MEETING NOTES
Food Advisory Council for Memphis and Shelby County
Working Group Meeting
Wednesday February 23, 2011
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, 1000 S Cooper St.
NEXT MEETING: WED. MARCH 9TH 10:30 AM -12 NOON
In Attendance: Josephine Williams, Robin Rodriquez, Christian Man, Melissa Petersen, John Paul Shaffer, Brandi Franklin, Laretha Randolph
Welcomed new working group member Brandi Franklin, CHEER project manager with UT Health and Science Center. CHEER is the Consortium for Health Education, Economic Empowerment, and Research, is a partnership between (UT Health Science Cntr, LeMoyne Owen College, Memephis Houseing Authority, Mustard Seed CDC, First Baptist on Lauderdale, and the Shelby County Health Department) taking a community based approach to addressing health disparities with a focus in the 38126 area.
1. Update on Ongoing Projects
Sampling/Demos at Farmers Markets – an email has been circulated (please see following text of TN Health Department) stating that according to state law, sampling at farmers markets is exempt from permitting. Interpretations of local law may differ. Melissa has sent language about chef demos to Otho Sawyer twice for his approval. Response is still pending. There was a discussion of other strategies to expedite a statement from the Health Department before the farmers market season begins. Melissa Petersen will contact Connie Binkowitz and ask her to speak with Janet Shipman as to her recommendations. We could also potentially bring it up to Let’sCHANGE (Yvonne Madlock or Rev. Robinson) or Mayor Luttrell’s office.
Food Ordinance Handbook – We are expecting a brief/memo from Harvard Law School soon dictating their preliminary findings/recommendations for the elimination of the food ordinance handbook and the introduction of necessary ordinances above and beyond state law. Once we have this brief we can use it be build support and shop around to policy makers. Four students will be coming in March (14th through the 18th) to talk about their research, host some public and stakeholder meetings, and hopefully do some related research on a topic yet to be determined. The students are comparing Memphis food ordinances to 15 other cities.
White Paper – writing committee will have a draft for the group at the next working group meeting.
Farm to Table Conference – Hosted by Urban Farms, GrowMemphis and Edible Memphis Magazine on February 7th, the conference had about 75 attendees and we generally a success. Otho Sawyers session on local farmers markets and other food ordinances was very well attended. This will be an annual event.
2. Financial sustainability and fundraising discussion – we reviewed the budgets made available of the Community Food Security Coalition website and discussed staffing and fundraising strategies. The relationship between GrowMemphis and the FAC will be a key consideration fro fundraising. It was expressed that the Wholesome Wave grant would really kick start fundraising because it would be a tangible result that people can relate to. The first step is to determine that level of funding is required for FAC function over the next three years. We may be able to bring in a consultant to help identity funding sources and develop a plan.
3. Formation of a Fundraising Plan Committee - Robin Rodriguez and Christian Man volunteered to serve on the Fundraising/Financial Plan Committee. Brandi Franklin offered to help identify funding sources.
4. General Updates/Announcements -
· BioDimensions – would like to meet regarding the possibility of partnering on a project to research and make recommendations for implementing a program to supply schools with local food. Recommended that this meeting take place outside a regular working group meeting and include Melissa Wolowicz, Lauren Taylor, and a representative from MCS Nutrition Services. Laretha Randolph and Christian Man expressed interest in attending. Josephine will get in touch with Melissa Wolowocz and go from there.
· Shelby County Mayor Luttrell – Mary Phillips of the Urban Farm recently met with Mayor Luttrell, who is interested in sending a representative to a meeting of the FAC working group.
· Pick TN Products/ TN Farmers Market Promotion Meeting/Conference Saturday April 9th in Memphis at the Agricenter. More information will be forthcoming.
Received from the TN Dept of health October 8, 2010:
Ms. Childress,
Thank you for your letter regarding cooking demonstrations at the Jonesborough Farmer's Market. This issue has been reviewed and a policy update has been issued statewide that exempts sampling operations at farmer's markets (including samples provided at cooking demonstrations); provided no potentially hazardous foods are served to the public. Potentially hazardous foods include (but are not limited to) meats, eggs, cooked rice, and cooked potatoes.
The policy is in effect now, it was distributed this week at the manager's meeting. This is how the policy appears in our manual:
Sampling operations in farmer’s markets, flea markets, and temporary events.
Sampling operations located in farmer’s markets, flea markets, and temporary events are exempt from permitting and regulation provided the food products being offered as samples are non potentially hazardous and/or are products prepared in a licensed domestic kitchen regulated by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Rev. 10-4-10
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly or contact your local environmental health specialist in Washington County, (423) 975-7926.
Regards,
Lori LeMaster
Environmental Health Program Manager
Tn Department of Health
General Environmental Health
425 5th Avenue North, 5th floor
Nashville, TN 37247
