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  • Home
  • About
  • Framework
  • Issue Lens
  • Map
  • Peer Networks
  • Leaders
  • Initiatives
  • Calendar
  • Research
Austin Food EcoSystem

Peer Networks

Core to the idea of "EcoSystem Building" is the fact that people like to get together. At conferences, at concerts, at the local cafe, and in the center of a thriving town.

Here is a list of existing, pending, and proposed "Peer Networks" for those interested in local sustainable food in Central Texas. Did we miss something? If so, please email jarred@foodshedinvestors.com with the scoop.

Existing

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Farmland Preservation Working Group
Host(s): Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board
Target Participants: Interested Parties
Open To: 
Format: Periodic Meetings
Purpose: Develops policies and procedures to preserve existing farmland and increase access to new farmland for farmers from diverse backgrounds, communities, and skillsets.
When: ​
​Where: ​Austin
Contact: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/sustainable-food-policy-board-get-involved
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GroAct ListServ
Host(s): Growers Alliance of Central Texas
Target Participants: For-profit producers grossing over $5k/year in Central Texas
Open To: Target Participants
Format: ListServ, Annual Meeting
Purpose: Collaborate and strengthen communication between Austin area farmers
When: ​
​Where: ​at a Member's farm
Contact: https://sites.google.com/site/growersallianceofcentraltexas/
SSAWG Conference
Host(s): Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
Target Participants: Sustainable / regenerative producers
Open To: Anyone paying registration fee
Format: Conference
Purpose: 
When: ​January 2019
Where: ​Little Rock, AR
Contact: https://www.ssawg.org/january-2019-conference/​
Texas State Small Producers Conference
Host(s): Texas State Department of Agriculture
Target Participants: Sustainable / regenerative producers
Open To: Anyone paying registration fee
Format: Conference
Purpose: 
When: ​Annual, next one in  August 2019
Where: San Marcos​
Contact: 
Texas Young Farmers ListServ
Host(s): Texas Young Farmers Coalition
Target Participants: Young-ish sustainable / regenerative producers
Open To: Anyone paying registration fee
Format: ListServ
Purpose: Increase connectivity between new and beginning growers in Central Texas.
When: ​Ongoing
Where: ​Online
Contact: http://www.centraltexasyoungfarmers.org
TOFGA Annual Conference
Host(s): Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association
Target Participants: Sustainable / regenerative producers
Open To: Anyone paying registration fee
Format: Conference
Purpose: Educate producers and consumers on the many benefits of organic agriculture and to promote its use throughout Texas.
When: Annually, in February
Where:  
Contact: http://www.tofga.org
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Barcode
Host(s): Ben Ponder
Target Participants: Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) entrepreneurs
Open To: Target Participants
Format: Presentation then Q&A
Purpose: We are a group of product entrepreneurs of all stripes and stages joined by our desire to equip emerging consumer brands and to learn from one another. No strings attached.
When: Monthly
Where:  Austin
Contact: ben@barcodestartup.com
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Good Food Purchasing Program
Host(s): City of Austin Office of Sustainability
Target Participants: Food procurement officials
Open To: Target Participants
Format: Presentation then Q&A
Purpose: Cities, school districts, and other public institutions spend billions of dollars every year on food. These choices have a huge impact on everything from public health to the local economy. The Good Food Purchasing Program offers a value driven framework and set of tools that partners can use to assist with goal setting, measure progress and celebrate successes around purchasing Good Food.
When:
Where:  Austin
Contact: https://goodfoodcities.org/portfolio/austin/    Edwin Marty, City of Austin Food Policy Manager 
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Food Recovery Working Group
Host(s): Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board
Target Participants: Interested Parties
Open To: 
Format: Periodic Meetings
Purpose: Identifies, supports, and promotes solutions for using previously wasted food to feed Austin’s people, animals, and soil.
When: ​
Where: Austin
Contact: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/sustainable-food-policy-board-get-involved
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Healthy Food Security & Access Working Group
Host(s): Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board
Target Participants: Interested Parties
Open To: 
Format: Periodic Meetings
Purpose: Uses advocacy and researched-based policy to encourage greater access to healthy food, as well as educational opportunities to support a secure food future for all.
When: ​
​Where: ​Austin
Contact: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/sustainable-food-policy-board-get-involved
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Farm & Food Leadership Conference
Host(s): Farm & Ranch Freedom Alliance
Target Participants: Sustainable / regenerative producers
Open To: Anyone paying registration fee
Format: Conference
Purpose:  Focuses on the policies and regulations affecting our farms and our food as well as the latest developments in sustainable agriculture
When: October 2019
Where:  McKinney
Contact: http://farmandranchfreedom.org/farm-food-leadership-conference/
Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board
Host(s): City of Austin Office of Sustainability
Target Participants: 
Open To: 
Format: Meeting
Purpose: The Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board advises both Austin City Council and the Travis County Commissioners Court about ways to improve the availability of safe, nutritious, and affordable food that is grown locally and sustainably for all residents, particularly those in need.
When: Monthly
Where:  Austin
Contact: http://www.austintexas.gov/sustainability/foodpolicy
Codes and Ordinances Working Group
Host(s): Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board
Target Participants: Interested Parties
Open To: 
Format: Periodic Meetings
Purpose: Works to ensure a comprehensive and accessible set of codes, ordinances, policies, rules, and billing throughout Austin and Travis County to stimulate a thriving community-based food system.
When: ​
​Where: ​Austin
Contact: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/sustainable-food-policy-board-get-involved
Building Opportunities for Food Entrepreneurs Working Group
Host(s): Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board
Target Participants: Interested Parties
Open To: 
Format: 
Purpose: 
When: ​Monthly Meetings
​Where: ​Austin
Contact: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/sustainable-food-policy-board-get-involved
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Food and Climate Working Group
Host(s): Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board
Target Participants: Interested Parties
Open To: 
Format: Periodic Meetings
Purpose: Works to quantify the carbon footprint of food and agriculture activities in Austin-Travis County to provide solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering atmospheric carbon, and building a resilient food system for all Austin residents.
When: ​
​Where: ​Austin
Contact: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/sustainable-food-policy-board-get-involved
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Slow Food Austin
Host(s): Slow Food Austin
Target Participants: 
Open To: 
Format: Happy Hours, Dinners
Purpose:  Slow Food Austin reconnects people with the food they eat. We celebrate the pleasure of the table. We want to make the world a little slower, living an unhurried life beginning at the table. We cultivate the enjoyment and quality of life. We honor our culture and tradition. Behind every dish there are choices made in the fields. We cherish the diverse food communities and traditions of Austin and Central Texas. We focus on the relationships between producers, cooks and all who eat.
When: Monthly
Where:  Austin
Contact: http://slowfoodaustin.org
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Les Dames D'Escoffier Austin
Host(s): Les Dames D'Escoffier
Target Participants: Exceptional Women Working In The Culinary, Beverage, And Hospitality Industries
Open To: Target Participants
Format: Annual Dinner
Purpose:  Provide scholarships to women seeking continuing education in the culinary, beverage, and hospitality industries
When:
Where:  Austin
Contact: https://www.ldeiaustin.org

PENDING

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Fundraising Roundtable
Host(s): Foodshed Investors; Co-Hosts welcome
Target Participants: For-profit entrepreneurs considering or in the process of raising capital.
Open To: Target Participants
Format: Roundtable
Purpose: Participant-driven roundtable to introduce self & company; share current issues, questions, & obstacles; share best practices, contacts, and resources; mutually support others on the same journey.
When: ​September 2018
Where: ​Austin
Contact: evan@austinfoodshedinvestors.com
Investors Roundtable
Host(s): Foodshed Investors; Co-Hosts welcome
Target Participants: Individual investors or potential investors (both accredited and non-accredited) interested in investing in local sustainable food and ag companies
Open To: Target Participants
Format: Roundtable
Purpose: Participant-driven roundtable to introduce self & goals; discuss potential deals, deal structures, portfolio management, due diligence, tax management, & best practices; share current questions and issues, contacts, and resources; mutually support others on the same journey.
When: ​September 2018
Where: Austin
Contact: evan@austinfoodshedinvestors.com
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Food & Tech Austin Meetup
Host(s): Food & Tech Austin
Target Participants: 
Open To: 
Format:    [Meeting, Conference, Roundtable, ???]
Purpose:  Note: this 800+ person Meetup group operated several years ago, stalled, and is in the process of being reinvigorated.
When:
Where:  Austin
Contact: Steve Pearson

Proposed

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CenTxSusFood Be-In
Host(s): 
Target Participants: Everyone interested in the Central Texas Food System
Open To: Anyone
Format: Happy Hour
Purpose: Kick-off to the general public of this Food EcoSystem project; short presentation on this website; breakout into smaller groups of each of the Peer Networking groups here to meet, exchange cards, plan for getting together.
When: ​September 2018
Where: ​Austin
Contact: 
CenTxSusFood ListServ
Host(s): 
Target Participants: Everyone interested in the Central Texas Food System, with particular focus on the for-profit entrepreneurs that make it go.
Open To: Anyone
Format: Email ListServ
Purpose: Like COMFOOD for Central Texas: Company news and announcements; research published; events; job openings; workers looking for work; questions and discussions; policy; sourcing & vendors; real estate & space; professional services recommendations; professional development, etc.
When: ​September 2018
Where: Online
Contact:
Food System Planning
Host(s): Needs Host(s)
Target Participants: 
Open To:
Format: Working Group
Purpose: Draft a food systems plan for Central Texas including leverage of existing work here and elsewhere, overall objectives, actionable tactics and owners, metrics, and follow-on activities; gain consensus from various stakeholder groups; publish & update.
When: ​
Where: Austin
Contact:
Peer Networking Facilitation
Host(s): Needs Host(s)
Target Participants: People with experience in community organizing, small group facilitation, collaboration
Open To:
Format: Working Group
Purpose: Provide support, infrastructure, best practices, maybe technology, to "Host(s)" of other Peer Networking groups.
When: ​
Where:
Contact:
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Start-Up Roundtable
Host(s): Needs Host(s)
Target Participants: Local sustainable food entrepreneurs considering starting, or having recently started, a new business.
Open To: Target Participants
Format: Roundtable
Purpose: Participant-driven roundtable to introduce self & company; share current issues, questions, & obstacles; share best practices, contacts, and resources; mutually support others on the same journey.
When: ​
Where: Austin
Contact:
Food & Ag-Based Economic Development Roundtable
Host(s): Needs Host(s)
Target Participants: Economic Development Officers from State, Counties, Cities of Central Texas and the entrepreneurs of their jurisdictions
Open To: Target Participants
Format: Roundtable
Purpose: Collaborate with local food and ag entrepreneurs to learn their pain points and opportunities. Share best practices programs, & funding vehicles for using local sustainable food and agriculture as a driver of local economic growth.
When: ​
Where:
Contact:
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CenTxSusFood Outreach / Intake Team
Host(s): Needs Host(s)
Target Participants: Community organizers, marketers, customer service professionals, mentors
Open To: Anyone
Format: Working Group
Purpose: Publicize activities of this Food EcoSystem building effort; reach out to organizations & individuals who historically have not had a seat at the table; bring in new participants; facilitate their introduction and ability to participate.
When: ​
Where: Austin
Contact:
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Food & Ag - Focused Non-Profit Roundtable
Host(s): Needs Host(s)
Target Participants: Non-profit leaders in the food and ag space
Open To: Anyone
Format: Roundtable
Purpose: Participant-driven roundtable to introduce self & company; share current initiatives, issues, questions, & obstacles; share best practices, contacts, and resources; mutually support others on the same journey. 
When: ​
Where: Austin
Contact:
Food Justice & Equity Working Group
Host(s): Needs Host(s)
Target Participants: 
Open To: Anyone
Format: Working Group
Purpose: Explore root causes of systemic inequality; expose for-profit entrepreneurs to food justice and equity concepts; collaboratively develop practical actions to reduce regional food justice issues; serve as resource for other Peer Networking groups. 
When: ​
Where: Austin
Contact: