February 10th. Find the Zoom link below in the “Upcoming Meetings” section.
Kim is a founding member of the FPAC, and worked for several years as the education subgroup co-chair. Currently, Kim works with Penn State Extension as a nutrition education advisor. Her program helps families learn about shopping on a budget, using SNAP and WIC, integrating movement into their day-to-day routine, and more. Participants in the program meet with her over 6 weeks for 2 hour sessions. Those who complete the program receive tools like food thermometers, peelers and resources which help make eating on a tight budget a little easier.
During her years as an education co-chair with the FPAC, Kim helped establish the walking assessment project which continues today. She also enjoyed connecting with kids at farmers markets and helping to spread the word about the FPAC in its formative years.
Kim’s background is in graphic design and she worked in the printing industry for 30 years. She also spent many years helping run her local 4-H chapter, and as the printing industry slowed and digital art started to take over, she transitioned to the world of food. She still makes art, and now has a passion for food systems and education. Thank you for all your hard work Kim!
You can contact Kim through email at kam82@psu.edu
Madi Santella is an FPAC member working with Adagio Health in SNAP education (Adagio Health Power Up). Her job focuses on policy, systems, and environmental coordination to connect with groups of SNAP-eligible folks for sharing of nutrition education and making shopping on a budget a little easier. Her program engages people of all ages, preschool to senior citizens, aiming to destigmatize food assistance programs and make nutrition accessible, and when possible, fun!
Madi studied nutrition at The University of Alabama, and received her master’s degree at West Virginia University. She is now a registered dietitian. She first worked in a clinical setting, and has transitioned into a community-based role for the past two years at Adagio.
Personally, Madi is drawn to food because it’s a universal connector. “You never know what someone’s going to talk about when you begin a conversation about food,” she says, as she describes the ways that food can help build connections. She has also been curious for many years about what “healthy food” really is. She has found that “healthy food” is different for every person, and that “no food is intrinsically good or bad.” As a Pittsburgh native, she is located just outside the city she calls home and helps oversee Adagio’s policy, systems, and environment work in Western PA. This is where her connection with the FPAC was born, and she enjoys hearing what members of the FPAC have going on in Erie.
Thanks Madi!
You can contact Madi through email at msantella@adagiohealth.org or by phone: 412-639-0959
Anti-Diet Updates
Over the past few months, our education subgroup has been focusing on providing anti-diet information on our social media, and in conversations we have as a group.
Why is our council, dedicated to food policy and access, exploring this issue?
Because the FPAC works to increase food security in our community while celebrating and advocating for local food culture, understanding how diet culture negatively influences the way we all relate to food and our bodies can help us to create a more inclusive, just and joyous local food system.
The anti-diet messaging the FPAC is currently sharing seeks to dismantle the myths of diet culture and reunite people with their bodies and the joy of food.
For an understanding of diet culture, we refer to Christy Harrison (MPH, RD, CEDS, anti-diet dietitian) for a definition. She describes this culture as, “a system of beliefs that values thinness, promotes weight loss as a means of attaining a higher status, and oppresses people who don’t match up with its supposed picture of ‘health’.”
All of us have our own unique relationship with food. We’d love to hear about your thoughts and feelings on anti-diet material. Please reach out to eriefpac@gmail.com, or use our Slack board, to connect with us on anything food related.
Apple Sauce Recipe
Apple Sauce Recipe
Mashed Potato Recipe
Roasted Rutabaga recipe
Black Bean Salsa Recipe
Summertime Fruit salad
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
Vegetable Stir-fry with peanut sauce recipe
Black Bean Quesadilla Recipe
Breakfast Egg Cup Recipe
Home Fries Recipe
Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower
Baked Artichoke
Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Simple Sauteed Mushrooms Recipe
Grilled Asparagus Recipe
Fresh Salsa Recipe
How to Roast Any vegetable
Sea Salt and Garlic Kale Chips
How to Use Fresh Sage
Garden to Table Salad Recipe
Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Greek Broccoli Salad Recipe
Parmesan Roasted Leeks
During the next few general meetings the FPAC is discussing the food policy audit tool. The FPAC is using the results of the policy audit to learn more about food access in Erie and to identify some possible areas of action.
This audit was made in collaboration with a public health class at Mercyhurst University. To conduct the audit, students chose an area of food policy , conducted research on how that policy affected our Erie community, and interviewed stakeholders. The topics include transportation to food, access to land for growing food, protection of migrant farm workers, emergency food directories and school lunches.
When the general group met on February 10th, we discussed school lunches in Erie. We were joined by Jean Viglione, dietician for Metz Culinary, and Doreen Petri, Sustainability Coordinator at Erie School District. Metz Culinary provides all the meals students are served throughout the district.
During our discussion, we were especially interested in learning about the barriers Metz Culinary experiences when providing students with meals. Feeding over 10,000 students is no small feat, not to mention catering to allergies, dietary needs, and meeting government nutrition standards— all while also trying to provide food that students will actually eat and enjoy.
The FPAC hopes to support Metz Culinary at the policy level. Metz currently relies on Child Nutrition Covid-19 Waivers which help ease the transition from lock-down back to in-person schooling. Because of global supply-chain problems and staff shortages, being able to “waive” some school meal standards helps Metz continue to feed students amid particularly challenging circumstances. For example, one waiver allows schools to feed students outside of the traditional meal times which increases flexibility.
Advocating for the extension of these waivers will help Metz and school staff continue to feed students every day within the (I’m going to say it) unprecedented circumstances the pandemic has introduced.
If you’re curious about school lunches or the other topics listed above, please reach out to the FPAC to join a meeting or ask some questions.
Kendrick Tate is the marketing and outreach specialist for the Erie Food Co-op and an activist in the Erie community. His day-to-day work involves a broad range of marketing and communication. He supports the development of the downtown branch of the Co-op, helps develop new programs to increase the accessibility of fresh food, and connects the Co-op to new people and organization in the city. He started his current role at the Co-op in June of 2021 and enjoys the passion that his co-workers have for food and community.
Regarding the downtown branch of the Co-op, Kendrick says he hopes they can serve new people, reach populations inaccessible at the original store, and be true part of the community.
The downtown store will accept EBT (as does the original), and will include programs which allow lower-income populations to become members.
Kendrick is a long-time Erie resident and when the Co-op was looking for someone who could connect with people in the community, Kendrick was a perfect fit. As a clear communicator and passionate advocate for food access, he strives to help reduce food insecurity in Erie. He notes that “food security is a communal issue” and is encouraged by the growing interest he sees in Erie on the subject.
Kendrick is also the co-founder of the Equity Coalition of Erie which began its work in 2020. The coalition ensures that people have a safe space to voice their concerns or wishes, and to provide people the chance to learn from one another with respect.
You can contact Kendrick through email at kendrick@eriefood.coop