Missed a meeting? You can find recordings of working group meetings on OCFSN’s Youtube Channel and other materials in our Public Google Drive.

Stay looped into the latest news for each of the working groups by joining the mailing lists: How to Use OCFSN Google Groups.

Hannah Kullberg joined the June meeting to talk through the life cycle of developing a processed product. We are lucky to have the opportunity to talk with someone who understands food makers, the pain points these entrepreneurs experience and the regulatory environment that they need to abide by. Here is the link to the folder with the Recording, Transcript, Chat Transcript, and Slides.

The next Food Hub Network meeting is Tuesday, July 22nd at 1pm. We will be talking about the regulatory needs for buying and selling fish! Zoom

Food Hub Network Workshop Series with Becoming the Employer of Choice kicked off with a Strategic Leadership session in April; plans for July-October with monthly sessions on the following topics:

• Developing a Motivated Workforce

• Building the Right Environment

• Reviews & Feedback

• Developing and Effective Hiring Process

• HRSN Learning Collaborative (LC)

  • We have held five successful learning collaborative meetings so far.

  • Our participants have learned critical readiness considerations, how to apply for a DMAP number, how to navigate the Unite Us platform, how to identify and connect with their CCO, and standard best practices for HRSN delivery. 

  • We have developed partnerships with the Corporation of Supporting Housing (CSH) and Oregon Rural Practice Based Research Network (ORPRN), experts in Medicaid policy and delivery, to provide contracted technical assistance to our LC participants in future meetings. 

  • There have been challenges associated with the delays in timeline in delivering some of the HRSN benefits, including pantry stocking and Fruit and Vegetable Prescription. Additionally, there are concerns around the return of investment of becoming an HRSN provider. Many organizations have felt discouraged by this. However, we plan to continue to support these organizations in determining their readiness to be an HRSN provider and support organizations that are either already HRSN providers or are confident they will become one.

  • May HRSN LC Meeting Updates:

    • Madeline Snyder provided an overview of the HRSN Learning Collaborative program (presentation)

    • Emily shared about HRSN Nutrition Provider, specifically in Lane County (link here) and hosted an open Q&A on HRSN. 

    • Kaely discussed additional HRSN resources and services available through CareOregon (link)

    • Cintia Vimieiro shared updates on the State Health Improvement Plan. The current OHA Strategic Plan includes Nutrition and Food as key areas for the first time. Oregon Health Authority

• Next Veggie Rx Quarterly Meetings: 

  • August 5 - Agenda tbd; Register for the August Veggie Rx Working Group Quarterly Meeting

  • October 7 - Agenda tbd; Register for the October Veggie Rx Working Group Quarterly Meeting

• May 15 Beginning Farmer & Rancher meeting materials 

  • Meeting notes, Meeting recording

• Last several meetings have focused on funding and program impacts of the new federal administration

  • If your organization or a farm you work with has been impacted from federal funding cuts or freezes, please share the impacts on this form here

  • We are updating our BFR story map and brochure. If you want your organization added, please complete this form, here is the draft map

• Next Meeting BFR meeting is on August 21 at 10am - Zoom

The CFS at the Legislature meetings for the 2025 Legislative Session have come to an end. You can review our Bills We Watched materials here to see how food systems bills did this session. We will be gathering folks to plan next steps for the working group later this summer.

Please join us for our virtual 2025 End of Legislative Session Policy Convening on July 2 at 1pm: Zoom

• We will share details on bill outcomes through our Bills We Watched slides, and advocates for food systems bills will present on the 2025 legislative session, their process and specific bill outcomes

Please join the Google Group if you would like to get regular updates on policy work this session by emailing cfs-policy+subscribe@ocfsn.org.