Food Policy Resources

Summer Sullivan, the California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) Edible Garden Coordinator, volunteers to teach easy, nutritious meals to students living in the dorms. Using items that can be found in the campus pantry, she helps spread awareness and reduce the stigma of campus food insecurity. 

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. Image credit: Kern Food Policy Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

Building community and advocacy for healthy food access takes hard work, but it is also a lot of fun!  A great group of Dorchester Food Co-op members proved this well by walking 3.2 miles in the annual Dorchester Day Parade dressed as healthy foods. Everyone had a lot of fun while working to raise awareness of The Dorchester Food Co-op‚Ķa food, racial and economic justice project aimed at empowering our community and making healthy food more accessible and affordable to everyone. Hooray Veggies!

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. Image credit: Davida Andelman, Dorchester Food Co-op; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

For years, our focus (and economic dependency) on the global food system has steadily eroded our local food system to the point where the 50 or so small and medium Kern-based farms travel to Los Angeles and the Central Coast to sell their produce. But this is shifting. Bakersfield has a farm-to-fork caf√© now. And our regional supermarket, FoodMaxx, is carving out more and more space to feature local fruits and vegetables. Every day I drive by this sign painted on the side of Hen's Roost, one of several food system micro-enterprises that have emerged in the last few years. I read ""Eat Local!"" and I feel hope. 

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. Image credit: Jill Egland, Kern Food Policy Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

The Lake County Community Food Council has constructed and distributed almost 600 garden boxes in the past two years in the rural county they serve.  Council volunteers have worked side by side with families sharing how to start small gardens regardless of where they live.  This effort has started to expand out into surrounding communities.  Families express gratitude in being able to touch the soil, choose their own plants and share this experience as a family.  Relationship starts in the garden‚Äîconversations happen, laughter is shared and memories are made.  There is a connectedness to the earth and each other that is hard to explain.  The mother of this child in the photo shared, ""I love when my child and I can get our hands dirty together"". The joy of creating something together and the anticipation of what is to come is beautiful. As permaculture consultant Geoff Lawton said, ""All the world's problems can be solved in a garden"".

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. Image credit: Kendra Gibson, Lake County Community Food Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

There is so much wealth, beauty, and joy in food grown well. This is an ode to the people who grow food with love.

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. Image credit: Amanda Chin, The Food Project; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

An early morning glean in Boulder, Colorado harvested more than 4,500 lbs. of fresh cabbage that was delivered same-day to Community Food Share, a local food bank. Ten volunteers cut then tossed veggies into the crisp morning air, getting a workout for their bodies and a lift to their spirits. 

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. Image credit: Sarah Galligan, Colorado Food Policy Network and UpRoot Colorado; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

Kern County is known for its bounty as well as its high rate of food insecure families. Here's a way one family farm has come up with for getting healthy produce distributed‚Ķ! 

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. Image credit: Jill Egland, Kern Food Policy Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

Neighbors thank each other for sharing in the hard work of maintaining the Five Loaves Two Fishes community garden at 55th and Lancaster Ave in West Philadelphia. 

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. Image credit: Ali Mendelson, Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

Gratitude in the Garden displays three images of joy from Promise Garden located in the heart of downtown New Brunswick, NJ. The first image shows an Orchard Installation Day performed 11/17/17 in partnership with New Brunswick Community Food Alliance, City of New Brunswick, FoodCorps NJ, corporate partners, and local residents. The second image offers garden green harvests from Summer 2017. The third image shows one of 6 cubic-yard wood palette compost bins as part of The Compost Project. This project has diverted over 12,000 lbs of food waste from Elijah's Promise over 2016-2017 and demonstrates our commitment towards achieving zero waste as an agency first and ultimately as a community. We are grateful for these garden programs and all who collaborate to make Promise Garden successfully grow food, soil, and community!

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. Image credit: Andrew Schlesinger, New Brunswick Community Food Alliance; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

The California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) Food Pantry Coordinator, Kassandra Hernandez, stands by the Pantry's ""Open"" sign. The Food Pantry officially opened in September thanks to Kassandra's hard work and dedication. She has helped to supply quality food to over 630 CSUB students!

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. Image credit: Summer Sullivan, Kern Food Policy Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

A Place at the Table believes that everyone deserves a good meal, regardless of means. The restaurant has a pay-what-you-can model. You can pay nothing, the listed price on the menu, or more if you have the means and the desire. This ensures that everyone has a place at the table. The picture shows me harvesting turnip greens from a farmer who grew them exclusively for the use of the restaurant, free of charge. It's beautiful when people come together for a cause, around a table, and provide food for all.

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. Image credit: Food Passion Project; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

For the past five years, at 9:15 a.m. on a weekday morning in March, thousands of Marylanders participate in Hear the Maryland Crunch! Students, teachers, legislators, and community members come together to bite into a juicy apple in this state-wide synchronized apple crunch event! Held during National School Breakfast Week, Hear the Maryland Crunch! highlights the importance of the School Breakfast Program in ensuring that all children get a healthy start to their day.  Students perform better in school, are less likely to be overweight, and are less likely to be absent from or late to school. Learn more about the research that underscores the importance of Breakfast for Learning and Breakfast for Health. William Paca Elementary School in Prince George's county went over the top in their celebration of Hear the Maryland Crunch! Students sang songs about breakfast, dressed in Maryland flag colors, and participated in fun school assembly. The stage was set and decorated with a huge apple tree, as seen in this photo.

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. Image credit: Maryland Hunger Solutions; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

During a winter storm Vanessa Garcia Polanco, 21, RIPFC youngest member took break from her college readings to read the draft RI Food Strategy and prepare her feedback response on it for the RI Director of Food Strategy. Council members and other Rhode Island food system practitioners were engaged on the year long process of drafting and engaging the community to draft a food strategy with the state's goal for and agriculture. the final strategy was release on May 2017. 

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. Image credit: Vanessa Garcia Polanco, Rhode Island Food Policy Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a new option that allows schools with high percentages of low-income children to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. Not only does community eligibility increase participation in the school meal programs, it also reduces labor costs for schools, increases efficiency, reduces stigma, and increases federal revenues. However, the name of the program doesn't express how powerful it is or how it works. Therefore, Maryland Hunger Solutions celebrates schools that use CEP by presenting them with a ""Hunger-Free School"" banner, as seen in the photo. All public schools in Baltimore City, Dorchester County, and Somerset County are Hunger Free thanks to CEP. 

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. Image credit: Maryland Hunger Solutions; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

This photo is of Charlottesville City School students in the Buford Middle School Garden. They came out to the garden during a PE class to harvest Collard Greens and other garden greens. The students were blown away by the size of the collard leaves. ""They're HUGE!"" one of the students said as she stuck it in front of her face. After that all the students started grabbing the large collard greens and putting them over their faces. I asked for a photo and this is the one that we got! 

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. Image credit: Emily Axelbaum, City Schoolyard Garden; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

No soil contaminants will escape her inspection! Kids at the Five Loaves Two Fishes Soil Safety Demo Day learn how to be safe while gardening and growing food.

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. Image credit: Ali Mendelson, Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council Coordinate (FPAC) Coordinator Mary Pham checks out the compost in a recycled chest freezer bin in North Philadelphia. Designed by Let's Talk Trash a waste reduction education program, this freezer chest a finalist in FPAC's Compost System Design Competition, which aims to identify an affordable, neighborhood scale compost system design that can spread community composting initiatives in Philadelphia and beyond. 

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. Image credit: LeAnne Harvey, Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

On Valentine's day 2017, students across the state participated in the first ""Maryland Meals for Achievement Day."" Maryland Meals for Achievement is a successful state initiative that expands access to universal breakfast in the classroom in more than 450 high-poverty schools. The program supports both health and learning and has been shown to result in better student attendance, academic performance, and behavior. Unfortunately, the program is underfunded and many high poverty schools that want to participate are on a waiting list due to insufficient funding. The goals of Maryland Meals for Achievement Day included raising awareness about the program among schools and legislators with the aim of increasing funding for the program.
On Maryland Meals for Achievement Day, students across the state created special Valetine cards especially for our State's leaders to express their thanks for the program.  In the photo, Michael J. Wilson, Director of Maryland Hunger Solutions, presented some of the Valentines that students created to Senator Richard Madaleno and Delegate Sheila Dixson, two state legislators that championed The Maryland Meals for Achievement for Teens Act in 2017. Photos from the event were also shared on social media using the hashtag #iLoveMMFA.

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. Image credit: Tam Lynne Kelley, Maryland Hunger Solutions; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

The Montgomery County Food Council was honored to be selected by Whole Foods Markets to be the recipient of a 5% Day on June 22, 2017. On this day, 5% of the net sales from the five Montgomery County Whole Foods Markets were donated to the Food Council. Entertainment and activities were scheduled throughout the day at all five Montgomery County stores, including local product tastings provided by 8 Montgomery County businesses, cooking demonstrations led by 5 chefs featuring local products as key ingredients, a raffle to win a basket of MoCo products, and grocery store bingo for the kids. In addition, 22 Food Council volunteers and 6 staff/interns shared information and resources about the Food Council and their own organizations with shoppers. In this photo, Chef Susan Callahan is visited by our friends and partners from Crossroads Community Food Network, who generously volunteered their time at our 5% Day and also added some humor and whimsy to the event! Chef Susan is preparing Pasta and Potatoes with Early Summer Vegetables using MoCo Made LaPasta linguine and Cherry Glen goat cheese.

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. Image credit: Heather Bruskin, Montgomery County Food Council; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017

Local Produce Link (LPL) is a New York State Department of Health Hunger Prevention Nutrition Assistance Program (NYSDOH HPNAP) grant-funded initiative that connects regional farmers with food-insecure communities in New York City. Using the community supported agriculture model, 9 farmers make weekly deliveries during the growing season to provide fresh produce to food pantries in the five boroughs. Designed with the hub-and-spoke concept, one food pantry serves as the hub host and receives 4-6 shares of vegetables during the June-November season. The host keeps a vegetable share while the hub's participating member food pantries pick up the remaining shares to distribute it to clients as part of a balanced food package. An important distinction of LPL is that the vegetables delivered are not gleaned or rescued; the farmers are all contracted with grant funds to grow crops for these pantry communities. Another unique aspect of the program is the relationship building that occurs between the pantry communities and the farmers who grow their food. There are annual farm trips when LPL staff invite pantry staff, volunteers, and clients as a group to visit the farms located in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to learn about responsible growing practices directly from their farmers. This image was captured in July 2017, during the trip to the Farm at Miller's Crossing in Hudson, New York. Following a picnic lunch, farmer Chris Cashen provided a tour of his acreage including fields planted with cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and corn. Guests were invited to pick ears of corn right from the stalks and Chris encouraged everyone to try it right there. Here Mr. Tin Chin is enjoying doing exactly that! This was the first time he had eaten raw corn. He shared, "It popped, like popcorn."

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. Image credit: United Way of New York City; CLF Food Policy Networks Photo Contest, 2017