Supporting a Just and Sustainable Food

System

“Food is a tool for re-thinking cities and the way we live in them”

Carolyn Steel, 2008

Food as a municipal issue

1. Economic and Community Economic Development

Households spend 10-40% of income after taxes on food At least 40,000 jobs are directly related to food in

Vancouver

2. Infrastructure and Transportation1 in 5 car trips are to grocery stores

How do those without vehicles get to grocery stores? 3. Health and Food Safety

Local health agencies and food inspectors (VCH)

Food as a municipal issue

4. Land Use PlanningIs there a grocery store in your neighbourhood? Where can food be grown in the city?

5. Waste ManagementFood waste takes up 40% of landfill space

6. Social and Environmental PlanningHealthy communities are socially equitable and environmentally sustainable.

Farmers Markets

Pocket Markets

Community Produce Stands

Neighbourhood Food Networks

Food Scraps program

Composting

Street Food Vending

The Food System and some examples

Food Business IncubatorCommunity Kitchens

Community GardensUrban FarmingBeekeeping Hens

System-Wide

Vancouver Food Policy Council Neighbourhood Food Networks Grants (Greenest City, Urban

Agriculture, Community Service) Interdepartmental Steering

Committee

Looking forward: The Vancouver Food Strategy

Create a food strategy that sets out a vision and targets for how the City of Vancouver will achieve its food system goals.

Build on policies that already exist and address gaps where needed.

Ensuring neighbourhoods have grocery stores and farmers markets

Creating more opportunities to grow food in the city (community or rooftop gardens, urban farms, community orchards)

Improving access to nutritious, local and affordable food (through community kitchens, fresh produce stands, etc)

vancouver.ca/foodpolicy

foodpolicy@vancouver.ca