Changes cannot be made overnight. It will be a long road ahead before we get where we need to be: independent of oil. People can be given all the direction in the world, but in order for change to happen, we (the people) have to want to change. Part of this EDAP is providing practical steps necessary to reach these goals. It will take many years before these significant changes and paradigm shifts in how we produce and grow food take full affect. The following practical steps are given over a 12 year period.
2014
- Florida's Sustainability Center appoints a Local Food Officer. Responsibilities will be to start and promote a local food campaign.
- Organize a community meeting of people involved in food and food production and brainstorm ideas and suggestions to be included in the report for the campaign. Form a Local Food Partnership among people and businesses.
- Start spreading the word, obtain and make contact with other sustainability centers around Florida and get them on board.
- The Partnership and Officer present the Local Food Action Plan which includes steps to achieve the goals stated in the Action Plan. Included in this Plan should be a list of all local and organic farms and businesses in the area.
- Start educational programs around the area regarding sustainable agriculture and food conservation. Educating the general public about their food choices is key to ensure sustainable growth and change.
- Start advocating to local businesses to join the "Fresh From Florida" program, if not currently enrolled. Consider it an incentive to be a part of the Local Food Partnership.
- Approach local schools and have them consider adding a sustainability class to their courses. The sooner our youth is exposed to conservation and sustainability measures the better.
- Approach local schools about their current food procurement policies. Collaborate with them to start purchasing 50% of their food from local farms. Encourage a step further by going organic where possible.
- Local Food Officer works with the county and local farmers to establish bi-weekly Farmer's Markets. If consumers know there is local and organic food easily obtainable, they are more likely to buy it. Farmer's Markets should start to become as commonplace as a standard grocery store.
- Offer reduced rates for businesses that use over 40% of locally produced food
- Approach local hospitals, nursing home communities, and any other organizations providing food for a large portion of people, about their current food procurement policies. Discuss and encourage them to purchase 50% of their food from local farms. If possible, encourage more than 50%.
- Where possible, advocate for schools and other businesses to implement use of a garden of their own to grow fruits and vegetables.
- With changes set in motion, publicity should be growing on the new sustainable food initiatives taking place. Hold a Local Foods Festival to celebrate and obtain even more recognition. The Festival will be a fundraiser for the Partnership and food initiatives to help fund other sustainable food projects for the area.
- The local farms market has now grown and able to provide higher quantities of local food to consumers. The Local Food Officer approaches local schools once again to increase their local food procurement policies from 50% to 75%. Hospitals and other businesses are also once again approached to increase their local food procurement to 75%.
- By 2018, the various changes in procurement from schools, the hospital and the now well-established Farmers Market have started creating a larger market for businesses and people to grow locally. Grants are now made available to people starting up small scale food production and as small business support where needed.
- Pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals are now banned from use in the area on any farms producing food. Hefty fines are administered if any farm or place of food production is caught using the banned products.
- A Farmers Co-op is created between dairy & meat farmers and the local growers. All livestock are kept 100% free range on chemical free pastures with no growth hormones used. Customers are able to order directly from the Co-op for their meats, dairy products, fruits, veggies and grains.
- Local Food Initiatives are now in full swing. Florida's Sustainability Center now appoints a Green Energy Officer. The Green Energy Officer travels to any factories and manufacturers of food that is not provided through farms, to convince them to switch from oil to a renewable energy resource to run their factories. Incentives are offered by the state and county to companies that switch to renewable energy resources.
- It will be years before all factories switch to renewable energy sources. Local farms are in full production and the area has become almost self-sustainable.