A food policy council is being formed in Bloomington! It is the first Food Policy Council to be formed in Indiana, actually. We should all be proud.
Food policy councils play an advisory role in the community, working towards multiple food-related goals such as:
- Ensuring that everyone has access to high quality food
- Working to improve the sustainability of food production by increasing local production, promoting home gardens, and exploring alternative farming methods that improve stewardship of the land
- Encouraging collaboration between groups to improve food accessibility
- Lobbying local government to adopt a Food Charter and take steps towards a better community food supply
While there are currently a variety of agencies in Bloomington whose focus is to further the goals of the national movement towards a more sustainable future in food, all of these agencies are divided by the specific piece that is their main focus. A food policy council, which is a group formed to strengthen local food systems, would work to bring these agencies together to promote cooperation and the pooling of resources.
Food policy councils can be state or local government-commissioned or part of a grassroots effort. They strive to provide a comprehensive study of the food systems they serve. They should include representatives from each of the five sectors of the food system: production, consumption, processing, distribution, and waste recycling. It could also be beneficial to include members from agencies dealing with transportation, schools, and other city institutions whose work has food-related implications.
If a city is made aware of the less obvious connections that food has with daily life, such as the fact that accessibility to public transportation can be an important factor in a person’s access to healthy, safe, sustainable food, a more inclusive food system can be established. Having an extensive understanding of the area’s food system provides the resources to make significant improvements and changes to that system.
The first meeting to establish the very basics of the Bloomington Food Policy Council was held on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at the Monroe County Public Library. We discussed the most important themes of a Food Policy Council, and then divided into groups to discuss the vision that community members have for the FPC. The meeting was well attended, and quite exciting! The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 25 from 5:30-7 pm in the Monroe County Public Library, room 1a. Hope to see you there!
