[From the Darden School of Business News]

A Darden and UVA Architecture School team last Monday presented the findings of their research project titled, Jefferson Area Board for Aging Community Food System Project, at the UVA Institute on Aging’s Forum on aging research. The research was funded by the UVA Institute on Aging and the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA).

The Darden team included second year student Hope Temple, Professor Andrea Larson, and Manager of Sustainability Programs, Erika Herz. Researchers from the School of Architecture Department of Urban and Environmental Planning were graduate student Regine Kennedy and the Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities, Timothy Beatley.

JABA operates residential facilities and meal provision services for senior members of the Charlottesville community, serving 3500 meals a week to its senior clients and, due to the aging of the U.S. population, may see that number triple by 2010. Consistent with its goal to provide fresh, nutritious meals that improve the health and quality of life not only for its clients but also for the larger community, JABA sought information and innovative ideas it could use to meet its goals. The student researchers analyzed JABA’s local food procurement patterns and processes, providing recommendations on how it could expand local food purchasing by targeting specific strategies in purchasing and working more closely with local farmers.

The students examined local supply and demand dynamics for vegetables and fruit and studied best practices from other U.S. communities active in local food access for seniors. The researchers also mapped out the existing local “foodshed” in the Charlottesville area, including retailers, farmers’ markets and restaurants. They interviewed farmers to determine what pricing, scheduling, and resources are necessary for them to increase supply to local institutions such as hospitals, senior care centers, schools and restaurants. The research has contributed to JABA’s efforts on behalf of its clientele. It also has stimulated greater attention to local food benefits for community members of all ages, and has encouraged activity locally that is designed to build a strong local food production and distribution network for the Charlottesville area.

Key findings of the report were that reducing price variability through better management of demand, creating additional distribution infrastructure to get foods from the farm to the table, and advance contracting with farmers, are all necessary to build a more robust local food system for JABA and other area institutions. Finally, payment structures must be addressed as most institutions pay in 30 days, whereas farmers need to be paid within approximately two weeks.

[for complete article, follow link to Darden News]