1. Exploring a Community Food Council & Food Charter October 28, 2013 DU B FIT Consulting Nancy Dubois dubfit@rogers.com 519.446.3636

2. Outline Food System Food (Policy) Councils / Coalitions Characteristics Priorities / activities Members Food Charters Proposed Steps for Renfrew County2 3. A healthy food system is one in which all residents have access to, and canafford to buy, safe, nutritious, and culturallyacceptable food that has been produced in an environmentally sustainable way and that sustains our rural communities. (Waterloo Region http://www.wrfoodsystem.ca/priorities )3 4. Elements of a Food System4 5. 5 6. Description Food (Policy) Council Bring together stakeholders from diverse food-relatedsectors to examine how the food system is operating and to develop ideas, actions and policy recommendations on how to improve it. Take many forms, but are typically either commissioned by governments, or are predominately a grassroots effort may be a reincarnation or evolution of an another group Have been successful at educating officials and the public, shaping public policy, improving coordination between existing programs, and starting new programs 7 7. Common Operating Characteristics Take a comprehensive approach Pursue long-term strategies Offer tangible solutions Are place-based with a strong local component Advocate on behalf of the larger community Seek government buy-in Establish formal membership Operate with little or no funding Food Policy Council Briefing Paper -http://www.ncchpp.ca/148/publications.ccnpps?id_article= 664 8 8. 9 9. Common Process Situational Assessment / Environmental Scan Set priorities Establish a plan of action for each priority (long andshort term) Recruit the players10 10. 11 11. 12 12. 13 13. Typical Activities of a Food Council (1) Mapping and publicizing local food resources Creating new transit routes to connect underserved areas with full-service grocery stores Persuading government agencies to purchase from local farmers Organizing community gardens and farmers markets Advocate for policy change to improve a community's food system Develop programs that address gaps in a community's food system14 14. Typical Activities of a Food Council (2) Strategize solutions that have wide applicability to the food system Research and analyze the existing conditions of a community's food system Communicate information about a community's food system Cultivate partnerships among a community's five food sectors Convene meetings that draw diverse stakeholders of a community's food system15 15. E.g., Increase residents' access to grocery stores: FPCs unpack the interrelated causes of the problem, considering things like: Infrastructure: Are (public) transportation links to existing grocery stores adequate? Economic development: Which banks will or will not loan to new grocery stores? Built environment: Which zoning codes or regulations could be changed to locate grocery stores closer to residential areas? Alternatives or supplemental programs: Could a farmers market or home delivery program fill service gaps? 16 16. Kamloops Food Action Initiative The Interior Health Authority, the City of Kamloops and the Kamloops Food Policy Council partnered to undertake the Community Food Action Initiative project in 2006. The goal was to engage stakeholders in efforts to strengthen and support food planning, policy, and practices in the Kamloops Region. Five project elements: 1. Inventory of resources and food action projects; 2. Community consultation and policy review; 3. Food Action Forum to review policy and develop actions; 4. Draft Plan; 5. Evaluation using the Food Security Report Card tool. 17 17. http://www.wrfoodsystem.ca/18 18. 19 19. 20 20. 21 21. 22 22. 23 23. Food Charters They are policy-reference documents that: present a vision for a just and sustainable food system that has been developed by the community and endorsed by the communitys decision-makers anchor municipal commitments to sustainable food system policies provide guidelines for decisions about food bring people together to talk about & work on local food system and food security challenges provide a reference for managing food system issues on a system-wide basis. 24 24. Benefits of a Food Charter Activate civic engagement Create opportunities for conversations about food Create a valuable tool through collaborative process More public participation helps communities address challenges Articulate an overall vision for food policy Bring together separate policy areas (land use/zoning, waste management, health & food safety Support staff to initiate innovative planning & operations strategies Facilitate collaboration Facilitate inclusivity Expand traditional thinking & roles Extend range of influence & action Show leadership & vision 25 25. Benefits of a Food Charter Catalyze actions Inform projects that benefit local economies and the environment Support fundraising Benefit the environment encourage personal & institutional choices that support more sustainable food systems26 26. Quotes from Communities with a Food Charter: Galvanizes and focuses work around food Makes the city a leader Helps put food on the municipal agenda Municipal resources become available for food issues Development of new community gardens and farmersmarkets Facilitates and frames food system research and assessment Facilitates / guides the development of more applied/specific policy documents 27 27. Common Charter Ingredients Vision statements Principles / Guidelines Action Goals / Priorities Background & rationale28 28. Charter Principles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PCLQThZ8io&feature=youtu.be - Guelph Wellington Food Charter Vancouver Ecological health Social justice Community economic development Collaboration & participation Celebration29 29. 30 30. Examples of Food Charters Torontos Food Charter (2000) Saskatoon Food Charter (2002) City of Greater Sudbury Food Charter (2004) Vancouver Food Charter (2007) Capital Region Food Charter (2008) Region of Durham (2008) Thunder Bay Food Charter (2008) Londons Food Charter (2010) Guelph-Wellington Food Charter (2011) Kawartha Lakes Food Charter (2011) 31 31. Supportive Resources G-W Food Charter Toolkit - http://www.gwfrt.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/GWFRT_Toolkit_Final_2013.pd f Toolkit for Eaters - page 3 Toolkit for Growers - page 5 Toolkit for Business and Institutions - page 7 Toolkit for Policy Makers - page 8 Toolkit for Community Food Projects - page 9 Ottawas Food for All Policy Writing Team Toolbox -http://www.justfood.ca/foodforall/documents/Food_for_ All_Policy_Writing_Team_Toolbox.pdf 32 32. Typical Process to Develop Charter Ottawa Conducted a scan of food programs and services Conducted a series of literature reviews and in-depth stakeholder interviews to help us learn about the experiences of others who have worked towards addressing food issues and understand what steps are needed in order to translate these community ideas into action in Ottawa. Food For All hosted Food Action Planning conversations to identify issues that exist around food in Ottawa and to build a vision of what food in Ottawa can and should look like. Policy-writing teams comprised of community participants then worked together to set policy priorities based on evidence and research, and developed the food Action Plan Proposals. For many volunteers, this was the very first time they had had a chance to engage in a policy process. We have hosted Kitchen Table Talks focussing on the different chapters of the Food Action Plan and Sought online feedback on the website.33 33. Typical Process to Develop Charter (2) Create a Steering Committee / Core Group Determine your local resources and process Community Food Assessment Mapping Food Access Points (existing Continuum for Norfolk & Haldimand) Community Consultations open forum, stakeholder interviews, focus groups Report to summarize current situation & desired future Draft Food Charter Gain input to draft Open input via Web site/ paper Community Consultations open forum, stakeholder interviews, focus groups Finalize the Charter Endorsement Community organizations / Stakeholders Local government Communicate Charter to stimulate corresponding action34 34. Proposed Renfrew Process Nov. 28 morning: Healthy Communities context Nov. 28 afternoon: broad stakeholder input to the priority food issues in the community Nov. 29 smaller group of s/hs to use input to draft local Food Charter Develop endorsement strategy Draft Charter circulated for input and 12 specific Key Informant interviews conducted Confirm the Charter Enact endorsement strategy 35