We are excited to share some significant transitions for ALL IN Alameda County, ALL IN Eats Working Group and Recipe4Health (Food as Medicine).  ALL IN Alameda County transitioned to the Alameda County Social Services Agency while the Recipe4Health program transitioned to the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency, effective July 1, 2022.  Moving forward, the ALL IN Eats Working Group will be convened by staff in ALL IN Alameda County, while the Deputy Sheriffs’ Activities League (DSAL) has been directed by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to implement the ALL IN Eats business plan alongside community-based partners. 

The integration of ALL IN Alameda County into the County system exemplifies the late-Supervisor Wilma Chan’s founding vision for ALL IN to incubate and transform community-based ideas into sustainable programs and policies that move us towards a County without poverty where everyone lives in healthy and vibrant communities. The convening of the ALL IN Eats Working Group by ALL IN Alameda County will provide the space for organizations working within the local circular food economy to share information, inform future ALL IN Alameda County programming, identify critical food system challenges and opportunities, and problem solve as a collective. ALL IN Alameda County is committed to working with Working Group members to clarify roles, center collective values, and chart a path that centers community. 

We look forward to continuing our work in partnership and solidarity with the community to identify new and innovative strategies that build resilient communities.

Upcoming meetings: 

ALL IN Eats Executive Team, November 9, 1:30PM-3PM 

ALL IN Eats Work Group, December 1, 3:30PM-5:30PM 

Meetings are open to the community and additional information is posted here

Recipe4Health’s Chief Medical Officer Addressed the Conference about Alameda County’s Program

The White House National Strategy issued last month in conjunction with the Conference gave the Administration’s stamp of approval to expand Medicaid and Medicare coverage for medically supportive produce and meals, a big step forward in creating a circular food economy and improving health outcomes.  

At the conference, Dr. Steven Chen, Alameda County Recipe4Health Chief Medical Officer highlighted the importance of addressing social determinants of health by prescribing patients nutrient-rich food as a tool for prevention, reversal, or management of certain diet related chronic health conditions. Dr. Chen outlined Recipe4Health’s equitable approach to closing disparities in the most impacted communities. 

Recipe4Health, a “Food as Medicine” program is included in CalAIM’s (Medi-Cal) Community Support program.  You can read the national strategy here: https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/white-house-conference-hunger-nutrition-and-health

To learn more about the Recipe4Health program, check out this new video highlighting its model.

Business Plan Moves Forward

Steady progress toward the build out of food hubs and farms included in the ALL IN Business Plan is being made. Here are a few highlights:  

East Oakland:  Community and elected  leaders gathered on October 27th to outline plans for a Food Hub at the Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center.  The Oakland City Council demonstrated its support by adopting a directive, authored by City Councilmember Loren Taylor to begin lease negotiations between the City of Oakland and DSAL, in partnership with the Black Cultural Zone. The Arroyo Viejo Food Hub will feature a commercial kitchen that the Black Cultural Zone will operate, and offer affordable commercial kitchen space to local chefs to grow their businesses. Dig Deep Farms/DSAL will provide FoodRx coordination, food delivery, edible food recovery services, and back office support for the project.

Hayward:  The Hayward City Council recently voted to begin lease negotiations with DSAL to operate a food hub within the Stack Center.

Black Farmers Collaborative\Masonic Homes, Union City and Ardenwood Farm, Fremont:  Fencing is going up at the 10-acre Masonic Homes property and a well is expected to be up and running by the end of the year. This will allow the land to be prepared for farming early next year.  Last month, Dig Deep Farms/DSAL hosted its first month-long home-grown Pumpkin Patch at Ardenwood, and has been actively planting and harvesting a range of vegetables, squashes, watermelons, and of course, pumpkins.

Predevelopment work continues for food hubs in West Oakland, Livermore, and elsewhere.

See coverage of the Arroyo Viejo event:  FOX KTVU-2 , KSTS Telemundo

Photo: L-R: Oakland City Councilmember Loren Taylor, Hilary Bass, DSAL/ACSO, Chef Christina “Lala” Harrison, Supervisor Dave Brown, Supervisor Nate Miley and Carolyn Johnson, CEO, Black Cultural Zone (center) at the Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center discussing the future Food Hub.

The ALL IN Alameda County Steering Committee received its first annual update on the implementation of the Alameda County Good Food Purchasing Policy in September 2022.  The Good Food Purchasing Policy, adopted by the Board of Supervisors in January 2021, requires that the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office and the Probation Department conduct baseline assessments of their current food purchases and develop plans to meet the principles of the County’s policy, which include support for local economies, environmental sustainability, a valued workforce, animal welfare, and good nutrition.  

You can read the baseline assessment conducted by the Center for Good Food Purchasing, steps the agencies have already taken, and plans to shift purchasing to meet the goals of the policy in the summary of the baseline assessment and action plan

Dr. Larissa Estes White discusses food, land access, racism, and the Circular Food Economy.  Behind every ingredient, bite, and meal we eat is a farmer's story. U.S. agriculture today appears to be as segregated as it was a century ago, with farmers of color at a significant disadvantage. Dr. Estes White shares her family legacy in farming across the U.S. and Philippines. She tells stories of racist land ownership, food sovereignty, and hopes to build a just circular food economy.  You can listen at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Elham Ali: Unmuted