Saline County Food Action Community Team
The Saline County Food Action Community Team (FACT) has released the final Saline County Food System Assessment, a comprehensive, countywide report examining how food is produced, processed, distributed, accessed, consumed, and recovered across Saline County.
Conducted in partnership with Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute and Center for Applied Research and Evaluation, the assessment combines public data with extensive community input, including a countywide survey, interviews with producers and food businesses, and public listening sessions held in Salina.
The goal is to better understand the local food system, identify strengths and gaps, and provide a foundation for coordinated community action.
Key Findings
· Access was identified as the greatest unmet need in Saline County’s food system, with cost cited as the primary barrier to healthy food.
· Half of the survey respondents reported struggling to stretch their food budget through the end of the month.
· Residents expressed strong personal value for healthy and local food, but perceived that community-wide support for local food is lower than individual interest.
· Participants consistently called for more education, stronger local food infrastructure, and increased affordability of healthy and locally produced foods.
The report evaluates six interconnected sectors of the food system:
Produce, Process, Distribute, Access, Consume, and Recover, highlighting opportunities to strengthen local agriculture, improve access to nutritious food, reduce food waste, and better support producers and consumers alike.
FACT emphasizes that this assessment is not intended to be a static document, but a living resource to inform policy discussions, guide grant funding, support collaboration, and shape future initiatives aimed at building a healthier, more equitable food system in Saline County.
To view the full Saline County Food Assessment, visit here.
To stay updated on FACT initiatives and activities, and learn how to get involved, visit eatwellsalinecounty.com.