Barnstable County Food System Assessment: Measuring Resilience, Economic Development, and Food Equity on Cape Cod
Stronger farms, healthier communities and a more resilient Cape Cod.
What is CARAT? Cape Cod is taking steps to build a stronger, more resilient food system with help from CARAT, the Community and Agriculture Resilience Audit Tool. Together with local partners and community voices, we’re looking at what’s working, where the gaps are, and how to support farms, fisheries, and food access for everyone. This page is your go-to spot for meeting info, updates, and resources. Click here to learn about CARAT.
Meetings: Agendas, Notes, and Recordings
Join us for one-hour virtual sessions on Cape Cod’s food system. Sign up for upcoming Monday meetings here and catch up anytime with past recordings and notes.
September 8th, 2025: Kick-off Meeting
September 22nd, 2025: Getting started with the Community Food System Assessment
September 29th, 2025: Seafood and Fishing Discussion for the Barnstable County Food System Assessment
October 6th, 2025: Seafood and the CARAT Discussion and Overview
Theme 1: Natural Resource Management, Use, Conservation, and Preservation
Natural Resource Management, Use, Conservation, and Preservation (Continued)
Natural Resource Management, Use, Conservation, and Preservation (Continued)
Theme 2: Community Health and Well-Being
Theme 3: Community Self-Reliance in Food
Theme 4: Distributed and Democratic Leadership
Theme 5: Focus on Local Farmers, Food Processors, and Food Distributors
Theme 6: Food Sovereignty
Monday December 29th, 2025 | 3:00pm
Theme 7: Place-Based Economics
Monday January 12th, 2026 | 3:00pm
About CARAT: Community and Agriculture Resilience Audit Tool
The Community and Agriculture Resilience Audit Tool (CARAT) is a framework that helps communities assess and score their local food system resources. It takes a close look at what’s strong, where the gaps are, and how to prepare for the future by guiding groups through a self-assessment process across seven core themes.
In Barnstable County, this effort is being led by Cape Cod Cooperative Extension in partnership with the Marion Institute, with support from Cape Cod 5 Savings Bank and Love Live Local. A Community Advisory Board (CAB) meets virtually every other Monday from September through December to assess one of the seven themes. Together, members assign scores that create a baseline resilience score we can track over time, helping us understand both strengths and opportunities in our local food system.
Why it matters:
A resilient food system means Cape Cod residents can rely on local farms, fisheries, and food access programs even during challenges like climate change, supply chain disruptions, or economic shifts.
The 7 Core Themes:
- Natural Resource Management, Use, Conservation, and Preservation of Ecosystems and Farmland
- Community Health and Well-Being
- Community Self-Reliance in Food
- Distributed and Democratic Leadership
- Focus on Local Farmers, Food Processors, and Food Distributors
- Food Sovereignty
- Place-Based Economics
Learn more:
Connect With Us
Have questions or want to get involved? Reach out to:
Andrea Scarpellini, Food Access Coordinator and CARAT Project Lead
Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
📧 [email protected] | ☎ (508) 375-6944
