Tools for Policy Change: Putting Local and State Food Policy to Work for Your Communities June 19, :00 – 3:00 pm ET *This call will be recorded.

Using GoToWebinar During presentations, please type any questions into the box in your dashboard, and we’ll address them at the end of the session. This seminar will be recorded; a link will be sent to all call registrants within one week of the call along with a link for the slides. Questions? please contact

Call Agenda 1. Catherine Kastleman, Project Coordinator, Food Day 2. Mark Winne, Independent Consultant, Mark Winne Associates 3. Chris Peterson, Executive Director, Grow Memphis 4. Nate Rosenberg, Farm to Institution Subcommittee, Mississippi Food Policy Council 5. Q & A

Food Day Leadership Series March 20, 2 pm ET: “Policy Advocacy 101” with CCPHA April 17, 2 pm ET: “Building Coalitions” with Michael Dimock May 15, 2 pm ET: “Community Change” with CommonHealth Action June 19, 2 pm ET: “Tools for Policy change” with Mark Winne July 17, 2 pm ET: “Making your point to the media” with George Lakoff and the Berkeley Media Studies Group Register and find archived webinars at

Mark Winne Former Executive Director, Hartford Food System Co-founder, Community Food Security Coalition Kellogg Foundation Food and Society Fellow Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Visiting Scholar Member of U.S. Delegation to 2000 Rome Conference on Food Security. Author of Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty and Food Rebels, Guerrilla Gardeners, and Smart Cookin’ Mamas.

 Mark Winne

 Food Policy Councils are popping up all over… a8105fce73

 Current position o Independent consultant at Mark Winne Associates o Writer and author  Previous positions o Executive Director, Hartford Food System ( ) o Co-founder Community Food Security Coalition(CFSC), Hartford Food Policy Council, Connecticut Food Policy Council, and Santa Fe Food Policy Council  Author of: o Food Rebels, Guerrilla Gardeners, and Smart-Cookin’ Mamas and Closing the Food Gap  Websites o 

 Increase the state of our food policy knowledge and our ability to influence food policy  Review “best practices”  Evaluate potential of food policy councils  Introduce resources

“No major famine has ever occurred in a functioning democracy with regular elections, opposition parties, basic freedom and a relatively free media (even when the country is very poor).” -Amartya Sen, Nobel Laureate

Projects | Partners | Policies  Food and farm projects, businesses, and services  Partnerships to improve networking, coordination, and collaboration  Engage local and state policies

 Function as: food system planning venues  Bring together members from: government, academia, farmers and gardeners, food banks, restaurants, retailers, and faith communities  Focus on: health, planning, economic development, education, agriculture, and social services  Address: regulations, budgeting, legislations, programs and administration

They should:  Influence policies that promote justice, equity, and sustainability  Coordinate food system stakeholders within area NOT:  Favor projects over policies*  Take on the forces of multi-national agribusiness

Created by:  State statute (Connecticut)  Local ordinance (Portland, OR)  Executive order (Michigan) Also, FPCs can be organized:  Independently (New Mexico and Cleveland, OH) and  as non-profits (Iowa).

 Check for state, local, and tribal FPCs here (as of April 2012): /FPC/council.html /FPC/council.html

Frequency (#) OLD LISTNEW LIST% Change Local477355% County/LocalN/A15N/A County374624% Regional725257% State/Provincial202945% Tribal05N/A U.S % Canadian111318% Total** % Table 1: Frequency, Percent of Total, and Percentage Change of Active and Emerging FPCs Source: 2012 FPC Census

Frequency (#) OLD LISTNEW LIST% Change Active % In DevelopmentN/A38N/A InactiveN/A23N/A Total of All FPCs % Table 2: Frequency, Percent of Total, and Percentage Change of ALL FPCs Source: 2012 FPC Census

Figure 1: Percentage of Active Food Policy Councils by Governance (2012)

Alabama State: North Alabama Food Policy Council Web: Local: Greater Birmingham Community Food Partners Web: Local: Birmingham-Jefferson Food Policy Council (NEW!) policy-council-apply-now/

RankKeyword(s)# % of Total 1Food15399% 2Council10970% 3Policy9159% 4 Something other than Council (Group, Alliance, Coalition, Network, Initiative, Task Force, etc.)4630% 5System1912% 6 Advisory 96% 7Agriculture64% Source: 2012 FPC Census Figure 2: Keywords in Names of Active Councils (2012)

Use Food System Assessments to:  Inform the work and focus of a FPC  Engage the wider community  Develop your community’s food profile  Educate everyone about needs, gaps, resources and features of food system Remember: Don’t over do it! Keep the FPC focused!

FUNDING  Federal funding: o Community Food Projects o Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  Community funding: o Foundations o State, county, local governments o In-kind support STAFF  Most staff members are half-time  Number of staff: ranges from 0 to 2

 Start with low-hanging fruit.  Pay attention to communication. o Maintain a website and high visibility. o Communicate regularly with policymakers.  Small policy wins lay the groundwork for big policy wins.  Keep agendas fresh and interesting o TIP: Invite outside speakers.  Bring food!

 Facilitated school nutrition rules for competitive foods;  Expanded farm-to-school funding;  Expanded funding for NMSU Extension support for tribal nations;  Working on a new economic development initiative to address rural “food deserts”

Cleveland/Cuyahoga County FPC  Secured zoning changes to protect community gardens, urban farms, and raising of chickens and bees;  Expanded urban agriculture with city economic development funds, and promoted use of public purchasing for locally grown food  Created the Healthy Cleveland Initiative

Community Food Agriculture of Missoula County (Montana)  Directing development away from prime farm and ranchland;  Modified or rejected over 25 subdivision proposals;  Supported chicken and bee regulations;  Mapped prime agricultural soils

Boulder County FPC  Developing sustainable agriculture use plan for 25,000 publicly-owned acres of farmland;  Rejected proposal to plant genetically engineered (GE) sugar beet seeds

Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tribal Food & Fitness Policy Council  First Native American FPC established through the Tribal Resolution (passed 9/25/10)  FFPC promotes farming, gardening, hunting, traditional foods, food sovereignty, and healthy eating

City of Hartford Food Policy Commission  Increased WIC caseload from 6,000 to 10,000  Initiated public transportation study that created new bus route to connect low- income residents to supermarkets policy-council/city-hartford-food-policy- commission-hartford-ct

Connecticut FPC  Conducted public education campaign for state’s farmland and helped secure $30 million per year for farmland preservation, farm-to-school and farm viability grant programs;  Improved delivery of nutrition education services previously operated by five separate state agencies;  Brought EBT to farmers’ markets;  Currently addressing lack of livestock slaughter and processing facilities

 Relationships count-cultivate them.  Be inclusive of a wide range of interests.  On conflict: Work for consensus. Foster a climate of healthy debate.  Educate yourselves, the general public, and policy makers constantly.  Community food assessment is an on-going enterprise, not a one-time act.  Look for synergy between – and be aware of – relationships between all levels of government.  Cultivate good leadership and champions.

 Good Laws, Good Food: Putting Local Food Policy to Work for Our Communities (Harvard Law School) Available for download at

Section I: General Legal Setting Section II: Food System Infrastructure Section III: Land Use Regulation Section IV: Urban Agriculture Section V: Consumer Access Section VI: School Food & Nutr. Ed. Section VII: Environmental Sustainability Section VIII: Resources

 “Doing Food Policy Councils Right…”  An example of a FPC manual o Chapter 1 - Some Why’s and What’s of Food Policy Councils o Chapter 2 - The Basics of Food Policy Action o Chapter 3 - Developing a FPC o Chapter 4 - Putting the “Policy” in a FPC o Chapter 5 - Operating a Food Policy Council o Chapter 6 - Evaluating Partnership, Goals, and Accomplishments o Chapter 7 - Lessons Learned  Available at

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Background GrowMemphis partners with neighborhoods in Memphis and Shelby County to promote a sustainable local food system. Food Advisory Council Mission: To advance policy and practice in Memphis and Shelby County that strengthen food security and the local food economy Vision: A vibrant, sustainable food system for Memphis and Shelby County that enhances the health of residents and strengthens the local food economy Independent/Grassroots coalition convened by GrowMemphis in 2010 (Convergence Partnership: RWJF, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis with other local partners) A Vision for the Future: Good Food For All

Background Initial Working Group: Non-profits: GrowMemphis Healthy Memphis Common Table Slow Food Memphis Mid-South Peace and Justice Center Producers/Retailers Urban Farms Market Adams Produce Health Care Providers/Research Institutions Christ Community Health Service University of Tennessee, Health Science Center Local Business Edible Memphis Government Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Shelby County Health Department Advisors Livable Memphis Shelby County Health Department Hyde Family Foundations Community Foundation of Greater Memphis

Structure 12 Members: 3 from Government Office of the Memphis City Mayor Shelby County Health Department Other Memphis City or Shelby County Representative 9 from Community Farmer and/or agricultural producer Restaurateur and/or chef Institution of higher learning Non-profit sector Emergency food assistance agency Agricultural extension office Local charitable foundation Dietitian Communications professional Memphis Area Transit Authority Community member Food distributor Notes on Membership Mandated seats for non-affiliated community members and farmers Formality can get distracting

Past Successes Advocated for changes to Memphis/Shelby County Unified Development Code Urban Chicken Keeping Ordinances Beekeeping Ordinance Community Gardening clarification Worked with Shelby County Health Department to allow for sampling and Chef Demonstrations at farmers markets Worked with Farmers Markets to promote acceptance of SNAP Benefits at Farmers Markets (and created Double-Value Coupon Program) Partnered with Harvard Law School and Shelby County Health Department to review and revise Memphis’ Food Ordinance Handbook Unsuccessful Advocacy Advocated for changes to TN Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Current and Future Projects Current Projects Finalize changes to Food Ordinance Handbook Land Use and Access Working Group Corner Store Assessment and Ordinance Project Fresh Food Financing Initiative Farmers Market Alliance Additional Work Evaluation and Outreach Working Groups Tennessee Food Policy Council Future Goals Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program changes WIC Vouchers at Farmers Markets / WIC DVCP School Nutrition/Farm to School

Lessons Learned When in doubt, keep it simple- structure is important, but must be understandable and changeable Policy documents look nice, but won’t do the work for you It’s rarely if ever “us vs. them” with government Democracy can be messy, but the community knows best One person shouldn’t do all of the work or drive the agenda Invite, engage, and listen to non-council members Do NOT forget the voices of those most affected by your issues (farmers, community members, etc) Desire to learn and work is more important than expertise The council is a community

Contact and Additional Resources -Chris Peterson (GrowMemphis, Executive Director): -Carole Colter (GrowMemphis, Food Policy Coordinator): -Food Advisory Council for Memphis and Shelby County: -TN Food Policy Council:

Food Day Leadership Series: Tools for Policy Change MISSISSIPPI FOOD POLICY COUNCIL Giving Local Food a Voice in State Policy Nathan Rosenberg, Joint Fellow, Harvard Law School and Mississippi State University June 19, 2013

MPFC Background MFPC Background Small group that started meeting in April 2010 Saw need for an organization that could bring together food access and local food groups from around the state in order to effect policy change. Identified priority issues and set goals by August 2010, generating excitement and maintaining momentum from the outset.

Organizational Structure MFPC Background MFPC is completely independent from the state government. We work closely with several state agencies, but they cannot join as voting members. Now have more than 25 individual and organizational members 8-person board meets monthly MFPC holds quarterly educational meetings in Jackson that are open to the public – next meeting June 21, 2013 Subcommittees tackle specific issues

Current Subcommittees Farm to Institution (formerly Farm to School) Farmers Markets Food Safety (formerly In-Home Processing) Food Security Legislative Liaison Local Food Systems as Economic Development

What Have We Done? Farm to Institution Mississippi Farm to School Week and Interagency Task Force Statewide conference Guides, surveys, and online resources Farmers Markets Worked with state agencies to allow EBT machines Drafted and promoted legislation authorizing local gov’ts to fund markets Statewide market manager survey Food Safety Successfully advocated for new regulations and legislation allowing in- home processing Studied food safety practices in neighboring states Legislation Drafted 4 bills that have been signed into law Drafted 1 resolution passed by the Legislature Successfully advocated for 2 regulatory changes and additional legislation

How Have We Done It?

More Specifically… The MFPC Method Assess Environment Partner with Academic Institutions Co-Founder now heads Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, which completes 1 or 2 MFPC projects per semester Develop Achievable Goals Create Strong Coalitions

Case Study: Farm to School Change! Publication s and Surveys Creative Partnership s Conference and Trainings Legislation

Learn More about MFPC Visit for more information or contact Nate Rosenberg at

Food Day Leadership Series March 20, 2 pm ET: “Policy Advocacy 101” with CCPHA April 17, 2 pm ET: “Building Coalitions” with Michael Dimock May 15, 2 pm ET: “Community Change” with CommonHealth Action June 19, 2 pm ET: “Tools for Policy change” with Mark Winne July 17, 2 pm ET: “Making your point to the media” with George Lakoff and the Berkeley Media Studies Group Register and find archived webinars at