Aitkin County SHIP Receives Technical Assistance to Launch Community Food Assessment

Author: Hannah Colby, RD, LD, CLS

Community Health Specialist with Aitkin County Public Health

In an exciting step forward for local food systems work, Aitkin County’s Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) was selected to receive technical assistance from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) to conduct a community food assessment across Aitkin County.

This technical assistance award marks a significant milestone in Aitkin County SHIP’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the local food environment, increase access to nutritious foods, and support health equity across rural communities. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in Aitkin County, SHIP staff applied for support to help lead a coordinated, community-driven food assessment process.

The technical assistance provided by MDA includes expert guidance on data collection methods, facilitation tools, stakeholder engagement strategies, and analysis techniques. This support will allow Aitkin County SHIP to gather input from diverse partners, including local farmers, schools, healthcare providers, food shelves, grocery retailers, and residents, to build a comprehensive picture of the local food system.

“Our goal is to better understand where our food comes from, how people access it, and what barriers exist for residents in obtaining fresh, healthy, and affordable foods,” said Hannah Colby, Aitkin County SHIP Coordinator. “We’re grateful to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for investing in our rural communities and helping us move toward more resilient food systems.”

The community food assessment will identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities within the current food landscape, providing a foundation for future SHIP initiatives and partnerships aimed at improving food access, supporting local producers, and fostering food security throughout Aitkin County.

With this new support from MDA, Aitkin County SHIP is well-positioned to lead positive, long-lasting change in the local food system.

To guide and inspire this process, Aitkin County SHIP is looking to several successful examples of community food assessments from across Minnesota, including:

• Olmsted County Food Security Assessment (2021)

• Maplewood Community Food Assessment (2018)

• Bloomington, Edina, and Richfield Community Food Assessment (2013)

• Ramsey County Food Security Needs Assessment (2022)

• University of Minnesota Morris Community Food Assessment

Additional Example:

• Somerville, MA Food System Assessment – A comprehensive city-level food assessment that explores local food access, production, and policy to guide community-based improvements.