Blue Sky Minds & Partners: Okanogan Region Food System Assessment

Description/Purpose:

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a community food system is one in which food production, processing, distribution, and consumption are geographically integrated and benefit a particular community's environment, economy, and social and nutritional health. A food system assessment helps communities better understand intersecting and complex elements that impact food economics, the land, access, justice, and equity. They are unique to the specific region and influenced by the collaborations reflected in the document. Food system assessments are a reflective and collaborative process that articulates the strengths and challenges faced by a specific community. Often used for action planning, these documents serve as a springboard for further collaboration to address community-determined needs.

Community stakeholders collaboratively developed the Okanogan Region Food System Assessment. The geological region of this report includes the Colville Reservation and Okanogan County. It is a living document that Okanogan Region collaborators can use to take actionable steps to build a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable food system. This report synthesizes existing data from the Okanogan Region food system. It offers a baseline for long-range planning and forecasting based on historical, and when available, current data and information. As a springboard rather than a terminus, this food system assessment intends to foster and extend collaboration amongst the many constituents committed to the resilience and sustainability of the Okanogan Region’s food system

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Data Year:

2024

What organization/s collected the data?

Blue Sky Minds Nonprofit, WSU, Tahoma Peak Solutions, LIGHT Foundation. All other collaborators are listed in the beginning of the report.

Does this organization also hold the data currently?

Yes

Which Vital Condition or Urgent Service does the data fall within?

• Basic Needs for Health and Safety

• Lifelong Learning

• Meaningful Work and Wealth

• Belonging and Civic Muscle

• Humane Housing

• Reliable Transportation

• Thriving Natural World

• Urgent Services

Is aggregate or summary data available publicly?

Yes

What was the collection method(s) (paper/online/ telephone survey, interview, focus group, observation, record review,…)?

Research Scope and Methodology:
Data in the first iteration of this food system assessment was drafted in December 2023 and came from three major sources: publicly available data, such as census data, data from the Food Security Project, and textual sources accessed by WSU students. Many additions were made on the food system assessment in March 2024 using similar sources. These additions were made by food system professionals and community members with place-based lived experience and areas of local expertise such as food pantries, farmers, ranchers, food retail business owners, food related nonprofits, academia, and local agencies.

The Food Security Project collected data using the online survey tool SurveyMonkey. The team at the L.I.G.H.T Foundation understood that in selecting a data collection methodology, it was crucial to consider factors such as the target population’s accessibility, technological access, and cultural sensitivities. Surveys were provided on-line and in-person on Colville Reservation.

It is also noteworthy that census data is limited in many ways and does not fully represent the lived experiences of individuals in the Okanogan Region. Therefore, surveys like those completed by the L.I.G.H.T. Foundation are critical for assessing the food system and its impact on the community.

Were any tools / technology used to collect the data?

Census data, survey monkey, WSU library, and the internet.

Were incentives used to collect the data?

No

How often is this data collected?

As needed for updates to the assessment report.

Study Type

Data collected on the same people over time (e.g., like clients enrolled in a particular program).

Description of who was included in the dataset:

The survey conducted by LIGHT Foundation included Tribal members on Colville Reservation. The survey conducted by Blue Sky Minds was done in person with local farmers and food retailers.

How many unique individuals are included in this dataset?

51-100

Geographic Area(s) covered by the dataset:

All of Okanogan County and the Colville Reservation.

What demographics were collected?

Race/Ethnicity and Gender Identity.

What races and/or ethnicities were included in the study?

All

What are some limitations of the study's data?

Lack of funding.