Procedural equity and inclusion is foundational to local and regional market development in Minnesota.
Throughout this project, partners and stakeholders emphasized the importance for procedural equity to be embedded in each of the priority areas, and in every step of the work. Our data-informed strategies represent how we can engage, serve, collaborate, and invest in ways that prioritize and advance equity and inclusion in Minnesota’s markets and food system.
Procedural equity
Procedural equity and inclusion is foundational to local and regional market development in Minnesota.
Throughout this project, partners and stakeholders emphasized the importance for procedural equity to be embedded in each of the priority areas, and in every step of the work. Our data-informed strategies represent how we can engage, serve, collaborate, and invest in ways that prioritize and advance equity and inclusion in Minnesota’s markets and food system.
Relationship building with tribal nations, producers, and communities is needed to ensure that food systems development equitably serves all Minnesotans while supporting tribal food sovereignty.
Strategies:
- Build relationships with tribal nations to support future partnerships and collaboration, and ensure tribal perspectives are incorporated into local and regional market development.
- Engage with tribal leaders to learn if and how the MDA can support or assist in data collection, led by or conducted in partnership with tribal nations.
Relationship building with tribal nations
Relationship building with tribal nations, producers, and communities is needed to ensure that food systems development equitably serves all Minnesotans while supporting tribal food sovereignty.
Strategies:
- Build relationships with tribal nations to support future partnerships and collaboration, and ensure tribal perspectives are incorporated into local and regional market development.
- Engage with tribal leaders to learn if and how the MDA can support or assist in data collection, led by or conducted in partnership with tribal nations.
Strategies:
- Dedicate funding for contracts with tribal nations and community organizations — including specific funding for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color)-led organizations — to support equitable outreach and engagement.
- Educate consumers on the value of local food and where to get it.
- Provide more technical assistance, training, and information for emerging farmers that are culturally appropriate and offered in multiple languages.
- Expand food safety services and audits that meet the needs of small, mid-sized, and emerging producers.
Outreach, education, and engagement
Strategies:
- Dedicate funding for contracts with tribal nations and community organizations — including specific funding for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color)-led organizations — to support equitable outreach and engagement.
- Educate consumers on the value of local food and where to get it.
- Provide more technical assistance, training, and information for emerging farmers that are culturally appropriate and offered in multiple languages.
- Expand food safety services and audits that meet the needs of small, mid-sized, and emerging producers.
Strategies:
- Equitably invest in small, mid-sized, and emerging farmers through grants, loans, cost-shares, etc.
- Advocate for an insurance safety net for local food producers.
- Prioritize strategies, such as incentives, for increasing procurement and consumption of local food.
