If you would like an electronic copy of any of these publications, please email us at foodsystems@ap.buffalo.edu. 

Plans, Policy Briefs and Policy Reports

1. Raj, Subhashni and Samina Raja. Agrarian Values and Urban Futures: Challenges and Opportunities for Agriculture and Food Security in Doña Ana County, New Mexico.” In Exploring Stories of Opportunity. Edited by Samina Raja, 14 pages. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project, 2018.
2. Hall, Enjoli and Samina Raja. “Seeding Food Justice: Community-Led Practices for Local Government Policy in Dougherty County, Georgia.” In Exploring Stories of Opportunity. Edited by Samina Raja, 20 pages. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project, 2018.
3. Hall, Enjoli and Samina Raja. “Towards Health Equity in the Heartland: Advancing Community-Led Food Planning in Douglas County, Nebraska.” In Exploring Stories of Opportunity. Edited by Samina Raja, 10 pages. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project, 2018.
4. Raj, Subhashni, Joseph E. Quinn, and Samina Raja. “Supporting the Chile Capital of the Southwest: The Role of Local Government in Sustaining Farming Traditions in Luna County, New Mexico.” In Exploring Stories of Opportunity. Edited by Samina Raja, 13 pages. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project, 2018.
5. Raja, Samina, So-Ra Baek, Bumjoon Kang, Elizabeth Machnica, Nathan Attard, Maryam Khojasteh, Samantha Bulkilvish, Jeanne Leccese, Chunyuan Diao, Hailey Stern, and Abdulrahman Ibrahim. 2016. “Moving Together: Promoting Active Commuting to School in the Sweet Home Central School District and the Town of Amherst.” Department of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. 131p.
6. Hodgson, Kimberly, and Kelley Mosher. 2016. Private-Public Partnerships: Cornerstone of Food Systems Planning and Policy in Rural Marquette County, Michigan. Edited by Samina Raja and Kimberly Hodgson. Exploring Stories of Innovation: Growing Food Connections Project.
7. Hodgson, Kimberly, and Kara Martin. 2016. Building from the Inside Out in Region 5, Minnesota: A Rural Region’s Effort to Build a Resilient Food System. In Kimberly Hodgson & Samina Raja (Eds.), Exploring Stories of Innovation: Growing Food Connections Project.
8. Whittaker, Jennifer, Samina Raja, Danielle Vazquez, Elizabeth Machnica, Hijab Khan,  Abdulrahman Ibrahim, and Nathan Attard. 2016. Buffalo Neighborhood Food Project: Final Evaluation Report.
9. Whittaker, Jennifer, and Samina Raja. 2016. Bridging Divides: Opportunities for Connecting Farmers and Underserved Consumers in Chautauqua County, New York. In Samina Raja (Ed.), Exploring Stories of Opportunity: Growing Food Connections.
10. Raj, Subhashni, and Samina Raja. 2016. Growing a Local Food Economy for a Healthy Wyandotte. In Samina Raja and Jeanne. Leccese (Eds.), Exploring Stories of Opportunity: Growing Food Connections.
11. Dillemuth, Ann, and Kimberley Hodgson. 2016. Incentivizing the Sale of Healthy and Local Food. In Samina Raja & Kimberley Hodgson (Eds.), Planning and Policy Briefs: Growing Food Connections
12. Hodgson, Kimberley, and Zsuzsi Fodor. 2016. “Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: A Mayor’s Office and Health Department Lead the Way in Municipal Food Policymaking.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation, edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja, 3. Growing Food Connections Project.
13. Whitton, Elizabeth, Jeanne Leccese, and Kimberley Hodgson. 2015. “A Food in All Policies Approach in a Post-Industrial City: Baltimore City, MD.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation, edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja, 3. Growing Food Connections Project.
14. Hodgson, Kimberley, Zsuzsi Fodor, and Maryam Khojasteh. 2015. “Multi-level Governmental Support Paves the Way for Local Food in Chittenden County, Vermont.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation, edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja, 5. Growing Food Connections Project.
15. Hodgson, Kimberley, and Zsuzsi Fodor. 2015. “Mayoral Leadership Sparks Lasting Food Systems Policy Change in Minneapolis, Minnesota.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation, edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja, 3. Growing Food Connections Project.
16. Hodgson, Kimberley. 2015. “Advancing Local Food Policy in a Changing Political Climate: Cabarrus County, NC.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation, edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja, 3. Growing Food Connections Project.
17. Fodor, Zsuzsi, and Kimberley Hodgson. 2015. “Cleveland, Ohio: A Local Government’s Transition from an Urban Agriculture Focus to a Comprehensive Food Systems Policy Approach.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation, edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja, 3. Growing Food Connections Project.
18. Whittaker, J and Samina Raja. 2015. How Food Policy Emerges: Research Suggests Community-Led Practice Shapes Policy . Translating Research for Policy Series, edited by Samina Raja and Jeanne Leccese. Growing Food Connections Project, June 2015.
19. Raja, Samina, Jessica Hall,* Travis Norton,* Patrick Gooch,* Subhashni Raj ,* Taylor Hawes,* and Jennifer Whittaker.* 2014. Growing Together: A Sustainable Regional Plan for Food Access and Justice. Prepared on behalf of the One Region Forward Initiative of the UB Regional Institute/Urban Design Project, University at Buffalo.
20. Raja, Samina, Jessica Hall, J. Travis Norton, Patrick Gooch, Subhashni Raj, Taylor Hawes, and Jennifer Whittaker. 2014. Growing Together: Ensuring healthy food, strong farms, and a prosperous Buffalo Niagara. Buffalo, NY: The State University of New York at Buffalo Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab and University at Buffalo Regional Institute.
21. Delgado, Cristina, Travis Norton and Samina Raja. 2013. Indicators for a Healthy Food and Built Environment in the City of Buffalo. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 20 p.
22. Neuner, Kailee. 2012. Transforming Active Living Policy in Practice: Municipal Best Practices. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 27 p.
23. Neuner, Kailee, Patrick Gooch and Samina Raja. 2012. Buffalo’s Food System: An Assessment of Current, Municipal, County, and State Policies that Regulate Buffalo’s Food System. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 41 p.
24. Neuner, Kailee, Jessica Hall, and Samina Raja. 2012a. Children’s Health: A Growing Need to Incorporate Physical Activity into the Daily Lives of Youth. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo.
25. Neuner, Kailee and Jessica Hall. 2012. Do Kids Want to Play in the Queen City? Buffalo’s Built Environment and its Impact on Youth Physical Activity.  In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 24 p.
26. Raja, Samina, Cristina Delgado, Subhashni Raj, and Sylvia Kelly. 2012. Community Design and Health: Summary of Findings from Recent Research. Report to Planning for Healthy Places Program, Public Health Law & Policy.  The Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 29 p.
27. Raja, Samina, Kailee Neuner,and Sylvia Kelly. 2011. Buffalo Grown: Empowering Food Citizens, One Youth at a Time. Evaluation report submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture and the Massachusetts Avenue project. The Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY. 16 p.
28. Neuner, Kailee, Sylvia Kelly, and Samina Raja. 2011. Strengthening Buffalo’s Food System to Promote Healthy Eating Among Children. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo Partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 38 p.
29. Neuner, Kailee, Sylvia Kelly, and Samina Raja. 2011. Planning to Eat? Innovative Local Government Policies and Plans to Build Healthy Food Systems in the United States. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo Partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 38 p.
30. Neuner, Kailee, and Samina Raja.  2010. Healthy Eating and Active Living for Children in the City of Buffalo. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo Partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 7 p.
31. Raja, Samina. 2008.  Metaevaluation of traditional fiscal impact analysis: Criteria and procedures. Prepared for the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. 48 p.
32. Raja, Samina, Jack Huddleston, and Pavan Yadav. 2008.  Planning for Sustainable Growth: Fiscal Trends and Prospects for Clarence, New York.  Report prepared for the Town of Clarence, New York.
33. Raja, Samina.  2007.  Growing Green: Empowering Youth, Transforming Neighborhood Food Systems.  Prepared for the Massachusetts Avenue Project and the United States Department of Agriculture.  December 30, 2007.
34. Raja, Samina and Angelika Breinlich. 2007.  Designing Healthy Communities, One School at a Time.  Prepared for the Healthy Eating by Design-Buffalo project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
35. Raja, Samina.  2006. Impacts of Demographic Change on the Fiscal Health of U.S. Local Governments: Issues and Prospects.  Background Paper series.  Prepared for the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. 36 p.
36. Raja, Samina. 2006. Growing Green: Interim Evaluation Report.  Prepared for the Massachusetts Avenue Project and the United States Department of Agriculture.  December 30, 2006.
37. APA’s Food System Planning Committee.  2006.  “Food System Planning.”  A White Paper prepared for the American Planning Association’s Legislative and Policy Committee. Members of APA’s Food System Planning Committee are (in alphabetical order): Born, Branden, Andy Fisher, Deanna Glosser, Jerome Kaufman, Wendy Mendes, Hubert Morgan, Mark A. Olinger, Kami Pothukuchi, and Samina Raja
38. Raja, Samina. 2005. Growing Green: An Evaluation of a Community Food Security Project.  Prepared for the Massachusetts Avenue Project and the United States Department of Agriculture. December 30, 2005.
39. Taylor, Henry, Sam Cole, Richard Milgrom and Samina Raja. 2003.  Fruit Belt/Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Tax Increment Financing District.  Prepared for the City of Buffalo.  Buffalo, NY: Center of Urban Studies, University at Buffalo.
40. Stevens, Mark and Samina Raja.  2001.  What’s Eating You About What You Eat?  Results from a survey of Madison Area residents regarding their likes and concerns about the local food system.  Madison Food System Working Paper Series Number 5, 2001.  Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin-Madison.
41. Raja, Samina.  2000.  Preserving Community Gardens in a Growing Community: A Report on the Community Gardens Planning Process in Madison, Wisconsin. Madison Food System Working Paper Series Number 4.  Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin-Madison. [Based on a report originally prepared by author for the City of Madison in July 1999; Recommendations from the report were adopted in the City of Madison’s 2006 Comprehensive Plan.]
42. Raja, Samina.  1999.  Growing a Stronger Community with Community Gardens: An Action Plan for Madison.  Prepared for and adopted by the City of Madison.  Madison, Wisconsin: City of Madison Advisory Committee on Community Gardens. First municipally-adopted plan to create and sustain community gardens in the United States.
43. Raja, Samina.  1999. An Annotated Bibliography of the Dane County Food System.  Madison Food System Working Paper Series Number 3, 1999.  Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin-Madison.
44. Huddleston, Jack and Samina Raja.  1999.  The Economic Impact of Dane County Regional County Airport.  Report prepared for the Dane County Airport Commission.  Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Policy Briefs Series Edited and/or Authored

1. Kordas, Kasia, Frimpong Boamah, and Samina Raja (series editors). Global Health Equity Research in Translation series, Community for Global Health Equity, University at Buffalo.
2. Exploring Stories of Opportunity, Growing Food Connections (series editor)                      a) Raj, Subhashni* and Samina Raja. 2016. “Growing a Local Food Economy for a Healthy Wyandotte.” In Exploring Stories of Opportunity. Edited by Samina Raja and Jeanne Leccese. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.                                                  b) Whittaker, Jennifer,* and Samina Raja. 2016. “Bridging Divides: Opportunity for Connecting Farmers and Underserved Consumers in Chautauqua County, New York.” In Exploring Stories of Opportunity. Edited by Samina Raja and Jeanne Leccese. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.
3. Exploring Stories of Innovation, Growing Food Connections (series editor)                         a) Dillemuth, Ann. 2016. “Leading the Way A Legacy of Food Systems Planning and Policy Work in Multnomah County, Oregon.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation. Edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja. Growing Foods Connections Project.                                                                                                                                                            b) Hodgson, Kimberley and K. Martin. 2016. “Building from the Inside Out in Region 5, Minnesota: A Rural Region’s Effort to Build a Resilient Food System.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation. Edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.                                                                                                       c) Hodgson, Kimberley and K. Mosher. 2016. “Private-Public Partnerships: Cornerstone of Food Systems Planning and Policy in Rural Marquette County, Michigan.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation. Edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.                                                          d) Fodor, Zsuzsi, and K. Hodgson. 2015. “Healthy Food System in the Heartland: Intergovernmental Cooperation in the City of Lawrence and Douglas County, Kansas Advances Food Policy.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation. Edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.                             e) Fodor, Zsuzsi, and K. Hodgson. 2015. “Cleveland, Ohio: A Local Government’s Transition from an Urban Agriculture Focus to a Comprehensive Food Systems Policy Approach.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation. Edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.                                                          f) Fodor, Zsuzsi, and K. Hodgson. 2015. “Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: A Mayor’s Office and Health Department Lead the Way in Municipal Food Policymaking.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation. Edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.                                                                                                       g) Hodgson, Kimberley. 2015. “Advancing Local Food Policy in Cabarrus County, North Carolina: Successes and Challenges in a Changing Political Climate.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation. Edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.                                                                                      h) Hodgson, Kimberly, and Zsuzsi Fodor. 2015. “Mayoral Leadership Sparks Lasting Food Systems Policy Change in Minneapolis, Minnesota.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation. Edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.                                                                                                                                     i) Hodgson, Kimberley, Z. Fodor, and M. Khojasteh. 2015. Multi-Level Governmental Support Paves the Way for Local Food in Chittenden County, Vermont. In Exploring Stories of Innovation. Edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.                                                                                                       j) Whitton, Elizabeth, and K. Hodgson. 2015. “Championing Food Systems Policy Change in Seattle, Washington.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation. Edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.       k) Whitton, Elizabeth, and K. Hodgson. 2015. “Championing Food Systems Policy Change in Seattle, Washington.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation. Edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.       l) Whitton, Elizabeth, J. Leccese, and K. Hodgson. 2015. “Baltimore City, Maryland: A Food in All Policies Approach in a Post-Industrial City.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation. Edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.
4. Planning and Policy Briefs, Growing Food Connections (series editor)                                  a) Dillemuth, Ann and Kimberley Hodgson. 2016. “Food Aggregation, Processing, and Distribution The Local Government’s Role in Supporting Food Systems Infrastructure for Fruits and Vegetables.” In Planning and Policy Briefs. Edited by Kimberly Hodgson and Samina Raja. Growing Food Connections Project.                                                                  b) Dillemuth, Ann and Kimberley Hodgson. 2016. “Incentivizing the sale of Healthy and Local Food.” In Planning and Policy Briefs. Edited by Kimberly Hodgson and Samina Raja, 8. Growing Food Connections Project.
5. Translating Research for Policy, Growing Food Connections (series editor)                         a) Entress, Sharon, Alexandra Judelsohn, Brenda Stynes and Samina Raja. 2018. “Refugees and Food Experiences: Insights from Research in Buffalo, NY.” In Translating Research for Policy Series, edited by Samina Raja. Growing Food Connections Project.                                                                                                                                     b) Whittaker, Jennifer,* and Samina Raja. 2015. “How Food Policy Emerges.” In Translating Research for Policy Series. Edited by Samina Raja and Jeanne Leccese. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project.
6. Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs                                                            a) Delgado, Cristina,* Travis Norton,* and Samina Raja. 2013. “Indicators for a Healthy Food and Built Environment in the City of Buffalo.” In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Series. Edited by Samina Raja. Buffalo: Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo.                                                                             b) Neuner, Kailee.* 2012. “Transforming Active Living Policy in Practice: Municipal Best Practices.” In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs. Edited by Samina Raja. Buffalo: Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo.           c) Neuner, Kailee* and J.Hall.* 2012. “Children’s Health: A Growing Need to Incorporate Physical Activity into the Daily Lives of Youth. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs. Edited by Samina Raja. Buffalo: Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo.                                                                             d) Neuner, Kailee,* Patrick Gooch,* and Samina Raja. 2012. “Buffalo’s Food System: An Assessment of Current, Municipal, County, and State Policies that Regulate Buffalo’s Food System.” Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Series. Edited by Samina Raja. Buffalo: Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo.                                                                                                                                     e) Neuner, Kailee,* and Jessica Hall.* 2012. “Do Kids Want to Play in the Queen City? Buffalo’s Built Environment and its Impact on Youth Physical Activity.” In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs. Edited by Samina Raja. Buffalo: Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo.                                                 f) Neuner, Kailee,* Sylvia Kelly,* and Samina Raja. 2011. “Planning to Eat? Innovative Local Government Policies and Plans to Build Healthy Food Systems in the United States.” In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Series. Edited by Samina Raja. Buffalo: Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo.           g) Neuner, Kailee,* Sylvia Kelly,* and Samina Raja. 2011. “Strengthening Buffalo’s Food System to Promote Healthy Eating among Children.” In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs. Edited by Samina Raja. Buffalo: Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo.                                                                             h) Neuner, Kailee,* and Samina Raja. 2010. “Healthy Eating and Active Living for Children in the City of Buffalo.” In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Series. Edited by Samina Raja. Buffalo: Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo.