The Future of Food

Assessing food policy and Improvement projects in Long Beach

Introductions

• Your name • Your neighborhood, organization, or business• One exciting thing you’re doing currently• What’s your favorite herb or spice, and why?

…in Context

• Local Food Leaders (Shift LB)• Project Input meeting at LB CAP• Eater / Feeder / Seeder input groups • Website and Project Launch (Green Prize) • Community Event partnerships• California Food Policy Council• BHC Neighborhoods Workgroup / Changelab• LBAFF Food Access Workgroup

We aim to accelerate the local food system using a collective impact model, in order to:

Benefit food insecure residents, support sustainability, bolster local economy

Statewide Food Policy Update• FPC - 15 Bills tracked– Full report later this month

• Signed last week - – Personal Agriculture– Farmer’s Markets – Community Food Producers /

Gleaners– Farm to Fork Office– Beekeeping– Neonicotinoids

• Didn’t pass - – Sugary Drinks Warning– Minimum Wage– Label GMOs– Farmland Protections– Market Match

Comments and questions so far? What’s missing or doesn’t make sense?

Access Issues

• Drought continues to slow agriculture• The healthy choice is not the easy choice• Many corner markets lack fresh options• Pesticide-free / Organic / Non-GMO is cost prohibitive and

not accessible to all• Only one Market Match program in LB• Cal Fresh enrollment is crazy low!• WIC could be strengthened• Community gardens underused in low-income nbhds• Do tenants know their rights to grow?

Long Beach Policy Scan

• Healthy City Planning Document• Encourage reasonable implementation– Of new statewide policies

• Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones (AB 551)– Not yet implemented in Long Beach

• Chickens, Goats, Bees– Failed to pass LB Council June 2013

• Support Market Match re-assessment• Support Cal Fresh awareness efforts• Good Food Purchasing / ProcurementComments and questions so far?

What’s missing or doesn’t make sense?