Below are a few examples of our recent projects:
Appalachian Regional Commission (Washington DC)
ASAP conducted food and farm assessments for the 420 counties in the ARC geographic area for the purpose of baselining local food and farm activity within the region. The project identified relevant food system indicators and developed a snapshot methodology to provide communities with a starting point for understanding the food system where they live. The project produced county snapshots for all ARC counties with data on production, retail infrastructure, information on health, consumption, and food access, and equity.
CONNECT Our Future (Charlotte, NC)
ASAP led in the development of the Food Systems planning part of a three-year HUD effort is to create a framework for guiding and investing in the Charlotte NC region’s growth. Along with overall project management, ASAP conducted a food and farm assessment for a 14-county region in North and South Carolina. The project analyzed multiple food system elements (including production, processing, marketing, distribution, access, consumption and food waste recovery) and produced a set of recommendations that informed an action plan for food system development and the work of food policy councils in the region. More information about this project, including an Executive Summary, Action Plan, and Food Systems Assessment Report can be found here.
Heifer International: Seeds of Change (Washington DC)
ASAP was commissioned by the Heifer International Seeds of Change Appalachian Initiative to conduct a food and farm assessment for a five county region including Alleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes, and Johnson County. This involved data collection and analysis of agricultural production, local food consumption, and food spending, a community survey, and a survey of food buyers in the region. The project produced a set of recommendations for strategic action and next steps for developing the local food economy.
Land-of Sky Regional Council (LOSRC) (Asheville, NC)
ASAP worked with LOSRC to add food system analysis to the region-wide Western North Carolina Vitality Index. The Vitality Index reports on the 27 counties of Western North Carolina through the perspectives of the region’s natural, social, built, and economic environments, and was designed to assist local governments, interest groups, and the public. For a five-county area, ASAP identified a set of indicators and measures for assessing the current state of the local food and farm system and identifying gaps and opportunities for growth. More information about this project, including an Asset Mapping Report, can be found here.
Southern Tier West Regional Planning & Development Board of New York (Salamanca, NY)
ASAP guided planners and farmers through the development and rollout of a local food branding and certification program for Western New York. The process included community surveying, a communications audit, and community meetings to share with brand managers and users effective branding strategies. With ASAP’s support, organizers have since created Western New York’s first comprehensive online food guide, developed a website featuring news and events focused on local food and farm activities in the region, and formed a supportive peer-to-peer network for farmers markets in the region.
Mt. Pleasant Planning Department (Mt. Pleasant, SC)
For the Town of Mount Pleasant, ASAP conducted a local food and farm assessment of Mount
Pleasant and the surrounding region and provided a set of recommendations for action with
an emphasis on policy decisions that local government can utilize to bolster local food system development.
