Jonathon Smith — the executive director and food security agent for Orange County’s Cooperative Extension — speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Wednesday, Apr. 1 about the new Baseline Community Food Assessment. Food system studies examine how communities grow, distribute and access food and food waste. Smith details why that data is important not only for the cooperative extension to know, but also local partners and farmers. He also shares what’s different from the 2016 assessment, the relationships between farmers and food pantries, and several case studies shared within the new report.

Read the full Orange County Baseline Community Food Assessment here.

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Jonathon Smith on Orange County's 2026 Food System Assessment — On Air Today (Apr. 1, 2026)
Jonathon Smith — the executive director and food security agent for Orange County's Cooperative Extension — speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell
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