Role Play

Food Deserts: Case Study

North Kingston, RI: Who Gets the Dough?

Lesson Objectives:

· Explore, share, process, apply, and reflect on the issue of food deserts through an experiential learning exercise.

· Teach innovation through creative problem-solving, collaborative design, entrepreneurial initiative and strategic thinking.

· Develop critical argument and presentation skills.

· Explore issues of access, health, and community as they are related to food deserts.

· Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through a collaborative, solution-based process.

Materials Needed:

· Educast/Food, Sustainability and Society: Food Deserts (total of 16 minutes in 3 five to six minute interviews)

· Student worksheets

· One to three class periods

Procedure:

1. Ask students to listen to the Educast: Food Deserts, paying particular attention to the concepts of access to food (both geographic and economic), health and nutrition, and community. They may take as many notes as they like during the Educast since noting key points may aid them in completing this exercise.

2. Following the Educast, use the Study and Resource Guide that accompanies this program to lead students through a question and answer session concerning the program and the critical thinking questions for discussion. (*Please note: Instructors/facilitators are encouraged to pick and choose whatever components they feel are most appropriate from the study guides to adapt to their time constraints and lesson objectives).

3. Discuss with students the different people/stakeholders involved in the creation and continuation of food deserts, their primary concerns and motivations, and the factors to consider in seeking solutions, such as access to healthy, affordable, sustainably grown food, personal and public health, and reviving a sense of community.

4. Divide students into small group and assign each group the identity of one of the stakeholders (“Players”) affected by food deserts. Ask each group to review the accompanying profiles that briefly outline general social and economic status and current circumstances. Each “individual” profile will serve as the basis for teams to develop an argument in answer to the following question: who should receive the government subsidy?

5. Each team should develop an argument in response to the question above. The argument should address the following:

- What is your response to the question above?

- What is your primary reason (claim) for the response that you have determined?

- List at least three supporting statements for your claim.

- Are there other/counter points to your claim? What might they be and how do you propose to address them?

Note: If students have access to a computer, additional research on North Kingston to further develop their arguments may become part of this activity. For instance, students who are “residents” may wish to research the public transportation options in the area.

6. Each team will have 5-10 minutes to present their argument, with a short, time controlled question and answer session to follow.

7. At the end of the presentations, the “Residents” and “Government Officials” will determine who should receive the subsidy and develop an argument defending their choice.

8. List all key points/arguments on board/screen and discuss outcome.

9. Optional: Reflection/journaling/guided discussion

Food Deserts: Case Study

North Kingston, RI: Who Gets the Dough?

Context: You have listened to an Educast on Food Deserts and heard about the challenges involved for both retailers and residents. Now, looking specifically at an area that could be considered a food desert, you will help the State Government decide to offer a subsidy for one of the following options: 1) helping an IGA grocery store reopen in this community; 2) helping the farmers’ cooperative establish local farmers’ markets; or 3) introducing healthier food choices into existing, locally owned convenience stores.

Scenario: North Kingston is holding a town meeting. Residents and local government officials are gathered to hear arguments from IGA representatives, the farmer’s cooperative, and convenience store representatives concerning why they should receive the government subsidy.

Following the presentations, residents and government officials will decide whether it makes more sense to offer the subsidy to the IGA/grocer, to the local farmer’s cooperative, or to local convenience stores. In making their decision, they should take into account issues of food access, such as affordability, proximity, and convenience. They should also consider longer term effects of their decision, such as the health of their residents and their community, employment opportunities, economic stability, and the range of food choices available to their residents.

Players:

Local Residents/Government Officials

IGA Representatives

Farmer’s Cooperative Representatives

Convenience Store Representatives

You will be assigned to one of the groups above and asked to draft an argument for your position concerning the subsidy. If you are a representative of IGA, the Farmer’s Cooperative, or the Convenience Store, you will be drafting an argument for your group to receive the subsidy. If you are a Resident or Government Official, you will be choosing between the groups and drafting a defense of your choice. You and your group will present your argument in a 5-10 minute presentation.

Use the following information to help guide the development of your argument.

North Kingston Facts

• In December of 2006, North Kingston’s primary grocery store/food supplier, IGA, closed its doors.

• 61 per cent of families in the area considered the closed IGA store their primary source of groceries

• 61.75 per cent of residents surveyed said transportation was a barrier to their use of a major grocery store.

• Prior to the closure of the IGA, 84 per cent of respondents said they purchased fresh fruits or vegetables in the past two weeks. Just over half of those said the purchases were made at the IGA.

• 15 per cent of residents said they were unsure where they would do their grocery shopping following the closure of the IGA

• Based on calculations that half the residents in the neighborhood spend $150 per month and the other half spends $200 per month on groceries, there is a minimum of $437,000 per month in available grocery spending in the area.

• North Kingston: Population in 2000 = 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older.

• A rent increase prompted the closing of the franchised IGA

—Source: North Kingston Grocery Store Survey, Queen’s-John Howard Society, January 2007.

Profiles: Food Deserts

Independent Grocery Store Owners (IGA): You have recently closed your doors in N. Kingston as the result of an increase in rent, crime in the area, and decrease in profits. Making a profit is your main concern since this business is the mainstay for your family and lifestyle. You are interested in the subsidy to help offset the increase in rent that forced the initial closure, as well as transportation costs that have also increased due to higher gas prices for your suppliers. Most of your products are shipped from an average distance of 1500 miles. (Source: National Average according to Pirog, Rich, and Andrew Benjamin. “Checking the Food Odometer: Comparing Food Miles for Local Versus Conventional Produce Sales in Iowa Institutions.“ Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, July 2003.) If you receive the subsidy, you will be able to offer residents of N. Kingston a greater variety of products for lower prices than the other two options. You will also bring employment opportunities to the town. However, in order to reopen your doors, you need the Government to commit to an annual subsidy for a minimum of 5 years, and you want the local government to offer more policing around your store.

Farmer’s Market Cooperative: Your group is comprised of local farmers who are struggling financially and have formed a cooperative to further your combined interests in remaining in agriculture, making a profit, and selling your product. If you receive the subsidy, you will be able to offer residents of N. Kingston sustainably produced food that supports local farmers and the local economy. In addition, you will be able to hold weekly farmers’ markets that will help bring the community together. You will not be able to offer the variety or cost savings of a grocery store chain. However, the state government might be willing to give you a slightly larger subsidy than for IGA or convenience stores, because increasing the number of farmers’ markets helps the state government gain carbon credits from the national government for decreased transportation miles for food consumed in the state.

Convenience Store Representatives: You are already established in the area and are now the main supplier of groceries for residents. You are interested in the subsidy so that you can grow and expand without incurring additional costs, and bring more food options to the consumer without out-of-pocket expenses that may reduce your profits and jeopardize your business. Your interests are centered on providing a service to the community and making a profit. If you receive the subsidy, you will be able to offer more fresh fruits and vegetables as well as healthier foods for prices close to what a grocery store would be able to provide. However, you will not be able to offer the same variety or reliability as a grocery store. The local government wants profits to be reinvested in the local community and is concerned about retaining local ownership of the convenience stores.

Resident(s):Your main concern is ensuring ease of access to affordable groceries, including fresh vegetables and fruits. Most of you do not own a car and rely on public transportation to do your shopping. Your income falls in the median range for the area. You are interested in immediate solutions to your concerns.

Public Official(s): Your main concern is the betterment of the community as a whole and remaining in office. Your constituents are clearly unhappy with the recent closing of the IGA. You are also concerned with long-term growth potential for the community in terms of employment, economic stability, and health and nutritional choices for the residents of North Kingston.

Using a profile from above, design an argument either for your group to receive the subsidy or for the group you feel should receive the subsidy. Remember that your argument should explicitly address the following issues:

Choice/Variety

Proximity/Transportation

Health

Cost

Revenues

Additional issues:

Tax revenues

Crime

Employment

Local economy