The document outlines the mandate and work plan of the East Baton Rouge Parish Food Access Policy Commission. The commission was launched on February 14, 2013 at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church. Its mandate is to examine the causes of food deserts in the parish, determine best practices for attracting food retailers, and develop policy recommendations. The commission has 16 members representing various organizations. It will analyze the problem of low food access over three phases from February to August 2013, focusing on causes, best practices, and developing solutions tailored to East Baton Rouge Parish.

1. EAST BATON ROUGE
PARISH
FOOD ACCESS
POLICY
COMMISSION
Launch &
Orientation
Mt. Pilgrim Baptist
Church
February 14, 2013

2. Commission Mandate
#1) Problem Analysis
Examine the causes behind food deserts in East
Baton Rouge Parish.
#2) Best Practice Analysis
Determine best practices around the nation for
attracting retail and other high-quality food
providers to food desert communities.
#3) Recommend Solutions
Develop concrete policy and practice
recommendations for East Baton Rouge Parish to
address food deserts and other areas with low food
access.

3. Commission Members
Rev. Jesse Bilberry, Pastor, Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church; Moderator, 4th District
Baptist Association
Mr. Chip Boyles, EBR Redevelopment Authority, Vice President of
Administration & Programs
Dr. Stephanie Broyles, Pennington Biomedical, Assistant Professor
Dr. Adell Brown, Jr., Southern University AgCenter, Vice Chancellor for
Research
Mr. Edgar Cage, Together Baton Rouge, Food Access Team Co-chair
Mr. Clint Caldwell, Associated Grocers, Director of Business Development
Mr. David Gray, Louisiana Budget Project, Policy Analyst
Mr. Ty Harvison, Latter & Blum, Commercial Real Estate
Mr. Ed Johnson, Wal-mart
Dr. Kenneth Koonce, LSU Dean, College of Agriculture, LSU Agricultural
Center
Mr. Mike Manning, Greater BR Food Bank, President & CEO
Mr. Jared Smith, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Director of Business
Development

4. General
definition
an area with inadequate access to
fresh, affordable foods needed to
maintain a healthy diet.
What is a “food
desert”?

5. What is a “food
desert”?
USDA
definitio
n
A low income census tract where a
substantial number or share of residents
has low access to a supermarket or large
grocery store.
“Low-income”
Census tract with at
least 20% of residents
below poverty OR
median family income
below 80% of area’s
median family income.
“Low-access”
At least 500 people or
33% of the population
resides one mile or more
from a supermarket or
large grocery store (10
miles for rural census
tracts).

6. USDA Data for EBR Parish
(2010)
About 75,500
EBR residents
live in food
deserts.
16,700 are
children.
39% in poverty.
USDA food
desert
census
tracts

7. Pennington Data for EBR Parish
(2012)
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington
Biomedical
As many as
103,000 EBR
residents live in
food deserts.
25,000 are
children.
Areas within 1
mile of
grocery store
Low-
income
census
tracts

8. A closer look …
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington
Biomedical

9. USDA Food deserts in EBR
Parish
Scotlandville
stats
South BR stats
Dixie stats
North Forest /
Red Oak stats
Glen Oaks stats
(with note)
Scotlandville
Food Desert
Glen Oaks
Food Desert
North Forest /
Red Oak Food
Desert
South Baton
Rouge Food
Desert
Dixie Food
Desert
MAYBE REMOVE THIS
SLIDE & PUT
NAMES/ARROWS on
DETAILED ONE?

10. Scotlandville Food Desert
Approximatel
y
- 25,900
persons
- 6,500
children
- 34%
living in
poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington

11. Downtown/Old South Baton
Rouge
Approximately
- 15,700 persons
- 3,300 children
- 39% living in
poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington

12. South Baton Rouge Food
Desert
Approximately
- 20,000
persons
- 3,300
children
- 41% living in
poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington

13. Not sure what to call this one
Approximately
- 11,900
persons
- 3,400 children
- 38% living in
poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington

14. Glen Oaks?
Approximately
- 14,400
persons
- 4,000 children
- 22% living in
poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington

15. North Forest/Red Oaks Food
Desert
Approximately
- 9,000
persons
- 3,300
children
- 38% living in
poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington

16. Coursey?
Approximately
- 6,300
persons
- 1,500
children
- 24% living in
poverty
Katy Drazba, MPH & Stephanie Broyles, PhD; Pennington

17. Work Plan: Schedule
Timeline Chart

18. Timeline: February & March 2013
Analysis of areas of low food access in East Baton Rouge Parish.
What are the causes behind food deserts in East Baton Rouge
Parish?
What are the consequences for having food deserts?
Other than food deserts, what other low-access problems are there?
Why did previous food retail outlets (e.g. Food Town, Winn Dixie,
Schwegmann's) close down?
What are the barriers to development and expansion of high-quality
food options?
Phase 1: Problem Analysis
KEY QUESTIONS

19. Timeline: April & May 2013
Break different strategies into categories, such as:
A) Attracting retail.
B) Addressing demand in areas.
C) Non-traditional options (food co-ops, farmer's
markets, urban agriculture, etc.)
Phase 2: Best practices
analysis
Goal: Identify, categorize and understand in
detail model approaches across the country.

20. Timeline: June – August 2013
Feasibility and cost assessments for various strategies.
Public engagement around possible recommendations.
Develop final report of recommendations.
Phase 3: Solutions for EBR
Parish

21. Timeline: Starting at launch and throughout
Conduct market analysis of all low food access areas.
Conduct “gap analysis” to determine area leakage.
Identify the areas with most market demand potential.
Identify prospects for land or land acquisition.
Work toward possible deals.
Special Team: Market opportunity
analysis

22. Forming Committees

23. Meeting Schedule