Food Policy Resources

The toolkit is designed to aid individuals and groups, including local food advocates and nonprofit organizations such as local food policy councils, working to change their local food system. This toolkit was created to provide a starting place for these individuals and groups to understand basic legal concepts surrounding local food systems, develop a base of knowledge about the main policy areas, and be inspired by innovative policy solutions from other cities and states.

The updates to the toolkit since 2012 reflect the ways that the field of food policy has changed since first version of the toolkit was published in 2012. FPLC researchers added two new sections to the toolkit on food procurement and efforts to reduce the waste of food, as well as new examples of policy innovations and initiatives from communities across the United States. Other topics covered in the toolkit include the general legal setting surrounding food policy, local food infrastructure, land use planning and regulation, urban agriculture, consumer access and demand, and school food and nutrition.

Created by: Emma Clippinger, Ona Balkus, Christina Rice, Annika Nielsen, and Emily Broad Leib.

An increasing number of cities around the world are now adopting collaborative cross-sector approaches that use food as a primary vehicle for delivering positive social, economic and environmental outcomes. Despite the multiplicity of city-scale food initiatives taking place, a key challenge remains around measuring the impact such complex systems-based approaches can have in achieving desired outcomes. At a time of persistent austerity in public finances, such an evidence base is vital if local policy makers and commissioning bodies are to have the confidence to invest increasingly scarce resources in such new approaches. This document - which is presented in the form of a toolbox for action – has two main purposes. The first is to provide local authorities and policy makers with a clear, robust and comprehensive collation of relevant evidence and indicators of success of a place-based approach to food. The second is to help both existing and interested ‘practitioners’ to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate the impact of their Sustainable Food Places programmes.

Created by Ana Moragues-Faus, Alizee Marceau, and Tom Andrews

"In 2015, the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) and the International City-County Management Association (ICMA) conducted a second national survey of local government leaders on their policies, programs, plans, and partnerships that support local food systems. More than 2,200 communities responded.

The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future welcomed CRFS and ICMA for an in-depth discussion of the study's findings. Learn about how and why city and county governments across the country are (or are not) supporting local food and farm efforts and then hear from public leaders about what you can do to effectively engage local government in these efforts.

Presented by: Jelani Newton, Laura Goddeeris, Ed Barrett, Holly Freishtat, and Kathleen Holian.

This toolkit was developed in response to the growing state and local interest in adopting policies to reduce the amount of food that goes to waste. This toolkit surveys eight different policy areas that state and local governments can examine as methods to reduce food waste and increase food recovery. It also provides information about the relevant federal laws, because they often serve as a legal floor, on which states can layer additional protections or opportunities. The suggestions and highlighted best practices are intended to provide context and resources for state and local actors as they seek to improve their local food recovery landscape.

Created by Emily Broad Leib, Christina Rice, Ona Balkus and Jill Mahoney

Drawing on a national survey, this article explores broad trends in how and why local governments and planners across the United States are engaging in urban agriculture. It includes case examples from two cities - Buffalo, New York, and Madison, Wisconsin - where community-led interest in urban agriculture has laid the groundwork for city government policy reform. The article concludes with a discussion of what challenges might be encountered in creating city policies that sustain urban agriculture, and outlines potential ideas for the future.

This summer the Small Grains Breeding Project at Cornell University and GrowNYC's Regional Grains Project brought together researchers, growers, breeders, bakers, and millers to talk about wheat. Specifically, locally-grown organic wheat for the Northeast. It was a gathering focused on both data and diet; it was a day spent discussing the most current research with mouthfuls of the actual bread and beer that results from such research. And most interesting of all, it was not a day spent discussing how commodity wheat should be replaced by small-scale, organic production. Rather, the participants were all intently focused on creating genuine alternatives; on facilitating diversity in genetics, in farm fields, in grocery store aisles, and in kitchens. So that we all have access to a variety of choices in what we eat - both Wonder Bread and artisanal sourdough.

Image credit: Matt Kelly; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

The Pittsburgh Food Policy Council welcomes PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding in an information and network exchange to learn more about workforce development in the urban agriculture sector. Pictured left to right are Erik Gans, Denele Hughson, Julie Butcher Pezzino, Sydnee Turner, Dan Tobin, Scott Sheely, Heather Manzo, Dawn Plummer, Secretary Redding, Robert Grey, Marshall Hart, Marisa Manheim, and Jon Burgess.

Image credit: Amanda Dezulovich, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

Graduation day at Cooperative Extension's Urban Farm School. A lot of people featured here helped bring about this program, from advocating for a pro-urban agriculture city ordinance to sharing resources to instigating other projects that will provide future collaborations. 

Image credit: Marcus Hill, Forsyth Community Food Consortium; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

The picture is of students from our summer Youth Program during a visit to Calder Dairy Farm in Carleton, MI. The picture and the program represent education and advocacy. During the course of the program, we have educated the youth on the food system as a whole and how to improve it, specifically in Detroit. The farm visit was our last day and the only day not featuring a place within the city limits. We wanted to expose them to all of the animals and agriculture of the farm, especially since it is very rare to come in contact with these things in an urban environment such as Detroit.

Image credit: Olivia Henry, Detroit Food Policy Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

Some of the crowd checking out our "Get to Know Your Farmer" CSA Sign-up day. We wanted to share some of our local CSA programs the general public might not know about and help give our local farmers more exposure.

Image credit: Marcus Hill, Forsyth Community Food Consortium; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

Community Agroecology Network (CAN), students in the University of California, Santa Cruz Visual Sociology lab (UCSC), Mesa Verde Garden gardeners, and Watsonville community members gather to discuss producing a collaboratively-authored documentary film about community gardens, migration, and urban belonging. In the center of the photo, Don Ines, a Mesa Verde Gardens peer leader who worked alongside Caesar Chavez and is still involved with the United Farm Workers, shares his stories with the group about organizing for farmworkers' rights in the late 1960s and his work today. The community decided to make the film. Seven UCSC students from the video production lab teamed up with CAN's "Growing Justice" project and produced "The River Park Garden Video Collective" film, which screened at a conference at UCSC and during the 6th annual International Youth Exchange for Food Security and Food Sovereignty in Nicaragua; and can be viewed on the CAN website. The River Park Garden in Watsonville, California, is one of the Mesa Verde Gardens community gardens. The aim of the garden is to empower young people and their families, primarily latino/a immigrants employed in the food system sector) to be agents of food systems change in their communities. CAN's work with youth through the "Growing Justice" project is to raise the voices of youth to advocate for food systems change to improve the overall well-being of their community.

Image credit: Suraya Arslan, Community Agroecology Network; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

Michael Banner sits on the sidewalk outside of Herb's Bargain Store, handing out community surveys seeking feedback on a new neighborhood-driven urban agriculture and community health initiative. 

Image credit: Marcus Hill, Forsyth Community Food Consortium; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

The FoCo Freedge is a refrigerator available to all people so they can drop off excess produce, take what fresh produce they can use, or both. Cucumbers, grapes, apples, zucchini, chard - the Freedge is stocked with what's in season from bountiful local gardens and raised beds in backyards. The FoCo Freedge builds community, reduces food waste, and feeds people - all people. It's a beautiful collaboration of community where all are invited to participate in solving the issues of food waste and hunger.

Image credit: April Whicker, Northern Colorado Food Cluster; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

FoCo Cafe operates with a donation box so you can pay what you can, pay what you would normally pay, pay it forward so others might eat, or make your contribution with time and talent and volunteer. This nonprofit concept allows ALL people to access healthy meals with dignity, and it brings people together to participate in the community, filling a need as basic as that of food. In just under 500 days open, FoCo Cafe has served more than 41,000 nutritious meals to all community members regardless of their ability to pay while focusing on using local, organic and sustainably grown ingredients.

Image credit: April Whicker, Northern Colorado Food Cluster; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

Urban Youth for Christ (CityLIfe) volunteers at the Tri County Fresh Food Hub washing and packing locally grown produce to be delivered to food-insecure families.

Image credit: Denise Urycki, Regional Fresh Food Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

In Grand Haven, Michigan, local food pantries partner with the local farmers market to collect fresh produce donations from the shoppers. This collaboration highlights the need for fresh produce at local food pantries and draws attention to the wonderful services provided by these pantries. In addition, local farmers love this program because it increases their sales. Often, the farmers donate too. Hundreds of pounds of produce have been collected and distributed to those in need this summer!

Image credit: Margaret McKinney, Ottawa County Food Policy Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

Community partners wash surplus organic kale at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, PA.  This was part of a public Gleaning Training Workshop to initiate a Lehigh Valley regional Gleaning Network.

Image credit: Brooke Kohler, Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

Karen Bolduc, Chair of Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn, and Executive Director of Food Joy & South Auburn Organic Farm, explains the purpose and the need for the Lewiston-Auburn Community Food Charter at the release event held at the Lewiston Public Library in March 2016. This is the first Food Charter in the State of Maine. Values and goals of the Food Charter include food security, leadership, good food policy, local and sustainable agriculture, working landscapes, and community infrastructure.

Image credit: Julia Harper, Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

FoCo Cafe sources ingredients from local farms and businesses. As we plate meals with guests, we promote these farms, telling where ingredients came from and even the farmer who grew it. We advocate for local food daily on a plate-by-plate basis.

Image credit: April Whicker, Northern Colorado Food Cluster; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.

These women came out to testify in support of DC's Produce Plus program, a program they have all either participated in and/or volunteered for over the past three years.

Image credit: Dominique Hazzard, DC Greens; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2016.

By downloading this image, you agree to use the photo within the context that it was taken. You also agree to never use it for commercial purposes. The image always belongs to the original photographer and should be attributed to the photographer and Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks Photo Contest.