Day(s) After: A Case Study of Food Systems Work after Conducting a Comprehensive Food Systems Assessment

Background: Community food assessments have been used by diverse groups of people to examine food in a community, and to mobilize efforts to improve the food system. In 2005, the San Francisco Food Alliance with San Francisco Food Systems initiated a community-based participatory food systems assessment that brought diverse stakeholders together to research the local food system, publicize these findings, and implement changes based on the assessment.

Purpose: This goal of this research is to: 1) examine what happens after a community assessment has been conducted and 2) identify how these assessments impact community-based work, public health activities and government initiatives.

Methods: This study conducted a document and workplace review of food systems-related activities in the City and County of San Francisco from 2006-2008. In addition, a series of non-structured, informal in-depth interviews were conducted with participants of the food systems assessment to understand the potential impact of the San Francisco Food Systems Assessment.

Results: This case study illustrates that a community food assessment can powerfully justify food related activities and increase innovative policy making in the government sector by increasing networking and participation in food systems work to improve health and reduce “silos” between various sectors of the food system. However, findings also reveal persistent challenges in the structure, politics and power at the local level that continues to impede food systems activities.