Coming to the Table: Alabama Food Policy Council Survey Results Total of thirteen respondents from one listening

session held in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. ISSUE RANKING & POLICY PREFERENCES: Most important issue to respondents was food insecurity (hunger). Overall Policy Preferences Rank Policy First Place Votes Average Rank Standard Deviation 6 1 Local Food 1.92 1.08 (50.0%) 4 2 Food Insecurity 2.58 1.31 (33.3%) 3 2 School Food 3.17 0.84 (25.0%) 2 4 Nutritional Quality 2.33 0.98 (16.7%) Food Insecurity Policy Preferences Rank 1 Policy State and local governments should help more retailers, including farmers markets and roadside stands accept food stamps (SNAP). State and local governments should work with food banks, food pantries, and other charitable organizations, including faithbased groups, to increase and improve programs that reduce food insecurity. State and local governments should offer incentives to locally owned companies that choose to open new grocery stores in areas that currently lack access to nutritious foods. State and local governments should offer incentives to any company that chooses to open new grocery stores in areas that currently lack access to nutritious foods. State and local governments should make public transportation available and efficient so people who are food insecure can First Place Votes 12 (30.7%) Average Rank Standard Deviation

2.61

1.61

8 (25.8%)

2.58

1.34

5 (16.1%)

2.87

1.11

4 (12.9%) 2 (6.5%)

3.45

1.39

2.58

1.34

Local Food Production Policy Preferences Rank 1 Policy State and local governments should reduce regulations that make local food production and processing difficult. State and local governments should enhance the profitability of small- and medium-sized farms in Alabama by supporting direct farm marketing, sustainable agriculture, and agri-tourism efforts. Grants and tax incentives should be offered to farmers and processors who produce high quality foods that meet community needs. State and local policies should encourage local food production and processing as a means of job creation. First Place Votes 6 (54.6%) Average Rank 2.18 Standard Deviation 1.40

2 (18.2%)

2.64

1.21

2 (18.2 %) 1 (9.1%)

2.45

1.04

2.73

1.01

School Food Policy Preferences Rank 1 Policy School garden programs should be developed to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to school lunchrooms. Local, state, and federal governments should encourage school nutrition directors to buy from local farmers when possible. Schools should have proper equipment so that foods are cooked on campus and not just warmed up Vending machines should either not be permitted on school campuses or those schools that choose to have vending machines should establish strict health standards for items offered. First Place Votes 5 (41.67%) 4 (33.3%) 2 (16.7 %) Average Rank 2.08 Standard Deviation 1.17

1.83

0.72

2.70

0.88

4 (12.1%)

3.36

1.05

Nutritional Quality Policy Preferences Rank 1 Policy Communities should consider setting aside public property and creating zoning for community gardens and neighborhood farms in development plans. Foods grown and processed in Alabama should be purchased and prepared in public institutions such as hospitals, prisons and senior centers. Convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, and farmers markets should carry locally produced foods. Government and civic groups should work with seniors to ensure they can access Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits online. First Place Votes 14 (42.4%) Average Rank Standard Deviation

1.80

0.93

10 (30.3%) 5 (15.2%) 4 (12.1%)

2.03

0.88

3.24

1.15

2.85

0.94

PERCEPTIONS OF THE FOOD SYSTEM & FOOD HABITS: Percentage of Food Shopping Done Percentage of Food Shopping Done for Household 0-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76-100% Percentage (Number) of Respondents 7.7% (1) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 92.3% (12)

Shopping Habits Very Rarely (0-5 times a year) 38.5% (5) 58.3% (7) 25.0% (3) 91.7% (11) 41.7% (5) 23.1% (3) 0.0% (0) 40.0% (4) Rarely (6-11 times a year) 30.5% (5) 8.3% (1) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 16.7% (2) 38.5% (5) 58.3% (7) 30.0% (3) Monthly (12 times a year) 7.7% (1) 33.3% (4) 8.3% (1) 8.3% (1) 33.3% (4) 23.1% (3) 41.7% (5) 20.0% (2) Regularly (2-3 times a month) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 50.0% (6) 0.0% (0) 8.3% (1) 15.4% (2) 0.0% (0) 10.0% (1) Very Regularly (4+ times a month) 15.4% (2) 0.0% (0) 16.7% (2) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0)

At a Supercenter such as Wal-Mart or Target At wholesale stores (Sams Club or Costco) At a typical grocery store (Kroger or WinnDixie) At convenience stores (Kangaroo or Circle K) At a large specialty grocer such as Whole Foods or Earth Fare At a small health/natural foods store or a farm co-op At a Farmers Market Directly from a producers farm

Perceptions of Where Food Purchased is Produced Location Outside the U.S The U.S. The Southeastern U.S. Alabama Alabama and within 50 miles from where I live Alabama and within 25 miles from where I live I do not know Percentage (Number) of Respondents 7.7% (1) 23.1% (3) 38.5% (5) 7.7% (1) 0.0% (0) 7.7% (1) 15.4% (2)

100% (13) of respondents say they care where their food is produced. Views on Food Security, Food Production, and Policy
Strongly Agree 67.87% (8) 0.0% (0) 45.5% (5) 0.0% (0) 9.1% (1) 18.2% (2) 50.0% (6) 9.1% (1) 9.1% (1) Strongly Disagree 25.0% (3) 10.0% (1) 0.0% (0) 40.0% (4) 8.3% (1) 40.0% (4) 0.0% (0) 10.0% (1) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 18.2% (2) 18.2% (2)

There are people in AL who are food insecure. State policies help to eliminate food insecurity. Food production in AL increases local economic development. State policies promote local food production for economic development in AL Food insecurity is a problem in AL. We need state policies to reduce food insecurity in AL Food production is good for economic development in Alabama. Most Americans are concerned about food insecurity in their state. Most Americans are concerned about using local food production as a way to

27.3% 0.0% (3) (0)

27.3% 0.0% (3) (0)

10.0% 40.0% 40.0% 10.0% 0.0% (1) (4) (4) (1) (0) 27.3% (3) 27.3% (3) 45.5% (5) 27.3% (3) 18.2% (2) 27.3% (3) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 8.3% (1) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0)

25.0% 16.7% 0.0% (3) (2) (0) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 9.1% (1)

45.5% 18.2% 0.0% (5) (2) (0)

18.2% 36.4% 18.2% 0.0% (2) (4) (2) (0)

improve economic development. Most Americans would support a policy that increased local food production to improve economic development. I would be willing to support a program that increases local food production as a means of improving economic development. I would be willing to support a policy that reduces food insecurity. I intend to support programs designed to increase food production as a means of improving local economic development. I intend to support programs that provide food to people who are food insecure.

20.0% (2)

0.0% (0)

30.0% 40.0% 0.0% (3) (4) (0)

10.0% (1)

0.0% (0)

66.7% (8)

33.3% 0.0% (4) (0)

0.0% (0)

0.0% (0)

0.0% (0)

0.0% (0)

50.0% (6)

33.3% 0.0% (4) (0)

16.7% 0.0% (2) (0)

0.0% (0)

0.0% (0)

66.7% (8)

25.0% 8.3% (3) (1)

0.0% (0)

0.0% (0)

0.0% (0)

0.0% (0)

50.0% (6)

33.3% 8.3% (4) (1)

8.3% (1)

0.0% (0)

0.0% (0)

0.0% (0)

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Gender: Female: 88.3%% (10 respondents); Male: 16.7% (2 respondents) Age: Average: 49 years old; Maximum: 70, Minimum: 25 Average Household Size: 2.4 persons 66.7% (8) of respondents report that they are married. Race Race African-American Asian American Indian White Percent (Number) of Respondents 16.7% (2) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 83.3% (10)

Hispanic or Latino 0.0% (0)

Employment Status Employment Status Employed full-time Employed part-time Employed part-time, but seeking full-time employment Unemployed Unemployed, but seeking full-time employment Retired Student Education Level Highest Level of Education Less than 12th grade High School or GED Some college, no degree 2-year college degree (Associate, Technical, etc.) 4-year college degree (Bachelors) Graduate/Professional Degree (Masters, PhD, etc.) Income Income Level Less than $9,999 Percent (Number) of Respondents 9.1% (1) Percent (Number) of Respondents 0.0% (0) 8.3% (1) 16.7% (2) 0.0% (0) 25.0% (3) 50.0% (6) Percent (Number) of Respondents 58.62% (17) 6.9% (2) 0.0% (0) 6.9% (2) 0.0% (0) 20.7% (6) 6.9% (2)

$10,000 to $24,999 0.0% (0) $25,000 to $50,000 45.5% (5) $50,000 to $74,999 27.3% (3) $75,000 to $99,999 0.0% (0) $100,000 or more 18.2% (2)

Congressional District Residence: Congressional District AL-01 Rep. Jo Bonner (R) AL-02 Rep. Martha Roby (R) AL-03 Rep. Michael Rogers (R) AL-04 Rep. Robert Aderholt (R) AL-05 Rep. Mo Brooks (R) AL-07 Rep. Terri Sewell (D) Percent (Number) of Respondents 0.0% (0) 14.3% (1) 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 85.71% (6) 0.0% (0)

AL-06 Rep. Spencer Bachus (R) 0.0% (0)