Regional Food System Overview

A healthy community does not happen by accident. It requires a comprehensive approach covering all aspects of social, physical, and economic environments. Creating environments that promote healthy behaviors and improve health outcomes in our communities requires collaboration and partnerships between planning and health professionals.

MVRPC’s PLAN4Health – Miami Valley Initiative, launched in Spring of 2021, explores how planning can impact health outcomes and seeks to achieve the goal of healthy people and communities in the Dayton Metro Region.

The PLAN4Health - Miami Valley Initiative is a multi-year effort with a focus on projects and programs intended to:

The PLAN4Health - Miami Valley Initiative does not seek to develop a regional health plan or duplicate activities undertaken by local public health departments. Rather, projects and programs are geared towards information sharing, capacity building, and generating collaborative solutions.

Click the button below to learn more about MVRPC's PLAN4Health - Miami Valley Initiative.

Keep scrolling to learn more about the Region's food system. The Regional Food System Overview is the fourth project from the PLAN4Health - Miami Valley initiative.

The   Health Environment Assessment,  the first project from the PLAN4Health - Miami Valley Initiative, examined a range of factors that are commonly known as the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) to establish a broad existing conditions baseline in the Region.

The  Built Environment Assessment , the second project of the initiative, shifted the focus to examine how the health and well-being of residents could be improved through planning. Using the Active Community Index, the Built Environment Assessment established a baseline for active living conditions in the Miami Valley.

This Regional Food System Overview examines elements of the food system in the Miami Valley. The Regional Food System Overview will be used to :

• Introduce key food system components.
• Increase awareness of the current conditions and understanding of the inter-relatedness between food assets, security, and access.
• Start a conversation between planners, public health, and food system stakeholders to boost health outcomes by making improvements to our regional food environment.

Note: Due to limitations within the available data, values for all of Warren County are reported throughout this report.

A food system is a multifaceted network of activities that include the production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste management of food. This network can influence nutrition, health, agriculture and community development. Issues within the food system can negatively impact community health and well-being.

Here are some important facts and features about the Regional Food System Overview:

• It examines food assets, security, and access across the Miami Valley.
• It presents data and information to increase awareness and understanding of current conditions.
• It includes a series of interactive maps on various topics.
• It is not intended to be a food systems plan nor does it cover all aspects of the food system.

Continue to the next section for a brief overview, key definitions, and important regional conditions that provide demographic context related to food security and access.

The food system, a network comprised of food production, processing, distribution, and consumption, plays a vital role in improving the health and well-being for communities across the Miami Valley Region.

While a healthy diet is an individual choice, our choices are often based on the options presented to us. Our Region has a number of food assets that provide a means for people across the Miami Valley to acquire food. However, in our current food environment where we have more convenience stores and fast food restaurants than full grocery stores and full service restaurants, there is a challenge in making a healthy food choice an easy choice.

Food security is a basic human right. In the Miami Valley Region, there has been an increase in food insecurity and basic food needs of far too many are not being met. Additionally, children in our Region face higher rates of food insecurity than the overall population.

Despite the Region's food assets, access to these resources is not evenly distributed. Due to the Region's built environment, some individuals, particularly those in lower income areas with limited access to a private vehicle face significant barriers when it comes to acquiring healthy foods.

Within our Region, disparities amongst populations of different characteristics exist for food security and access to healthy foods. The Black population and those of Hispanic origin experience higher rates of food insecurity and disproportionately live in areas with limited access to healthy foods.

To view the data used in this application, click the button below. [Currently under development]

Established in 1964, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission promotes collaboration among communities, stakeholders, and residents to advance regional priorities. MVRPC is a forum and resource where the Board of Directors identifies priorities and develops public policy and collaborative strategies to improve the quality of life throughout the Miami Valley Region.

MVRPC performs planning and research functions for our Region that ensure livable and equitable communities; clean air and water; robust roadway, transit, and active transportation options; and strategic community plans that chart the course for member communities and partners. MVRPC’s geographic area includes Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby, and northern Warren counties in Southwest Ohio.

For more information, contact: Martin Kim, Director of Community and Regional Planning at mkim@mvrpc.org.