Vancouver Food Policy Council Elected

On July 15, representatives from a diverse group of food-related organizations elected members of Vancouver's new Food Policy Council. The 20-member council will develop policy recommendations on food-related issues in the municipal area. A broad range of interrelated issues will be addressed by the council, including food distribution and security, ensuring quality food sources for low income residents, promoting community kitchens, fostering local farm production, and creating new community garden plots and rooftop gardens.

Other cities have food policy councils, including Toronto, which formed a council in 1991. The Vancouver Food Policy Council is the cooperative effort of nutritionists, educators, farmers, food distributors, and community groups. Some key contributors to the formation of the council are Farm Folk/City Folk Society, promoting local farming, Your Local Farmers Market, and The Vancouver Community Kitchens Project. The diverse input of participants will contribute to the development of sound and sustainable food policies.

The council will meet regularly. The first meeting will be open to the public and is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 20, 5-9 pm in Committee Room 1 at Vancouver City Hall. Consult the Vancouver Social Planning Services website close to the meeting date for information on the agenda.

Links:

• Food and the city from the Vancouver Courier


• Vancouver Food Policy Council formed - City of Vancouver press release


• British Columbia Institute of Agrologists - an organization promoting agricultural and natural sciences


• Green Roofs for Healthy Cities - a group promoting the development of rooftop gardens

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 4:58 PM on September 7, 2004