Food Policy Council: First Steps for Action

The Oakland Food Policy Council created the following list for food policy councils to organize and plan meaningful

The Oakland Food Policy Council created the following list of ‘first steps’ for food policy councils to organize and plan meaningful – and actionable – items for food system change that prioritizes local decision making and local production for local communities.

PROTECT AND EXPAND URBAN AGRICULTURE
Create zoning definitions and operating standards for both civic and commercial urban agriculture. Learn more

ENCOURAGE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE FARMERS’ MARKETS
Advocate for the development of zoning regulations to protect and expand farmers’ markets. Learn more

PROMOTE USE OF FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AT FARMERS’ MARKETS
Promote use and acceptance of food assistance program benefits at farmers’ markets. Learn more

DEVELOP “ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING PROTOCOLS”
Partner with the City of Oakland to develop and implement new RFP standards and language prioritizing and outlining “Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Protocols” (EPP) and nutrition standards for all City contracts, phased in over five years. Learn more

EXPAND COMPOSTING AND FOOD SCRAP RECYCLING
Develop a City-wide waste management contract that expands composting and food scrap recycling. Learn more

DEVELOP A “FRESH FOOD FINANCING INITIATIVE”
Develop a “Fresh Food Financing Initiative” (FFFI) that will provide financing, technical assistance, and location assistance to new food enterprises in underserved communities. Learn more

ENCOURAGE HEALTHY MOBILE VENDING
Expand mobile vending regulations to include additional areas of Oakland and encourage fresh food vending. Learn more

SYNTHETIC PESTICIDE- AND GMO-PRODUCTION FREE ZONES
Build upon the GMO-ban successes of Marin, Trinity, and Mendocino Counties to inform Alameda County-wide policies on pesticide and GMO-free zones. Learn more

SCALE UP LOCAL PURCHASING
Scale up purchasing from local producers, and formalize the collaborations between and aggregation of small farmers. Learn more

STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY-GOVERNMENT LINKS
Build relationships between residents, community leaders, and key government representatives. Learn more

 

The Oakland Food Policy Council expands on these themes in Transforming the Oakland Food System: A Plan for Action. Download the full report.

 


Updated 12/2014

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