THELONGHAUL:FOODPOLICYAPPROACHESINLOSANGELES,THENANDNOW

ABBYKLEIN

SENIORCOMPREHENSIVERESEARCHPAPERURBANANDENVIRONMENTALPOLICY

OCCIDENTALCOLLEGEAPRIL2010

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Acknowledgements

IwouldliketothankProfessorsRobertGottliebandMarthaMatsuokafortheirhelpfulandpatientguidancethroughoutthisprocess.AlexaDelwiche,forallowingmethechancetobeanactiveparticipantintheTaskForce,FrankTamborelloforgivingmetheopportunitytolearnfirsthand.ThankstoMarthaPageandBeckyEliasfortheirvaluableinsight.Also,thanksgotoallthemembersoftheTaskForce,aswellasalloftheparticipantsatthelisteningsessions,foralloftheirinput.Finally,greatthanksgotoLindaKleinandTomHauburgerfortheirunderstandingandassistancethroughout.

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TableofContents

I. ExecutiveSummary 4

II. GlossaryofTerms 6

III. PersonalBackground 7

IV. IntroductionandExplanation 9

V. Methodology 20

VI. Hartford:ACaseStudy 31

VII. LosAngeles:ACaseStudyinDevelopment 40

VIII. Findings 50

IX. RecommendationsforActionandFurtherResearch 55

X. ConclusionsandFinalThoughts 62

XI. AppendicesA‐I

a. LAFPTFListeningSessionTopicsandParticipants 64

b. LAFPTFMemberandStaffRoster 67

c. LAFPTFRecommendations 69

d. Vision,Purpose,andMissionofLAFPTF 70

e. FoodSystemsGraphics 74

f. VACHMembers,VACHHearingTopics,LAFSHPMembers77

g. InterviewQuestions 78

h. TheNortheastPartnership 80

XII. WorksConsulted 82

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ExecutiveSummary

Foodsystemsaffecteachandeveryresidentoftheplanet.Theyare

inescapable,andcanmakeorbreakpopulations.Thefoodwithinthembrings

sustenance,andcanbringjoy,pleasure,andcommunityconnections.However,the

manyadvanceshumanshavemadeintechnologyhavenotalwaysbeenkindtoour

foodsystems,andmorerecentlyhaveservedtodrivecommunitiesandindividuals

apart.Thesedivideshaveledtosomeveryunhealthyconsequences,includingthe

adventofnutritionallyuselessprocessedfoods,obesity,diabetes,andothers.

LosAngelesispartofavastregionalfoodsystemthathasbeenintroublefor

quitesometime.Planningandpolicyaretoolsthatcanbeusedtohelprebuilda

healthiersystem,butmanygroupsalreadyworkingonfoodrelatedissueshave

chosentofocusmorenarrowlyonspecificcommunitiesandconcerns.Inorderfor

thefoodsysteminLosAngelestoimprove,workmustbedonetocoordinatethe

effortsoftheseexistinggroups,andeventuallytogivethemmoreweightin

government.FoodPolicyCouncils(FPCs)havesprunguparoundthecountryto

attempttodojustthis,andLosAngeles,throughitsFoodPolicyTaskForce,is

currentlyexaminingthepotentialeffectsofestablishingsuchabodyhere.

IfocusedtheresearchforthispaperonHartford,CTasanexampleofafood

systemthathasbenefitedfromcoordinatedeffortsworkinginharmonytobetterits

foodsystem,andonLosAngelesasacasestudyinprogress,lookingspecificallyat

thecity’sfailedattemptatestablishingaFPCinthe1990sandthereasonsforits

demise,andwhatitsnextstepsshouldnowbe.Fromthesetwoinstances,Ihave

determinedthatthenextstepfortheCityandCountyshouldbetobeginby

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designatingafewprofessionalsinthefieldascoordinators,andtaskthemwith

synthesizingtheexistingworkbeingdoneineveryrealmofthefoodsystem.This

willhelptoidentifyareasofoverlapaswellasgapsintheframeworkthatneedto

beaddressed.Fromthere,LosAngelescandevelopamorepolicy‐centricapproach

thatshouldeventuallyevolveintoaregionalDepartmentofFood.Throughthis

phasedapproach,LosAngelesshouldbeabletoachieveitsgoalofbecominga

nationalleaderinfoodpolicydevelopment,andmoreimportantly,itwillbeginto

betteritsailingfoodsystem.

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Glossary

FPC:FoodPolicyCouncil

VACH:TheVoluntaryAdvisoryCouncilonHunger,presentinLosAngelesfrom

1993‐1996.

LAFSHP:TheLosAngelesFoodSecurityandHungerPartnership,presentinLos

Angelesfrom1996‐1999.

LAFPTF:TheLosAngelesFoodPolicyTaskForce,presentinLosAngelesfrom

Novemberof2009‐Juneof2010.

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IndividualandGeneralBackground

Beginningwithtripstoalocalfarmforabasketofproduceonceeveryother

weekinthesummersofmychildhood,tothelastnearlysevenyearsworkingfora

smallcateringbusiness,andcontinuingthroughanunendingloveoffresh

ingredientsandputtingthemtogether,foodhasplayedaprominentandvery

specialroleinmylife.Thecareandthoughtmyparentsputintomymealsgrowing

upinspiredmetowanttosharethiskindofdedicationwithothers,anotionwhich

wasfurtheredinlearningtocookmoreprofessionallyfromAnnaBelcherather

gourmetcateringandtakeawayshopafewblocksfrommyhomeinNewHaven,

Connecticut.Myfamilyandfriendshavegenerallysharedthispassionforfood,and

thusmostofmyhappymemorieshaveitattheircenter.Thedesiretocookandbake

forthosearoundme,instillinganappreciationforgoodfoodinthem,hasneverleft

meeither,andhasledmemorerecentlytothinkabouthowthiscanbedoneona

muchgreaterscale,andnotonlythroughcooking;Ibegantoseepolicyand

legislationastoolsmoreusefulthanpotsandpansinthisendeavor.

Mydesirestolearntobetterseethefoodsystemasawhole,andtolearnto

beasuccessfulagentofchangewithinithaveexpressedthemselvesmoreclearlyin

thelastfewyears,primarilyasaresultoflivinginLosAngeles.Asanalmost

incomprehensiblyhugearea,ithasmystifiedmeinmanyways,fromitsdifficult‐to‐

navigateandinconvenientpublictransitsystem,toitsglaringdisplaysofinequality,

totheinitialimpressionitcanprovidenewcomersoffindingthemselvesinaplace

devoidofacenter‐geographicorotherwise.Uponarrival,Iknewnotwhattodo

withmyself,howtohaveanimpactorbecomeapartofsomethinghere,never

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havingbeenonetojoinclubsorfeelathomeonacampus.Desiringthatillusive

pointfromwhichinspirationandmeaningspring,Itrieddifferentclassesand

activities,findingacomfortableyetchallengingrestingspotintheUrbanand

EnvironmentalPolicyDepartment,whichledmetomycommunityorganizing

internshipatHungerActionLA(HALA).ItwasherethatIbegantoputtogethera

fewofthepiecesofthegiantpuzzlethatispublicserviceworkinLosAngeles.

WorkingwithFrankTamborellobroughtmeanewunderstandingof

devotingone’slifetoone’swork.Heistrulyaninspiration,asheisneverwithouta

smileorenoughtimetoilluminateanissueforanewcomertothefield.Workingat

HALAwasahodgepodgeoftasks,tosaytheleast;Frankattacksfromeveryangleat

once,fromdirectingsomeonetothenearestDPSSoffice,tobroadhungeradvocacy

atthestatelevel.Hemovesfrommeetingtomeeting,sometimesinachurch,

sometimesinCityHall,alwayswiththethoughtandperspectiveofthoseonbehalf

ofwhomheadvocates‐thehungryandthedispossessed.ItwasatoneofHALA’s

monthlymeetingsthatIlearnedofthenewlydevisedFoodPolicyTaskForce,

createdbyMayorVillaraigosaandDeputyMayorLarryFrank,alongwith

Occidental’sUEPI,PaulaDanielsoftheCityofLosAngeles’DepartmentofPublic

Works,andtheLAConservationCorps.KnowingIwouldbewritinga

comprehensiveseniorresearchpaperlaterthisyear,Itooktheopportunity

presentedandgotinvolved.

Overthelastsixmonths,Ihavehadthechancetomeetvariousplayersinthe

foodsystem‐‐‐farmers,advocates,policymakers,gardeners,educators,andmany

others‐‐‐whoalldesiretoelevatetheirworkbyorchestratinganewlandscapein

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whichtomakeagreaterimpact.Ihaveseenwhatpolicycreationlookslikefromthe

groundup,thegrittyprocessofnegotiationandregularbackandforthdiscussionof

theinsandoutsofeverydayissues‐Ihadthoughtitmightbemoreglamorous(This

wasarevelationinandofitself‐anyonereallycanmakeadifference,heorshejust

hastotalktotheright‐andenough‐people).TheLosAngelesFoodPolicyTask

Forcehasbegunagainthecomplexprocessofputtingstakeholderstogethertotalk

abouthowtomakethearea’sfoodsystembetterformorepeople,butthisisonly

oneofmanysteps,bothprecedingandfollowingit.

WhyisBetterFoodPolicyImportant?

Thispaperpresumestheneedanddesireforamoreeffectiveandefficient

foodsysteminaregion,butwhy?Especiallyintimesoffiscalhardshipatevery

level,thisquestionisimportanttoanswerandunderstand,asthosewhodocanhelp

toeducateothers,includingadvocacyingovernmentonbehalfofthecause.The

foodsystemisstillamysterytomanyAmericans,eventhoughfoodissueshave

gottenincreasedpublicityoverthelastfewyears.Beingpartofasomewhatself‐

centerednation,theaverageAmerican’stendencyistothinkfromanindividualistic,

ratherthansystemic,perspective.Aprimeexampleofthismindsetareopinionson

healthissueslikeobesity,whichcanbeexceedinglyproblematic.Manypeople

considerthatobesepeoplehavemadepoordietaryandlifestylechoices,implying

thatthechoicetolivehealthylives,includingeatingnutritiouskindsand

appropriateamountsoffood,ismadeinacontextdevoidofoutsideinfluence,and

alsoinferringthatthehealthyfoodchoiceistheeasiestone.Infact,neitherofthese

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suppositionsistrue.Advertising,family,peerpressure,culture,andamultitudeof

otherinfluencesinformthechoicesAmericansmakeaboutwhattoeat,andthanks

totheadventandtakeoverofprocessed“foods”withmorechemicalsthanwhole

ingredients(usuallyaresultoftheunprecedentedsubsidiestocornandsoybean

growers),thehealthychoiceisalmostalwaysNOTthecheapest.Inshort,

individualsmaketheeasiestchoicesavailabletothem,trustingthatthegreater

forcesofregulationandplanningareatwork,filteringoutthejunk,oratthevery

least,notmakingitsoappealing,andwhenpoorhealthconsequencesbefallthem,

theythemselvesareblamedformakingthewrongandtheunhealthychoices.

Unfortunately,itisanalmostinvariablefallacythattheindividualcanmakea

choiceoutsideoftheexistingframework.Exceptingthoselivingonfarmsand

producingalloftheirfoodthemselves,peopleinAmericaareatthemercyof

hundredsofintertwinedsystems,runbyotherpeople,andchoicesarepreordained,

forthemostpart.Whilethiscountrycontinuestoevolveextremelyrapidlyinmost

sectors,suchastechnologyandmedicine,ournation’sfoodsystemisanareain

whichweseemtohavebacktracked.Individualsarenowstuckinsidesystemsfrom

whichitcanbeverydifficulttoextricatethemselves,especiallyintherealmoffood.

Nolongerdothemajorityofpeopleinthiscountrysustainthemselvesandtheir

communitiesthroughfarming,andmanydonotknowwheretheirfoodoriginates,

asitarrivestothemfromsofaraway.

So,onceagain,whyisitimportanttocreatebetterfoodpolicy?Theend‐of‐

daysreasonsarecompellingenough:therisinguseofGMOs;thepotentialincidence

ofsuperbugs(bothinsectandsickness)asaresultofextremelyharmfuleffectsof

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decadesofinsecticide,pesticide,andherbicideuse;theincreasinglackofknowledge

offarmingandcultivationpractices.Orperhapstheimmediatehealthconsequences

makeanevenbettercase:theobesityepidemicthatisnowplaguingroughlyathird

oftheadultsintheUnitedStates1,alongwiththerapidlyrisingrateof

diabetes:“11.3%ofAmericanadults‐orabout26millionAmericans‐in…2009…If

currenttrendscontinue,15%ofAmericanadults‐ormorethan37million

Americans‐willbelivingwithdiabetesbytheendof2015.”2Eitherway,itcanno

longerbearguedthatfoodchoicesareindividualandremovedfromanylarger

frameworkorarewithoutotherconsequence.Ideallythisbriefpassagehas

providedsomebackgroundandimmediacytotheissuesthatareaddressedbyFPCs;

justthecreationandupkeepofandinvestmentinFPCssignalsthatacity,county,

region,orstatehasmadeaninitialcommitmenttobetteringitsfoodsystem,and

publicityoftheFPC’sexistencecangenerallyservetohelpeducatecitizensinits

potentialandmeaning.Itwilltakeahugeinvestmentineducationofthepublicto

changethecurrentinsistentanddangerousassumptionsabouttheUnitedStates’

foodsystem,andthedevelopmentofCouncilsisanexcellentsteptotake.

1(33.8%ofadultsin2006‐2008)PrevalenceandTrendsinObesityAmongUSAdults,1999­2008.KatherineM.Flegal,PhD;MargaretD.Carroll,MSPH;CynthiaL.Ogden,PhD;LesterR.Curtin,PhD2Gallup,http://www.gallup.com/poll/123887/u.s.‐diabetes‐rate‐climbs‐above‐11‐could‐hit‐15‐2015.aspx

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AddressingtheProblem

Acommonpolicyapproachincitiestofacilitatethecoordinationofexisting

effortsonfoodissueshasbeentocreateaFoodPolicyCouncil(FPC).FPCshave

becomepopularandusefulbodiesintheundertakingofbringingbetter,healthier,

andfresherfoodtomorepeopleinmoreplaces.ThreeverysuccessfulFPCsexistin

Connecticut‐inthecapitalcityofHartford(oneofthefirstinthecountry),inNew

Haven,myhometown,andoneatthestatelevel,closelyintegratedwithHartford’s

FoodPolicyCouncil.Overthelastthirtyyears,Hartfordhasworkedwiththestateto

startfarmers’markets,increaseparticipationinfederalfoodassistanceprograms,

helpbringsupermarketstoinnercityareas,improvepublictransitroutestomake

thesegrocerystoresmoreaccessible3,andhasstartedmanyotherbeneficial

programsandservices.Establishedmorerecentlyin2005,NewHaven’sFPChas

beguntodomanyofthesesamethings.Ihaveseenfirsthandthebenefitsofhavinga

FPCinmyplaceofresidence,mainlythroughthecreationandexpansionoffarmers’

marketsintheNewHavenarea.ThesetwoFPCshavebroughtpeopleworkingin

variousfood‐relatedareastogether,tocoordinatetheireffortsinordertoachieve

greatergoals.WhileFPCscanbeveryusefultools,muchthoughtandworkmustgo

intothemforanygoodtocomeout.

FPCsaregenerallyconsideredmoreusefulsolutionstocreatingbetterfood

policythansimplycontinuingthefragmentedworkdonebyvariousorganizations,

astheyarebodiesdedicatedsolelytothistask.MostFPCsinNorthAmericaexistat

thecitylevel,asthisisaslightlymoremanageablethantacklingpolicymakingat3CityofHartfordAdvisoryCommissiononFoodPolicy(http://www.hartford.gov/government/FoodCommission/Activities.htm)

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thecounty,state,orregionallevel.However,thismorenarrowfocuscanbe

problematic;therearemanyissuesinvolvedinfoodpolicythat,tobeimproved

upon,mustreallybetackledbyagreaterandmorecomprehensiveapproach.For

example,agreatmajorityofthefoodconsumedinLosAngelescomesfromfarms

outsidethecityandcountylimits;iftheCityimposesrestrictionsonits

procurementpolicies(suchasmandatingacertainpercentageoffoodservedinCity

operatedbuildingstobelocal),theoriginsofthelocalfoodarenotaffectedbythe

policies.Anykindofcoordinationeffortsinrelationtotheemergencyfoodsystem,

aswellasthecreationofanysortoffoodhubmustberegionaltoreallybeeffective.

Furtherdiscussionofthiswillbeaddressedlaterinthepaper.

AnotherconsiderationaboutFPCsisthattheydonotalwaysfollowa

prescribedformat,astheyshifttheirlocus,leadership,goals,methods,etc.fromcity

tocity,dependingontheexistingcircumstances,resources,anddesiresofthe

particularplace.However,theexistingFPCsgenerallydofocus,atleastinpart,on

policyevaluationandcreation,eveniftheycannotactuallyinstatethepolicy

themselves.Inbeginningthisresearch,andthroughoutthecourseofmuchofit,I

heldontotheassumptionthatifLosAngelesweretotakeanotherstabatcreatinga

FPC,itwouldtakeshapewithsimilarguidelinesandorganizationtotheLAFSHP,

andmostoftheothersaroundthecountry.OnlyafterattendingmanyTaskForce

meetingsandlisteningsessionsdidIbegintoconsiderthatifLosAngelesreally

doeswanttobecomeapioneerinfoodissues,orevenifitjustwantstocreatea

betterandmoresustainablefoodsystemforitsresidents,perhapsitmustbreakout

ofthemoldthathasbeensculptedbyothersaroundthecountry.Whileitmightbe

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moredifficulttodothingsdifferentlyhere,itmightbetheonlywaytogetallofthe

necessarystakeholdersinvolved,andtocreaterealchange.Thisideawillbe

elaborateduponintheRecommendationssectionofthepaper.

What’sWrongwithHowOurFoodSystemWorks?

Creationoffoodpolicy,assuchahugelybroadandfar‐reachingissue,must

involveallaffectedstakeholdersinthediscussion,inorderfortheretobea

productiveoutcome.4PastattemptstoforgeandimplementaLosAngelesFood

PolicyCouncilhavehadlimitedsuccessinmeetingthesestakeholderchallenges,

andcurrently,asthecityworkstoidentifyeffectivewaystomoveforwardthrough

itsFoodPolicyTaskForce,thisbodyandallthestakeholdersmustcommunicate

andworktogethertobringeveryonetothetableandeffectivelyleadtheprocessto

creategoodandusefulpolicyandprograms.

Typically,thedifferentcomponentsofthefoodsysteminclude:production,

processing,distribution,access,use,recycling,andwaste.5Thesedifferentaspectsof

thesystemalwaysoverlap,butthosewhoworkinthemdonot.Tocreatea

sustainableandhealthyregionalfoodsystem,alloftheseplayersmustcommunicate

andcoordinate.Itisoftenespeciallydifficultinthefoodsystemtofacilitatethis

discussion,asthesystemissobroad,multi‐faceted,andspreadacrossahuge4Thispaperassumesthedefinitionof“stakeholder”tobeasfollows:onewhohasavestedinterestandactiveroleinthefoodsystem;logically,thisshouldthenincludeabsolutelyeveryone.However,becausethereisnoeasywaytodistinguishbetweenanactiveorpassiveconsumer,citizensnotpartofanorganizationorothergroupwithanactivepositioninthefoodsystemwillnotbeconsidered“stakeholders,”butratheras“consumers”or“communitymembers”forthepurposeofthepaper.5Dahlberg,Kenneth.“FoodPolicyCouncils:TheExperienceofFiveCitiesandOneCounty.”p.1

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geographicarea.LosAngelesisaparticularly(andunfortunately)goodexampleof

thisproblem.Throughoutitsdifferentstages,foodfallsunderthecontroland

jurisdictionofmanydifferentindividualsandagencies,someofwhichlikelyknow

verylittleabouttheoperationsandpoliciesoftheothers.

PotentialProblemsinOrganizingFoodSystems

Onabroaderlevel,advocatesandpolicymakerswhoworkonfood‐related

issuescanendupworkingatcross‐purposes.Forexample,hungeradvocatesoften

focusontheemergencyfoodsystemnetwork,theirmaingoalbeingtoensurethat

thoseunabletopurchasefoodontheirowncanobtainitviafoodstamps,food

pantries,soupkitchens,etc.Theseadvocatesandorganizersusuallyfocuson

buildinguptheinfrastructureofthisurgentneeds‐basedsystem,withlessofafocus

onwhomightbeprovidingthefoodtothedistributionpoints,thenutritional

qualityofthefood,ortheleveloffairnessandequitywithwhichtheemergency

foodworkersaretreated.Often,thebottomlinefortheseadvocatesisgettingthe

foodtothepantries,soupkitchens,etc.Sowhenadvocatesfortheequitable

treatmentofworkersinthefoodsystemwanttocloseafoodpantrybecauseofits

unfairtreatmentofworkers,thehungeradvocatesarelikelytoobject,seeingthisas

anattackonthehungry,evenifthebottom‐linegoalofthelaboradvocatesisalsoto

assistthedisadvantaged.However,whenpeopleintheseinextricablylinkedfields

donotcommunicateonaregularbasisandattempttounderstandoneanother’s

bottomline,problemssuchastheseinevitablyarise,andoftensetbackbothparties.

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Theproblemscausedbytheseslightdifferencesinoperationalparadigms

canoftenbemitigatedbythecoordinationofeffortsbybothsides,achievedthrough

discussionandfusionofgoals.Thisisoneofthemostimportantfunctionsofthe

FoodPolicyCouncil‐‐tobethecentralbodythatconnectsallthevariouspartsofthe

foodsystemtooneanother,togleaninformationaboutwhatitisthatthedifferent

peopleandgroupswanttoseechange,andtobegintomakethechangehappen.

CitiesacrossNorthAmericahavebeguntoreapthebenefitsofhavingthesebodies

inplace,indifferentlevelsofgovernment(someoutsideof),withvaryingamounts

ofpowerandinfluence.

Anotherfactorthatcansloworhalttheprogressionoffoodpolicyworkisa

too‐narrowfocus.ThiswasoneoftheissuesthatplaguedtheLosAngelesFood

SecurityandHungerPartnership(1996‐1999),whichwillbediscussedatgreater

lengthlaterinthepaper.Often,thisfocalpointishungerprevention,foodbanks,

andtherestoftheemergencyfoodsystem,6alocusthatdiminishestheopportunity

tocreatesuccessfulconnectionsorcoordinateeffortsoutsideofthisparticularwing

ofthefoodsystem.Onereasonforthisapproach’snarrowrealmofpossibilityis

that,whilecurrentlynecessary,itremainssomewhatofaband‐aidtothelarger

problemsplaguingthefoodsystemasawhole.Conversely,itcanbe(andis)argued

thatuntilbroadersocialreformoccursandamuchgreaterparadigmshiftofsocial

responsibilitytakesplaceatthefederalandlocalgovernmentlevels,theemergency

foodsystemframeworkwillcontinuetobeincrediblyimportant,andthusitshould

6MarkWinne.ClosingtheFoodGap.

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notbeneglectedinfavorofotherissues.Thisisquiteacomplextopic,andshouldbe

takenintoconsiderationinthecreationandworkofFPCseverywhere.

Finally,achicken‐and‐eggissueatplayinthefoodpolicyworldistheideaof

abroaderfoodmovement,andwhatroleitsexistence,orlackthereof,playsinthe

successorfailureofFPCs.Certainly,whenthereiswidepublicityandpublic

awarenessofaproblem,itiseasierforthoseworkingandadvocatingaroundthat

issuetomakeprogress.However,thatmovementmustbecreatedsomehow,andit

isusuallythroughjustthisworkandadvocacythatitisdone.Inthe1990s,theidea

ofafoodmovementwasstillmarginal,andtheobesityepidemicwasonly

beginning.Thus,thepublicwasnotaslikelytoseefoodasanissuearoundwhichto

organize,andasaresult,theywouldnotholdpoliticiansaccountabletolegislateand

workonrelatedissues.Becauseoftheworkdoneonthemarginsforthelastfew

decades,aswellasbecauseofthedramaticriseintheratesofobesityanddiabetes,

thereisaveritablefoodmovementtoday.TheFarmtoSchoolprogramispresentin

over1,000schooldistrictsin32states;7theFirstLadyoftheUnitedStateshas

embarkedonapersonalcampaigntobringhealthierfoodtoschoolsandhomes;

JamieOliver,achefwithasimilarmission,nowhashisownprogramona

nationwidenetworkatprimetime;8andtheDepartmentofHealthandHuman

Serviceshaspledged$373millionoftheAmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentAct

asthe"’cornerstonefunding’oftheRecoveryActCommunityPreventionand

7CommunityFoodSecurityCoalitionhttp://www.foodsecurity.org/farm_to_school.html#need8JamieOliver’s“FoodRevolution”‐http://abc.go.com/shows/jamie‐olivers‐food‐revolution

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WellnessInitiative.”9Whiletheideaofthefoodsystemisstillsomewhatfuzzy,ifnot

completelyincomprehensibletomanyAmericans,amajorityisnowwillingtoadmit

thattherearefood‐relatedproblems.

OneconcernwithFPCsisthemethodswithwhichtheycanmeasuresuccess

orfailure.Becausetheissuesaddressedbythesebodiesaresobroadandaffectso

many,itisverydifficulttoassesswhethertheyareachievingtheirobjectives(itis

oftenproblematiceventosetquantifiablegoals).Somemeasureaccountability

throughannualreportstogovernmentalbodies,somethroughprogramenrollment,

somethroughthenumberofattendeesatmeetingsorsubscriberstotheiremail

lists.10ThepeoplewithwhomIspokewhoholdpositionsonFPCstoldmethattheir

Councilshadnotyetdevelopedspecificmetricsforaccountabilityorsuccess,and

thatthiswassomethingtheyhopedtoworkoninthefuture.11Thisisanissuethat

seems,atleastfromtheextentofresearchperformedforthispaper,tobeonethat

mustberesolvedonacase‐by‐casebasis,andcannotbeplannedforinadvance,but

thesolutionstowhichwillcomeaboutorganicallyoverthecourseofregular

meetingsandfrequentdiscussionamongmembersandotherstakeholders.

9http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway‐confidential/Michelle‐373‐million‐in‐stimulus‐money‐for‐better‐vending‐machine‐food‐64192422.html,14October200910PersonalinterviewwithBeckyElias,January28,201011Ibid.

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Intentions

Theguidingquestionforthispaperhasbeenasfollows:HowcanLos

Angeles,assuchalargeandcomplexregion,effectivelyinvolveitsfoodsystem’s

stakeholderstocometogethertocreateausefulandmoresustainablefoodsystem?

Iwentaboutansweringthisquestionbytalkingtoprofessionalsinfoodpolicy‐

relatedfieldsinbothLosAngelesandConnecticut,andbyparticipatinginthe

LAFPTFprocessasaresearcherandassistant,ofsorts.Theclientforthispapercan

thusbeconsideredtobetheLAFPTF,asIworkeddirectlywithvariousmembers

anditsstafftoprepareforthestakeholderlisteningsessionsandattendednearlyall

itsmeetings,takingtheirofficialminutes.

Thispaperseekstoexaminetheconstruction,processes,andoutcomesofthe

FPCattemptsinLosAngelesinthe1990s,andofHartford,CT,twoverydifferent

examplesoffoodpolicycreationandstakeholderinvolvement.Iwilltryto

illuminateconcretefactsanddesignsofeachexamplethatrenderitunique,

successful,and/orproblematic.Next,Iwilldiscussthecurrentprocessunderwayin

LosAngelesoftheFoodPolicyTaskForce(LAFPTF),whichIhavewitnessedfirst

handoverthelastsixmonths.BasedontheexamplesofthetwoFPCsandthe

coursethusfaroftheyet‐impressionableundertakinginLosAngeles,alongwith

personalinterviewswiththeExecutiveDirectoroftheHartfordFoodSystem,the

staffpersonoftheNewHavenFoodPolicyCouncil,andtwoofthemembersofthe

LosAngelesFoodPolicyTaskForce(bothofwhomwerealsomembersoftheLA

FoodSecurityandHungerPartnershipinthe1990s),Iwillattempttoshowthe

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importanceofbringingeveryoneinvolvedtothetableasLosAngelestriesagainto

facilitatethecreationofabetterandhealthierfoodsystem.Becausefoodpolicy

creationvariesfromplacetoplace,itisdifficulttogeneralizeaboutwhatworksand

whatdoesnot,butIwillattempttohighlightthoselessonsthatcanprobablybe

extrapolatedfromHartfordtoLosAngeles,andhere,fromonedecadetoanother.

Finally,IwillofferrecommendationstothefledglingeffortinLosAngeles,asit

beginstotakeonanewformthissummer.Thesesuggestionswillbedistilledfrom

thefindingsoftheprimaryandsecondaryresearch,completedthroughpersonal

interviews,participationinmanyLAFPTFstakeholderlisteningsessionsandfull

meetings,andareviewofrelatedliteratureandinformation.Ideally,thesepiecesof

advicewillbeconstructivetotheLAFPTFasitmovesforward.

Methodology:InterviewsandParticipation

TogainabetterunderstandingofwhathadhappenedwiththeLosAngeles

FoodSecurityandHungerPartnership,IchosetospeakwithRobertGottlieb,

currentlyDirectorofOccidentalCollege’sUrbanandEnvironmentalPolicyInstitute.

ProfessorGottliebwasoneofthoseoverseeingthe1992‐1993SeedsofChange

study,aswellasamemberofboththeVolunteerAdvisoryCouncilonHungerand

theLosAngelesFoodSecurityandHungerPartnershipinthe1990s.Heiscurrently

aco‐chairoftheLAFPTF.Hehastaughtavarietyoffood‐relatedcoursesatboththe

graduateandundergraduatelevels,andhasaforthcomingbookwithAnupama

Joshi,entitledFoodJustice:TransformingtheFoodSystem(2010).Professor

GottliebspokewithmeabouthisideasforthefutureoftheLAFPTFanditsnext

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embodiment,theshortcomingsofthe1990sprocess,aswellasotherrelatedtopics.

ProfessorGottliebhasawealthofinformation,bothpastandpresent,andatamore

personallevel,hasfunctionedasanadvisorformethroughoutthecompsprocess.

Similarly,IspokewithFrankTamborello,anothermemberofthelattertwo

oftheabovebodies.HavingworkedwithhimatHungerActionLA,Ihadsome

backgroundwithhimandhisorganization,andanideaofhisviewpointonthe

issuesbeingaddressedbytheLAFPTF.Frankisinthesomewhatuniquepositionof

representingmoreofacommunityandpersonalperspectiveontheLAFPTF,as

opposedtothemoreorganizationalorstructuredperspectivebymostofitsother

members.Hehadstatedfromthebeginningoftheprocess(specificallytohis

constituents)thatheagreedtoparticipateintheLAFPTFwithaninside‐outside

approach,andthathewouldbeinformingHALA’smembersthroughoutofthe

proceedingsoftheTaskForce,andattempttodotheoppositeaswell.Iaskedboth

FrankandProfessorGottliebsimilarquestionsaboutproceedingsinLosAngeles,

withonlyafewmodificationsbasedonindividualstation.

TogainmoreofanunderstandingoftheworkbeingdoneinConnecticut,I

spokewithMarthaPage,thenewlyinstatedExecutiveDirectoroftheHartfordFood

System.Ms.Pageansweredmoregeneralquestionsabouttheworkingsofboththe

FoodSystemandtheAdvisoryCommissiononFood,aswellasacouplemore

specificquestionsaboutwaysthetwobodiesmeasuresuccess,andhowtheyreach

outtoinvolvemoreoftheirstakeholders.Tofurtherinformmyrecommendations,I

alsospokewithBeckyElias,whoistheNewHavenFPC’sstaffperson.Iworked

brieflywithBeckyinthesummerof2009attheYaleLawSchoolthroughtheir

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CommunityEconomicDevelopmentClinic,andknewhertobeavaluablesourceof

information.

Theseinterviewsallfollowedasimilarcourseofrelativelyinformed

questions,followedbydetailedandthoughtfulanswersanddiscussion.Thefieldof

foodpolicyisbroad,confusing,andyetdeveloping,anditinvolvesagreatmany

issues,interests,andgroupsthatmustbethoroughlyunderstoodbythose

attemptingtocreateit.Itwasimportanttospeakwiththesetypesofpeople,whoall

successfullyexplainedtome,anewcomer,whattheydoeverydaytofurther

connectanddeepentheexistingworkbeingdoneinthefield.Throughtalkingto

peoplewhohavealreadyengagedintheprocessofbuildingtheseCouncilsand

Commissions,andareversedinmethodsfortheirupkeep,onecanlearnthelessons

ofwhathasworkedandwhathasnot,andfromthoseFPCscreatedelsewhere,

connectionscanbemadeaboutwhatcanbebroughttobearinLosAngeles.Also,

theage‐oldteachingthatthosewhoareignorantofhistoryaredoomedtorepeatit,

appliesinthiscase,too:whatwentwrongwiththeLosAngelesFoodSecurityand

HungerPartnershipisanimportantlessonforthecurrentTaskForcetoconsideras

well.

Thesemoreformalinterviewsprovidedanexcellentbackbonetothe

personalconnectionpieceofthistopic,andservedtoinformmyinvestigationinto

thehistoryofthetwoConnecticutandoneLosAngelesFPCs.Equallyasimportant

wasmyroleintheproceedingsoftheTaskForce;Itooktheminutesofitsmeetings,

helpedtofacilitatethelisteningsessions,andassistedAlexaandtherestofthe

researchteamwithgeneraladministrativetasks.Thisexperiencewasinvaluable,as

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itallowedmetotakesomeresponsibilityfortheactualworkingsoftheprocessand

toseethegapsinrepresentation,promptingopportunitiesforsolution.

ABriefIntroductiontoHartford,CT

TheFPCdevelopedinHartfordasoneofthefirstinahandfularoundthe

country.MarkWinneestablishedtheHartfordFoodSystemin1978,whichisa

“private,non‐profitorganizationworkingtocreateanequitableandsustainable

foodsystemthataddressestheunderlyingcausesofhungerandpoornutrition

facinglower‐incomeandelderlyConnecticutresidents.”23Thisorganizationworks

tostafftheCityofHartfordAdvisoryCommissiononFood(itsFPC),whichishoused

inCitygovernment.TheCommissionwasinstatedbytheCityCouncilin1991,“to

addressissuesofhungerandfoodsecurityinHartford,particularlyamongitslow‐

incomeresidents.”24TheCommissionprimarilyworkstolinkthoseorganizations

workingonfoodissueswithCityandFederallevelprogramsmeanttoserve

residentsofthearea.TheCommissionisabletorecommendnewandimproved

23BuyCTGrown,http://www.buyctgrown.com/hartfordfoodsystem24http://www.hartford.gov/government/FoodCommission/Commission.htm

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food‐relatedpoliciesandprogramstothecitygovernment,25thoughitdoesnot

havethepowertolegislateonitsown.

ThestakeholdersservingontheHartfordFoodCommissionarefroman

interestingselectionofbackgrounds‐hunger,emergencyfoodsystem,healthand

humanservices,nutritioninformation,healthcare,Hispanichealthservices,

communitygardening,citygovernment,andtheHartfordFoodSystem.Thispaper

willlaterexaminewhatgroupsmightbemissingfromthislist,andtheimpactsthat

mighthaveonthisparticularcommissionandtheareasitserves,aswellasthe

generalconsequencesofthelackofwell‐roundedrepresentationonFPCsandinthe

foodsystemofanyarea.Hartfordhaslongbeenconsideredasuccessfulexampleof

aFPC,andMarkWinneremainsoneoftheforemostexpertsonthecreationofFPCs

andfoodpolicyingeneral;thereismuchtobelearnedfromwhathastranspiredin

Hartford.

Background:LAInthe1990s

Followingthe1992RodneyKingriotsinLosAngeles,hungerandpoverty

advocates,alongwithsomeurbanplannersandcommunityorganizers,beganto

realizethattheprevalenceofhungerandlackofconvenientaccesstohealthyfood

inlow‐incomecommunitiesweremajorfactorscontributingtotheformidableanger

andfeelingsofunjusttreatmentbytheirresidents.Inanefforttoinvestigatethe

levelofdisparityinaffectedneighborhoodsinLosAngeles,RobertGottlieb,

formerlyofUCLA’sUrbanPlanningDepartment,oversawthe1992‐1993Seedsof

25Ibid.

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Changestudydonebysixgraduatestudents,whichexaminedLosAngeles’South

Centraldistrict,oneofthecity’spoorestandmostcrime‐riddenareas.26Thestudy

foundanabsenceofgrocerystoresintheinnercity,inadequatepublic

transportationthatwouldallowresidentswithoutcarstoshopelsewhere,a

significantpercentageofhungryresidentsinthearea,andalackofofficialfood

policyinboththeCityandCountyofLosAngeles.27Basedontheirfindings,the

authorsofthestudymaderecommendationsforhowthecityshouldmoveforward

tobegintocorrecttheexistingimbalances.

AsaresultofSeedsofChange,between1993‐1994,theCityofLosAngeles

formedtheVolunteerAdvisoryCouncilonHunger(VACH),composedofhunger

advocatesandprofessionalsfromotherrelatedorganizations.Thecommitteewas

establishedto“developstrategiestowarderadicatinghunger…”,28andtobeginthe

processofmakingthepublicandthecity’sleadershipawareofthedisparities

withinthecity.TheVACH,truetoitsname,focusedtheirworkprimarilyonhunger,

thoughtheydidtakeintoaccounttheadjacentproblemsoffoodsecurityandfood

justice,andwhiletheyworkedmostlyinalocalcontext,theyalsothoughtina

broadersense:

SaltzmanstatedthattheCityofLosAngelesneedshelpfromtheregiontocombathungerandthataCitypolicywouldnotoperateinavacuum...Gottliebsuggestedthatanti‐hungeractivistsfocusonthemunicipalandregionallevelsbecauseprobablegridlockatthefederallevelwillbeproblematic.HungerisaregionalproblemandtheCityofLosAngelesisonlyonedimensionoftheRegionalpolicy.29

26LATimes,SoniaNazarioJune11199327http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/NEWSLTR/v6n3/sa‐9.htm28NewsletteroftheLosAngelesHomelessServicesAuthority.No.57/June24,199629VACHMinutesfrommeetingonDecember15,1994

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Thisdichotomybetweencityandregioncontinuestobedifficultthroughthe

presentday,asadvocatesandprofessionalstrytodeterminetheirmosteffective

pointofintervention.

TheVACHcontinuedtheirworkthrough1995andintothefirsthalfof1996,

garneringattentionfromMayorRiordanandtheLosAngelesTimes.Fromthe

beginning,oneofthebody’smaingoalswastoinstateaFPCfortheCityofLos

Angeles,asperthefindingsoftheSeedsofChangestudy.TheVACHperformedmuch

ofthenecessarylegworktomakewayforaFPC,byconnectingthoseworkingin

variousrelatedfieldstooneanother,andcreatingaspaceforitselfontheMayor’s

radar.OneofthemostimportantstepstakenbytheVACHwasitsPublicHearings,

meanttoencourageapublicdiscourseontheissueswithwhichitdealt,andto

gaugeinterestandunderstandingoftheseandotherissues.Thesehearingswere

“structuredasforumsfordiscussionofhunger‐relatedtopicalissues,”30andwere

opentothepublic,whichwasformedmainlybytheconstituentsofthevarious

groupswhohadrepresentationontheVACH.Eachofthesixhearingsfollowedits

owntheme,allelementsoffoodpolicy.AndyFisher,31whohadbeenoneofthe

UCLAstudentstoworkontheSeedsofChangestudy,workedasaconsultantonthe

developmentandexecutionofthehearings.

ThemajoroutcomeofthehearingswastheformationoftheLosAngeles

FoodSecurityandHungerPartnership,anextensionoftheVACH,assomeofits

memberscontinuedontobepartofthissecondbody.ThisFPCwasgrantedboth30VACHMinutesfrommeetingonJanuary31,199531Mr.FisherhassincegoneontobecomethedirectorofCommunityFoodSecurityCoalition.Knowledgegainedfromauthor’spersonalinterviewwithRobertGottlieb,February24,2010.

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moneyandastaffperson,twofacetsveryhardtocomebyintheworldoffood

policymaking.However,theLAFSHPlastedonlyfrom1996‐1999,forreasonsthat

willbediscussedlaterinthepaper.Followingthiscollapse,theLosAngelesfood

policylandscapewasquietforatime,ahiatusinterruptedin2001bytheTasteof

Justiceconference.UEPIco‐hostedthisgatheringalongwiththeLosAngeles

CoalitiontoEndHungerandHomelessness,theattendeesofwhichweremostly

advocatesandprofessionalswhoweretiredofwaiting.32Theconferencesetthe

foodsystemsdialoguebackintomotion.

ABitAbouttheCurrentSituationinLosAngeles

ThepopulationofthestateofConnecticutisestimatedat3,518,288.33New

Havenisacountyofapproximately846,00034,andHartfordCounty’spopulationis

slightlyhigherthan877,000.35Whilebothofthesecountieshavetheirworkcutout

forthem,LosAngelesCounty’spopulationisnearly10,000,000.36Thisismorethan

3timesthepopulationoftheentirestateofConnecticut,thuscreatingahugeand

arduoustaskoforganizationandcoordinationforthoseinchargeofthefoodsystem

inLosAngeles.LosAngelesCounty’stotallandareaisestimatedat4,084square

miles,37whileConnecticut’sis4,872squaremiles.38ThesedatashowthatLos

32ATasteofJustice:ConferenceDiscussionsandOpportunitiesforFutureAction‐AReportontheNovember3,2001ATasteofJusticeConference.33Asof2009(USCensus,PopulationFinder‐http://factfinder.census.gov_34Ibid,asofJuly2008.35Ibid.36Ibid.37http://www.usacitiesonline.com/calosangelescounty.htm38http://www.city‐data.com/states/Connecticut‐Location‐size‐and‐extent.html

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AngelesCountyis,area‐wise,thesizeofasmallstate,andpopulation‐wise,amuch

largerone.Asof2008,LosAngelesCounty’spovertyratewas15.1%,the20th

highestinCalifornia(outofatotalof55counties).39AccordingtotheFoodResearch

andActionCenter,asastate,Californiaranked22ndforprevalenceoffood

insecurity,40withthepercentageofhouseholdsinthestatethatarefoodinsecureat

10.2.41ThesedatacanbeextrapolatedtosomeextenttodescribeLosAngeles

County,asitfallsabovethehalfwaymarkinthestate’spovertylist.

Thereareamyriadoforganizationsatalllevelsandfrommanydisciplines

workingonvariousfood‐relatedissues,andmorespringupallthetime.Inthe

recentyears,coalitionshavebeenbuiltandenforced,andmanyofthesegroups

havecometogethermorethanbeforetoconsolidatetheirrelatedefforts.Overthe

pastdecade,sinceLosAngeles’firsttryatcreatingaFPC,thesegroupshave

continuedtheirwork.

Inthesummerof2009,LosAngelesMayorAntonioVillaraigosaandDeputy

MayorLarryFrankdecidedtocelebratethe30‐yearanniversaryoffarmers’

marketsinthecity,andconsultedwithPaulaDanielsoftheBoardofPublicWorks,

UEPI,andtheLAConservationCorpsabouthowbesttomarktheoccasion.

Capitalizingonthisopportunity,theseorganizationsagreedtoprovidetheir

expertise,inexchangefortheMayor’scommitmenttoaddressfoodissuesinLos

Angelesonalargerscale.MayorVillaraigosaagreed,andofficiallyannouncedthe

FoodPolicyTaskForceonSeptember3rd,2009.TheMayorworkedwiththesame

39FoodResearchandActionCenter,CaliforniaPovertyStatsfor2008.40Ibid.41Ibid.

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aforementionedgroupstodeterminethemembersforthetaskforce,andthegroup

haditsfirstmeetinginNovemberofthesameyear.Thistaskforcewasinstatedto

beayearlongprocess,tomeetaboutonceamonth,andtodevelop

recommendationsintheareasof:

Bestpracticesinthefieldoffoodpolicycouncildevelopment;Foodretailandmarketingissues;Foodaccessandtransportation;Urbanagricultureandcommunitygardens;Enhanceurbanandruralcommunityrelationshipsandunderstanding;Emergencyfoodnetworks;Sustainableagriculture,wateruseandpesticideuse;Schoolfeedingandnutritioneducationprograms;Foodwaste;Localandregionalfoodinitiatives.42

Thiswasadifficulttask,giventhebreadthofissuesandsubsequentnumberof

affectedgroups,buttheconsultedprofessionalsputtogetheragroupofcapable

stakeholdersfromvariousareastobegintheworksetoutforthembythemayor.

Fromitsinception,ithasbeenaverydifferentprocessthanthatofthefirsttryata

foodpolicycouncilinthe1990s.

Concurrently,theUrbanRuralRoundtableprocessbegan,managedbyRootsof

Change.43Theseroundtablemeetingsbroughtfarmersfromthecentralpartof

Californiatogetherwithhungeradvocatesandpurchasers(amongothers)fromLos

Angelesanditssurroundingcounties.ThepurposeoftheURRTswastophysically

connectthevariousgroupsofstakeholdersofthefoodsystem,allowingfor

conversationandbrainstormingabouthowbesttofacilitatethelinkageofonestep

42http://laist.com/2009/09/03/more_details_on_villaraigosas_food.php43“RootsofChange(ROC)isacollaborationofcommunity,nonprofit,philanthropic,government,andbusinessorganizations.ROCprovidesresourcestoadiverseallianceofleadersandtheirinstitutionsthatareunifiedbystrategyandcollaborateinpursuitofasustainablefoodsysteminCaliforniaby2030.”(http://www.rocfund.org/who‐we‐are/)

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tothenext,workingwithinthegoalsofsustainabilityand“GoodFood.”44Rootsof

ChangeuseditspreviousexperienceinthefacilitationofURRTsinSanFranciscoto

plantheprocessforLosAngeles,workingwiththeleadersoftheLAFPTFtotryto

makeitaseffectiveaspossible.45ThegroupforLosAngeles,whichmetfourtimes

fromJanuary‐March,2010,wasmadeupof“morethan50peoplefromasfaras

Monterey,SanLuisObispoandKernCountiestothenorth,SanDiegoCountytothe

south,andRiversideandSanBernardinoCountiestotheeast.”46TheURRT

presenteditsreportandrecommendationstoLADeputyMayorLarryFrank,along

withmanyoftheLAFPTFmembersandtheCaliforniaSecretaryofAgriculture,A.G.

KawamuraonMarch25th,2010.ThewholeURRTprocesswasmeanttosupplement

theworkoftheLAFPTF,andtoaddinmoreofthefarmer/ruralperspective,which

itaccomplished.Itwas,however,somewhatrepetitive;manyofthesamepeople

participatedinboththeURRTandtheLAFPTF,andwhiletheaddeddialoguewas

likelybeneficial,theprocessofcreatingareportandrecommendations,and

presentingittotheCityofLosAngelescouldpotentiallyservetoconfusesomeof

thosewhomayendupbeingthepeopletoimplementthesuggestions.Ontheother

hand,thetworeportscouldalsoserveoneanotherbyreinforcingtheideaofthe44“Theterm“goodfood”usedthroughoutthisreportreferstofoodthatis: Healthy Affordableandaccessibletopeopleofallsocioeconomiclevels Green–Produced,processed,distributedandrecycledlocallyin

environmentallysustainableways Fair–Allparticipantsinthefoodsupplychainreceivefaircompensationand

fairtreatmentAhealthy,equitableandsustainableregionalfoodsystemisasystemofgrowers,processors,distributors,retailers,andcooksthatproducesanddeliversgoodfoodtotheresidentsofthatregion.”(LAURRTRecommendationsDraft3/17/10)45Ibid.46Ibid.

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recommendations,andthetwopresentationsandreportswillstrengthenone

another,hammeringhomethenecessityofapplyingtherecommendations‐only

timewilltell.

Hartford,CT:ACaseStudy

Background

HartfordisacitythatisgeographicallyquiteunlikeLosAngeles:itisinthe

Northeast,averydifferentclimaticandagricultureenvironment.Manyofthecrops

growninConnecticutaredifferentfromthosegrowninCalifornia,andthefarms

theretendtobesmallerandremainfamily‐owned.47Accordingtoareportonthe

HartfordFoodSystem(HFS),“about85%ofConnecticut’sfoodsupplyisimported

fromotherstatesorcountries,”and“theaveragemealeateninConnecticuttravels

onethousandthreehundredmilesfromfarmtoplate.”48Alsoaccordingtothe

report,Connecticutlost73%ofitsfarmlandbetween1940and1973.49Finally,asof

1999,“theaverageageoffarmersinConnecticutis56.”50Alongwithplanning

policiesthatconsistentlypushfarmlandanditsinhabitantstowardelimination,all

oftheabovestatisticspointtothedestructionofavailablegrowinglandsandthe

rapiddisappearanceofproductionofandaccesstolocalfoodinthestateof

Connecticut.

47TheHartfordFoodSystem‐AGuidetoDevelopingCommunityFoodPrograms,ReplicationManual.1999.48Ibid.7‐849Ibid.50Ibid.

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TheunemploymentrateinHartfordCountyinJanuaryof2010was10.0%,51

and,accordingtotheHFSreport,“Since1968,thenumberofsupermarketsin

Hartfordhasdwindledfromthirteentotwo”(asof2008,thereisonlyone),52andas

of1999,“thirty‐ninepercentofhouseholdsinHartforddonotownavehicle‐as

comparedtofivepercentinthesurroundingtowns…Hartford’spublicbussystem

doesnotofferdirectroutesfromneighborhoodslackingsupermarketstothetwo

remainingstores.”53Thus,manyofthecity’sresidentsareoutofwork,anddepend

onapublictransitsystemthatisinadequate.Overthelastthreedecades,theHFS

hasaddressedtheseproblemsmanyways,throughpoliciesandprograms,advocacy

andnetworking;First,abitabouttheHFS’sstructureandresources.

TheHartfordFoodSystem,Inc.wasformedasaresultofastudydonebythe

PublicResourceCenterinWashingtonD.Cin1977aboutthegrowingdisparitiesin

Hartford’sfoodsystem.54TheHFSwasoriginallya“hubofneighborhood‐based

programs,farmers’markets,communitygardens,foodbuyingclubs,andsolar

greenhouses”,buthassincecometobe“anincubatorforcommunity‐basedfood

programs.HFSwillinitiateaprogramwithanumberofcollaborators,operatethe

programuntilitworkssmoothly,andthenselectalead…fromoneofthe

collaboratinggroupstocarryontheproject.”55Thisway,theHFScanworkwiththe

groupororganizationtofindresourcesandfundingforitsproject,fosteritthrough

thedifficultbeginningstageswiththehelpandtimeofitsstaff,andthenoncethe51UnitedStatesBureauofLaborStatistics.http://www.bls.gov/web/metro/laummtrk.htm52HartfordFoodSystemFactSheet,2008.53HartfordFoodSystemReplicationManual.54Ibid.355Ibid.3

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projectisabletorunonitsown,theHFScanreallocateitstimeandresourcesto

otherareas.

TheHFSstaffincludesitsExecutiveDirector,whomostlydealswith

fundraisingandmanagement,alongwithsixorsevenotherprofessionalstodo“key

programresearchanddevelopment.”56TheHFSgenerallyroundsoutitsworkforce

withinternsandvolunteers,whodoallmannersoftasks,includingfarmwork.57

TheHFS,whichisa501(c)(3)nonprofit,isfunded“45%byfoundationsand

corporatedonors,9%bygovernmentgrants,7%byindividualdonors,and2%by

religiouscongregations.Programgeneratedincome,principallyfromproducesales

andsharemembershipsatHolcombFarmCSA,accountsfor34%ofannual

revenue.”58

HistoryofApproachesandProjects

Duetotheinflationofthelate1970sandintothe1980s,theHFSbeganto

open“farmers’markets,communitygardens,foodbuyingclubs,community

greenhouses,andacommunitycannery”,allofwhichweremeanttolowerthecost

offoodforHartfordcityresidents.59Thefarmers’marketsandcommunitygardens

haveremainedsuccessfulandgrownovertheyears,whilethegreenhouses(intheir

initialincarnation)andfood‐buyingclubsdidnot,andtheHFSmovedontoa

differentapproachforfoodpurchasingimprovement:

56Ibid.557Ibid.558HartfordFoodSystemFactSheet.59See56.

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…Itbegantoadvocatemoreaggressivelytoboththesupermarketindustryaswellasthecityandstateeconomicdevelopmentdepartmentstoretainandimprovesupermarkets.Thismoreconventionalstrategyacknowledgedthepowerofmarketforcesthatcouldnotbeovercomebywell‐intentionedbutoftenunder‐financedalternativeefforts….Theresultshavebeenasfollows:thefirstchainsupermarketinHartfordintwentyyearsopenedin1994,andtwonewindependentsupermarketsopenedinHartfordinthenextthreeyears…Publictransportationtosupermarketshasimproved,andduetopriceinformationandoppositiontoasupermarketmerge,mostHartfordshoppersarepayingpricescomparabletothosepaidbymoreaffluentsuburbanshoppers.60

ThisexampleshowstheabilityandwillingnessoftheHFStoadapttoshiftsin

demandandcircumstance;theyletgoofanendeavorthathadnotshownitselftobe

profitable,andshiftedinsteadtotacticsthattheyhadfoundwouldbestaddressthe

givencircumstances.Thefarmers’marketsprovedtobesuchasuccessthatHFS

openedtheConnecticutFarmers’MarketNutritionProgram,“ajointlyfundedstate

andfederalprogramthatstartedwithtwentythousanddollarsin1986and

expandedtooverfivehundredthousanddollarstoday(1999).”61Thisprogramwas

laterexpandedtoincludeaPantryCouponelement:HFSpartnerswithFoodshare

(explainedlater)toallocatefundstotheprogram,andapportions$10‐20,000in

couponstothirtyfoodpantries,whichinturngivethecouponstoapproximately

1,000oftheirpatrons.62Thisprogramservesbothneedyfamilies,aswellaslocal

farmers.63HFSalsoopeneda“downtownpublicmarketthataddedabusiness

developmentcomponenttothefarmers’market…(it)gavetwentystart‐upfood

businessesachancetobecomeviablebysellingatahighlyvisiblelocationanda

60Ibid.1261Ibid.1362See5663Ibid.19

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verylowcost”‐Thismarketisnolongerinitsoriginallocation,butcontinuesto

operateinaslightlydifferentform.64

ThenextissueareatheHFSfocusedon(asaresultofitsincreasingpopularity

aroundthecountry)wasthatoforganicfoods.TheHFSbroughtaffordableorganic

producetoinnercityresidentsthroughtheconstructionoffarmstandsinlow‐

incomeareas,aswellasthroughbolsteringmembershipinCSAs.Also,“in1993…

Granby(athirty‐minutedrivefromHartford)gaveHFSachancetostarta

communitysupportedagriculturefarm,(HolcombFarm)onsixteenacresofathree

hundred‐acrefarmitowned.”65“HolcombFarmCSAdistributedmorethan33,000

poundsoffruitsandvegetablesin2006tolow‐incomeindividuals,withtherestof

theharvestsoldatmarketratetooffsetthecostoftheproject.”66HFSalsostarted

GrowHartfordin2004:

(They)convertedablighted,overgrownlotincentralHartfordintoanurbanmini‐farmthatgrowsfreshproduceforthesurroundingneighborhoodsthroughorganicmethods.Thesitealsoservesasanoutdoorclassroomtoeducatemembersofthecommunityaboutfoodandnutritionissues.GroupsofallagesvisitGrowHartfordtogainabetterunderstandingofwherehealthyfoodcomesfrom,whilevolunteersandacrewofsummeryouthharvestthousandsofpoundsoffruitsandvegetables.67

Thus,throughitsactivities,HFShasbroughtasignificantamountoffresh,organic,

localproducetoresidentswhowouldhaveotherwisehadnoaccesstoit.

Inarelatedeffort,theHFSbeganProjectFarmFreshStart,aHartfordschools‐

focusedprocurementrevisionplan(increasedtheschools’useoflocalproduceby

nearly1000poundsperyear),combinedwithacurriculumoffarmandfood64Ibid.1365Ibid.13‐1466HartfordFoodSystemFactSheet67Ibid.

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education.68Next,andinresponsetothefundingcutstofederalprogramslikeWIC,

HFS“ledeffortsbyasmanyasthirtychurchesandsocialserviceorganizationsto

establishFoodshare,thefirstfoodbankwarehouseinnorthcentralConnecticut.

TodayFoodshare…distributesmillionsofpoundsofdonatedfoodannuallyto175

foodpantries,soupkitchens,andsheltersinthegreaterHartfordarea.”69More

recently,HFSbegantheHealthyFoodRetailerInitiative,describedasfollows:

TheHartfordFoodSystemcoordinatesacoalitionofcornermarketsandinnercitygrocerystores…toincreasetheavailabilityofhealthyfood.SinceHartfordhasonlyonefull‐sizesupermarket,smallneighborhoodretailersareacrucialgrocerysourceformanyresidents.Thirty‐onestoreshavejoinedtheHealthyFoodRetailerInitiativethusfar,committingthemselvestostockhealthieritemsandreplace5%oftheirjunkfoodinventorieswithregulargroceries.70

Clearly,HFShasapproachedthetaskofimprovingHartford’sfoodsystemfrom

manydifferentangles,interveningnotonlyattheleveloftheemergencyfood

structure,butatprecedingpointsaswell.TheHFShasworkeddiligentlyfromits

inceptiontoresearchwhereneedslieandtodevelopplansofactiontoaddress

theseissuesspecificallyandprecisely.

Havingworkedandformedconnectionswithmanydifferentorganizations

throughtheyearsofitsexistence,theHFShasbeeninstrumentalinsettingupa

numberofgroups,suchastheHartfordFoodPolicyCommission,theConnecticut

FoodPolicyCouncil,andtheCommunityFoodSecurityCoalition(CFSC),whichisa

nationwideorganizationwith“adiversemembershipwithalmost300organizations

fromsocialandeconomicjustice,anti‐hunger,environmental,community

68See5669Ibid.1470HartfordFoodSystemFactSheet

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development,sustainableagriculture,communitygardeningandotherfields.”71

MarkWinne,thefirstExecutiveDirectoroftheHFS,hassincegoneontohelpbuild

FPCselsewhereinthecountry‐currentlyinNewMexico,andservesasFoodPolicy

CouncilProgramDirectorfortheCFSC.72TheCFSCdoesvaluableworkthroughout

thecountry,advocatingforpolicy,andconnectinglocalfoodsystemstooneanother,

fosteringcommunicationandspreadingknowledge.

TheHartfordAdvisoryCommissiononFoodPolicy

In1990,areportentitledCommunityChildhoodHungerIdentificationProject

(CCHIP)wasreleased,tellingofalarminglevelsofchildhoodhungerinHartford.

Thispromptedtheformationofahunger‐relatedtaskforce,whichinturncalledfor

theadoptionofamunicipalfoodpolicy,alongwithaFPC,whichtheCityCouncil

approvedin1991,andtheFPCbeganmeetingin1992.73TheFPCwasinitially

comprisedoffifteenmembers,allvolunteers,whohadbeenappointedbytheCity

Councilandthemayor.TheroleofHFSintheCommissionisdescribedasfollows:

TheHFShasplayedaconsiderableroleindeveloping,instituting,andoperatingtheCommission.HFSassistedwiththeCCHIPstudy’spolicyrecommendations,andMarkWinne…hasbeenanactiveCommissionerfortheduration,servingatermasCommissionchair.(He)spendsaconsiderableamountofhistimeguidingtheCommission.HFSalsohiresandsupervisestheCommission’sstaffintern…74

Thus,theHFSislargelyresponsibleforoverseeingtheHartfordCommission,which

allowsforasortofjointauthorityfromtheHartfordCityCouncilandtheHFS.This71CommunityFoodSecurityCoalition,www.foodsecurity.org/aboutcfsc.html72Ibid.73TheHartfordFoodSystem‐AGuidetoDevelopingCommunityFoodPrograms,ReplicationManual74Ibid.31‐32

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seemstokeeptheworkoftheCommissionfromgettingtooboggeddownineither

governmentalorHFSaffairs,andallowsittobenefitfromtheguidanceofboth‐a

sortofcheckandbalancesystem.

WhiletheHartfordFoodPolicyCommissioncannotactuallycreatepolicyitself,

itadvises“theCityCouncil,theMayor,andCityDepartmentsonissuesoffoodand

hunger.Itmayrecommendcitygovernmentactions,orevenadvocateforissuesin

stategovernment,butitdoesnothavestatutoryauthoritytodirectcityaction.Its

approvalisnotrequiredforcityresolutionsthataffectfoodissuesinHartford.”75

ThisbalanceseemstoworkforboththeCommissionandtheHFS.The

organizationsworkbothtogetherandaparttomanageandfacilitateprogramsand

projectsinthecityandsurroundingareas,manyofwhicharecontinuationsofthose

mentionedearlier.AnotherhastodowiththeSummerFoodServiceProgram,which

isafederallyfundedsummermealprovisionprogramforchildrenandteens:a1993

surveydonebytheCommissionshowedthattherewasnotenoughfreshand

healthyfoodbeingservedintheprogram.“TheCommissionworkedwiththeSFSP

administratorsintheHartfordParksandRecreationDepartmenttocontractwitha

localvendor,securingbothlocaljobsandfresher,higher‐qualitymeals.”76Oneother

notableprogramrunbytheCommissionistheCommunityFoodSecurityAwardsit

givesoutto“drawattentiontocreativesolutionstofoodchallengesinHartfordand

toobserveWorldFoodDay.”77TheCommissiongivesthesethreeawards,onetoa

chosenmemberofanon‐profitorganization,anindividual(orgroup)fromthe

75Ibid.3276Ibid.3377Ibid.33

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privatesector,andonefromgovernment.Therecipientsareawardedwitha“dinner

receptionandplaques,”donatedinpartbytheChildren’sMedicalCenter.78

Programslikethisonehelptogainpublicawarenessforfoodissues,especiallyasa

greaterandbroaderfoodmovementdevelopsaroundthecountry.

FinalThoughtsonHartford

Hartford’ssystemoffoodpolicyadvocacyandorganizationisoneofthe

country’smostsuccessful,andmostenduring.Ithasbeeninexistenceandevolving

forthelastthirty‐twoyears,changingitsfocuswhendifferentneedsarise.TheHFS

andtheCommissionevaluatetheirprogressinmanydifferentways,butdonothave

onespecificmetric,accordingtotheHFSExecutiveDirector,MarthaPage.They

evaluatetheirfarmers’marketsbasedontheirrespectiverevenues,“Farmers’

MarketNutritionProgramcouponsales,foodstampsales,andpricecomparisons

betweenfarmers’marketsandgrocerystores.HFS’spantrycouponshavehada

60%redemptionrateoverthedurationoftheprogram.In1997,theredemption

ratepeakedat70%.”79Theseareusefulmeasures,aseachaddressesaspecific

programmanagedbytheHFSandtheCommission,andbyunderstandinghow

manypeopleareutilizingeachone,theycanshifttheirfundsandprogramming

accordingly.Thusfar,FPCshavefounditrelativelyimpossibletodevelopasingle,

overarchingmetrictoevaluateprogress,aseachcomponentoftheirworkisquite

different.ItispossiblethatafterFPCshavebecomemoreprevalentandhavebeen

inexistenceforalongeramountoftime,professionalswilldeterminehowbestto78Ibid.3379Ibid.47

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evaluatetheminamorethoroughway.Itisalsopossiblethatthiswillnever

happen,butthatthedifferentspecificindicatorslookedatbyeachcouncilwillbe

narroweddownfurther,anddistilledintoasetofcriteriausedbymorecouncils

aroundthecountry.Thiswholeprocessisdynamic,andvariessignificantlyfrom

counciltocouncil,areatoarea.

LosAngeles:ACaseStudyinDevelopment

LittleispubliclyknownaboutLosAngeles’sfirstattemptataFPC.TheVACH

conveneditshearingsanddecidedtoaimtheirworkinthedirectionoffurthering

foodsecurityanderadicatehunger.TheyformedtheLosAngelesFoodSecurityand

HungerPartnershipasa501(c)3nonprofitcorporation,housedoutsideof

government,inadditiontotheformationofcityadvisorybodylocatedintheOffice

oftheMayor.”80OnDecember6,1995,theLosAngeles“CityCounciladopteda

VACHrecommendationthatitshallbethepolicyoftheCityofLosAngelestohelp

combatandeliminatehungerandestablishfoodsecurity(CouncilFileNo.95‐

2240).”81TheadoptionofthisasaCitypolicyalsoincludedtheincorporationofthe

LAFSHP:“Itsmissionistopromotefoodsecurityandcombathungerthrough

empowermentandcommunityandeconomicdevelopmentstrategies,andtoassure

thatallresidentshaveaccesstoacontinuoussourceofsafe,affordable,culturally

acceptable,andnutritiousfood.”82Forreference,andthiswillbediscussedfurther

80TheLosAngelesFoodSecurityandHungerPartnershipandFoodSecurityandHungerPolicyProposal,writtenbytheVACH,October1995.81MemofromtheVACHandCommunityDevelopmentDepartmenttoMayorRichardRiordan,January1996.282Ibid.2

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later,seesidebarinAppendixDontheGoodFoodForAllAgendafromthecurrent

LosAngelesFoodPolicyTaskForce.TheLAFSHPwould“consistof18members,

with6eachbeingappointedbytheMayor,PresidentoftheCityCouncilandthe

GeneralManageroftheCommunityDevelopmentDepartment(CDD).”83

ThepurposeofcreatinganonprofitcorporationadjuncttothePartnership

wasto“providefundingtothePartnershipforstaffingandthecarryingoutofits

mission,”anditwouldmakethoseelectedtothePartnershipthecorporation’s

BoardofDirectors.FollowingaretheproposalsmadeonbehalfoftheLAFSHPfor

whatitwouldplantoaccomplish:

Prepareanannualreportonhunger;Developasetoffoodsecurityandhungerindicators,basedinpartonexistingmodels;ReviewandevaluateexistingCitypoliciesonfoodandhungerandrecommendnewpolicies,aswarranted;Collectandmonitordataonacontinuingbasisonthenutritional,affordability,accessibility,andqualityoffood;Collaboratewithcommunitygroupsonlocalfood‐relatedissuesandinitiatives;Developpilotprojectsbasedonempowermentandcommunityeconomicdevelopmentprinciplesintargetedareas.84

ItwasintendedthattheCDDwouldcontinuetoassisttheLAFSHPasitbeganits

work,andtheyrecommendedthattheMayorandCityCouncilallocate$280,000to

theLAFSHPoverfouryearsas“seedmoney”,insmallerandsmalleramountsover

thecourseoftheperiod.

TakingControl

AccordingtotheVACH’sproposalfortheLAFSHP,“Thechairwillbeelected

bythepartnersannually.”85Thischairpersonwouldbechosenfromwithinthe

partners,andwouldfunctionastheheadofthePartnership.AccordingtoFrank

83Ibid.284Ibid.385See92

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Tamborello,itwasassumedamongamajorityofthepartnersthatBobErlenbusch,

thentheheadoftheLosAngelesCoalitiontoEndHungerandHomelessness,would

beelectedchair.However,whenitcametimetohavetheactualelection,Steve

Saltzman(aformerpoliticianwhohadlostinhisbidtowintheCityCouncil’s5th

DistrictraceagainstZevYaroslavskyandhadendedupontheVACHand

subsequently,onthePartnership),announcedthatinadditiontothefewvoteshe

hadintheroom,hadjustenough“proxyvotes”tobeatErlenbusch.Hisso‐called

majorityruled,sendingthegroupinto“thirdgradelevel‐arguments”86and

permanentlyderailingtheprocess.Whathadstartedoutasaproductiveand

relativelyorganicundertaking,fromtheSeedsofChangestudytotheVACH,“got

hijacked”87asaresultofthisbehind‐the‐scenesmovepulledbySaltzman.Prof.

GottliebbelievesthatwhileSaltzmanhadanotheragendaapartfromthatofthe

LAFSHP,therestofthePartnershipcouldhaveworkedto“alleviateandredirect”

thenegativeoutcomesofSaltzman’spowerplay,buttheireffortswere“toolittle

andtoofew.”88ThegroupnotinfavorofSaltzmanhadbeguntoconvenepriortothe

Partnership’sofficialmeetingtimetotrytosetuptheirownprioritiesandplan

actionstotakeoutsideofthosethattheLAFSHPwouldtakeasawhole,as

Saltzman’sprioritiesveeredfartherawayfromtheirs.Itisunclearquitewhythe

PartnershipkeptSaltzmaninpowerastheproposalstipulatesthatthechairwillbe

electedannually.Inanycase,heremained.

86PersonalInterviewwithFrankTamborello,March5,2010.87Ibid.88PersonalInterviewwithRobertGottlieb,February24,2010.

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AlsodetractingfromtheeffectivenessofthePartnershipwasthefactthat

RobertFarrell,previouslyamemberoftheVACHandaretiredLACityCouncil

Member(1974‐1991inthe8thDistrict),waschosentobetheonepaidstaffmember

fortheLAFSHP.Hehadapparentlydecidedthathepreferredtoberetired,anddid

notdomuchinthewayofkeepingmeetingsontrack,orresolvingtheleadership

disputes.Additionally,accordingtoFrankTamborello,thepartnersweremostly

“executivedirector‐levelpeople,andusuallyonlyhalfwerepresent.”89This

exacerbatedthefactthatthepartnersthathadremainedinterestedhadalreadylost

confidenceinthebodyanditsleadership.AccordingtoProf.Gottlieb,the

Partnershipsufferedfrom“alackofastrongandconnectedfoodmovement,”90

whichwouldhavegivenitadeeperpurposeandmorepublicbackingandinterest.It

mightalsohaveprovidedsomemeasureofaccountabilitythatcouldhavehelpedto

oustMr.Saltzmanfromhisposition.However,theideaofafoodmovementwasstill

negligibleatthatpoint,andaftercontinuinginthisveinuntil1999,theLAFSHP

finallyimploded,notevencollectingitslastyear’sworthoffundingfromtheCDD.

AccordingtoProf.Gottlieb,therewereno“clearlydefinedoutcomes”fromthe

Partnership,intermsofpolicy,programs,orprojects.Also,theLAFSHPhardlyspent

anyofthemoneyitwasallocated.AsProf.Gottliebputit,“thereneverwasan

effectivebudget(itwashousedintheCommunityDevelopmentDepartmentand

theyneverreallycreatedafunctioningstructureeither.”91Itissadtonotethatmost

ofthe$240,000receivedbytheLAFSHPwasneverputtouse.

89See87.90See100.91PersonalcommunicationwithProf.Gottlieb,April9,2010.

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PresumablytheLAFSHPdidnotdetractfromworkalreadybeingdone,butit

seemsunlikelythatinitsdividedstateitwasabletoprovidemuchassistance,

either.Clearly,thiswasanextremelyunfortunatewasteoftimeandresources;Prof.

GottliebdescribesboththeVACHandthePartnershipasa“detour”alongthewayof

buildingthefoodmovementinLosAngeles.

MovingForward,Slowly

Whathappenednextcanmostlybedescribedasashortperiodof

hibernation,followedbyaslowclimbbacktothesamerungoftheladder.In2001,

UEPI’sCenterforFoodandJusticeco‐sponsoredtheTasteofJusticeConference

withtheLACoalitiontoEndHungerandHomelessness.Thisconferencetookinto

accountwhathadgonewrongwiththeLAFSHPandorganizeditselfintofour

workinggroupstodiscusswhatneededtobedonenext.Thesefourwere:Food

Policy,CommunityGardens,Farmers’MarketsandSupermarkets,andSchool

Food.92TheConferencegotadvocates,communitymembers,andprofessionals

thinkingagainaboutwhathadtochange,andhowbesttodoit.Followingit,the

FarmtoSchoolprogramgainedmomentum,andothervariousprojectstookshape

aroundLosAngelesandacrosstheUnitedStates.Theworkbeingdonecoincided

withworseninghealthstatistics,andtogether,theycreatedtheperfectstormfor

worktobeginagaininearnest.

92ATasteofJustice:ConferenceDiscussionsandOpportunitiesforFutureAction‐AReportontheNovember3,2001ATasteofJusticeConference.

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TheTaskForceisBorn

ThesuccessionofmeetingsbetweentheDeputyMayor,UEPI,PaulaDaniels,

theLAConservationCorps,andahandfulofexistingfood‐relatedgroupstoplanthe

30‐yearanniversaryeventforfarmers’marketsledtodiscussionofcreatingbetter

foodpolicyinthecity,anditwasdeterminedthatthegroupswouldhelpthe

Mayor’sofficewithplanningtheeventaslongastheMayoragreedtocommitto

betteringLosAngeles’foodsystem.TheparticipantsagreedontheTaskForce

format,andMayorVillaraigosaofficiallyannouncedthebody’sinceptionatthe30‐

yearanniversaryeventonSeptember3rd,2009.Fromthere,theDeputyMayormet

withPaulaDaniels,UEPI,andLAConservationCorpstodeterminetheTaskForce’s

membershipandcoordinator.Forthelatter,theychoseAlexaDelwiche(Seenext

paragraph).TodeterminethemembershipoftheTaskForce,theytriedtoidentify

peoplefrommanydifferentplacesinthefoodsystem,includinganti‐hunger,

communitygardening,racialjustice,grocerystoreaccountability,academia,food

issuesadvocacy,conservationgroups,citygovernment,publichealth,etc.93(These

particularindividualswerechosenalsobecauseoftheirrelationshipswiththose

doingthechoosing,showingtheimportanceofgoodnetworking).Thegoalof

unitingtheseprofessionalsfromdifferentspotsalongthefoodchain,someofwhom

hadnevermet,wastobeginagaintheconversationaboutcoordination,andtotryto

identifywhatfood‐relatedissuestheycouldallagreeneededtobeaddressed.The

needwasapparenttoallinvolved,astheysawgapsinthescopeoftheirpersonal

work,oralackofpotentialallies,oradearthoffundingfromgovernmentfor

93SeeAppendixBforacompletelistofLAFPTFmembers

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projects,oroneofmanyotherpotentialproblems.Alloftheparticipantsalsosaw

thepressingpublichealthconcerns,asmentionedearlierinthepaper.Inanycase,

theyagreedtoworkwiththegrouptotrytocreateamoresynchronizedfood

systemforLosAngeles.

ThedutiesoftheLAFPTFcoordinatorweredeterminedtobe:writethefinal

reportoftheTaskForce,contactandcoordinatestakeholdersaroundtheCounty,

andplanforandruntheFPTFmeetings,amongotherassortedtasks.Alexahad

earlierbeenapublicpolicystudentatUCLA,andthusenteredthisprocesswith

connectionsthroughtheUniversityandinrelatedfields,includinglabor.Therestof

theTaskForce’sresearchteamwascomprisedofmyselfandtwocurrentUrban

PlanningMasters’studentsfromUCLA,ClareFoxandCedarLandsman,whoeach

focusedonareasoffoodpolicydevelopmentrequiringexplorationfortheir

potentialapplicationtoLosAngeles‐bestpracticesfromotherFPCsaroundNorth

America,anddevelopingfortheLAFPTF’sofficialreportthestakeholderlandscape

aroundLA,respectively.TheresearchteambegantheirworkinOctoberof2009,

beginningtomakecontactwiththeLAFPTFmembersinanattempttostartto

involvetheirconstituentsandcontactsoutsideoftheTaskForce.Theideaofthis

processwaspresentedasfollowsintheLAFPTF’sOrganizationalDocument:“In

additiontoengagingTaskForceandworkinggroupmembers,theCoordinatorand

researchteamwillconductinterviewsofstakeholdersacrosstheLACityand

Countyfoodsysteminordertoperformarobustevaluation.”94Alexametwithas

94LAFoodPolicyOrganizationalDocument.16November2009.

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manystakeholdersfromtheareaaspossible,beginningtoassesspotentialareasof

overlapandpointsofinterventiononwhichtheTaskForcecouldfocus.

TheLAFPTFmetonceamonthasawholegroupfromNovemberthrough

May,andalsoformedworkinggroupsinadditiontothefullgroup,whichservedto

bringtogethermemberswithinterestandexperienceinthespecificareasofsupply,

demand,andstructure(ofafuturebody).AftertheTaskForce’sfirstfullmeeting,it

wasdecidedbythechair,co‐chairs,andcoordinator95thatafacilitatorshouldbe

hiredtohelprunthefullgroupmeetings.96TheTaskForceworkinggroupsmet

bothduringfull‐groupgatherings,aswellasatothertimes,andworkedtogetherto

drafttheirinitialrecommendationsineachofthosethreeareas.Alexathengathered

theirsuggestionsintoadocumentthatthewholeTaskForcewouldeventually

reviewanddiscuss.ThisreviewprocesstookplacefirstonMarch12th,2010,and

followedaveryvisualformat.TheTaskForcefacilitatorhadwrittenallofthe

proposedrecommendationsonbutcherpaperandhadpostedthemaroundthe

meetingroom.SheprovidedeachoftheTaskForcememberswithred,yellow,and

greenstickers(strongconcernandneedfordiscussion,slightconcern,andgo‐

ahead,respectively),andthentook20minutesofthemeetingforthemembersto

walkaroundtheroom,readtherecommendations,andplacestickersonthem

accordingtotheirfeelingsabouteachone.97

95RobertGottlieb,PaulaDaniels(CommissionerfortheCityofLA’sBoardofPublicWorks),BruceSaito(LAConservationCorps),andAlexaDelwiche,respectively96BasedontheinputfromUEPIandothermembersoftheTaskForce,theChairsandCoordinatorchoseBethSteckler,anassistantUrbanandEnvironmentalPolicyprofessoratOccidentalCollege.97Thecurrent,abbreviateddraftoftheTaskForce’srecommendationscanbefoundinAppendixC

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Thisprocessdemonstratedclearlythescopeoftheworkbeingundertaken

bytheTaskForce,andjusthowbroadalandscapefoodpolicy‐makingcovers.

WhilemanyoftherecommendationslistedweregeneratedfromTaskForce

membersandcorrelateddirectlywiththeirpersonalwork,manyhadalsocome

fromotherconsultedstakeholders,andwererelatedtoareasofthefoodsystemnot

immediatelyaddressedbyaspecificTaskForcemember’swork.Thus,thesticky‐

noteexercisepointedoutgapareasofthefoodsystemfortheLAFPTFthatwould

needparticularattentionasnoonesittingontheTaskForcecouldspeaktothem

specifically.Theseareas,generally,werelabor,retail,andwaste.Unfortunately,

theseareoftennot(orunder)representedonFPCs,astheycanbehardtopinpoint,

andaredifficulttoorganize.

ListeningSessions:ALookAtLabor

Laborinvolvesanumberofdifferentunions:groceryworkers,truckers,food

processingworkers,farmworkers,food‐packingworkers,andanumberofothers.

Theseunionsdonotalwaysworkwelltogether,butasagroup,theycanprovidea

greatsourceofstrengthforacampaignorendeavor(asevidencedspecificallyby

Obama’sachievedmajorityinPennsylvaniaduringthe2008presidentialelection).

ApotentialsourceofconflictamongtheunionscouldbethatifLosAngeleswereto

specificallyfocusonthecreationofaregionalfoodhubtofosterincreasedaccessto

localfoodforrestaurantsandgrocerystores,thiswouldlessen(greatly)theneed

fortruckerstotransportfoodimportedfromotherstatesorcountries.Similarly,a

focusonincreasedlocalfoodprocurementwouldlikelyeliminateprocessingand

packingjobsrelatedtoreadyingfarther‐awayfoodforlong‐distancetransport.Also,

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morespecifically,ifaregionalfoodhubweretobecreatedandconstructed,who

wouldbuildit?Anumberofotherunionswouldthusbeinvolved.Theseconcerns,

amongothers,werediscussedattheTaskForce’slisteningsessiononlaborissues,

whichbroughttogethergroceryworkers,farmworkeradvocates,professors,

employeesfromLAANE(focusedontheirwasteandgrocerystorecampaigns),etc.

(Therehadbeenaslotforalaborprofessional/workerontheLAFPTFbuttheTask

Forcewasnotabletofillit).98

ThiswasoneofanumberoflisteningsessionshostedbytheTaskForce,each

meanttogleaninformationfromadvocatesandprofessionalsfromspecificfields

needingmoreofafocus.AfulllistofthesesessionscanbefoundinAppendixA.The

listeningsessionsfocusedontheinclusionofpointsofviewprevious

unincorporatedbytheFPTF.AlexaandthemembersoftheTaskForcespreadthe

word(thelatterthroughtheirconstituents)andsuccessfullyreachedmanymore

stakeholders.Thesessionsdetectedsomepreviouslyunheardofconcerns,which

werebroughtbacktothefullFPTFforfurtherdiscussion.Addendum,asof4/24/10:

FromtheconcernsraisedattheCommunityListeningSession,theFPTFhasbegunto

examinethedeeperissueoftrustingovernmentasapotentialimpasseintheir

forwardprogress.Manycommunitymemberspresentvoicedtheirconcernaboutthe

creationofanothergovernmentbodyasameanstoachievechange.Thisconcern

sparkedfascinatingdiscussionatthemostrecentFPTFmeeting,andhascausedthe

FPTFtotakeastepbacktoevaluateitsgoalsandtimeline.Itremainstobeseenwhat

changes,ifany,willbemadetofutureideas,basedonthesediscussions.

98PersonalinterviewwithRobertGottlieb,February24,2010

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Findings

ThelessonsfrombothHartfordandLosAngelesaremany,andsomeeasier

todecipherthanothers.Theyareorganizedhereintothefollowinggeneral

categories:

FragmentationandUnity

Frombothcities,wehaveseenthatitisatleastusefultohavesometypeof

coordinatingbody,suchasaFPC,tobringtogetherorganizationsfromalldifferent

areasofthefoodsystem.Thisbodycanalsogenerallyhelptopurposetheirwork,

andcanworkwith,oronbehalfof,theseorganizationstofindgoodsourcesof

fundingandcanconsolidatesimilarworkbeingdonebydifferentgroups.Havinga

bodyliketheHFShelpstopreventreplicationandredundancy,andprovidesasense

ofauthenticitytoallfoodsystemsworkinthearea.

Resources

OneofthemainrolesoftheHFSistofundraisefortheprojectsthatitworks

toimplementandmanage.Thisisanextremelyimportantpieceofitswork,for

withoutthemoneybroughtinbytheHFS,manyoftheseprogramswouldnotexist,

orwouldservemanyfewerpeople.Also,theHFSisabletodoresearchnecessaryto

supportthepolicyrecommendationsmadebytheAdvisoryCommission.Thetwo

bodiesworkingtogetherareabletoaccomplishquitealot,andcomplementeach

otherwell.

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AmajordisappointmentaboutthefailureoftheLAFSHPwasthemoneyit

hadbeenallocated;theCDD(andotherCitydepartments)budgeted$100,000forits

firstyear,$80,000foritssecond,$60,000foritsthird,and$40,000foritsfourth,

whichthebodyneversaw;However,thePartnershippresumablyreceived

$240,000overthethreeyearsofitsexistence.Whilesomeofthatmoneywent

towardhiringaconsultanttobetterfacilitateandorganizeitsactivity,somewent

towardpayingthesalaryofitsstaffmember,whohadlittleinterestinthe

Partnership.Evenwiththesetwoexpenditures,theLAFSHPhardlyspentanyofthe

moneyitwasallocated.AccordingtoProf.Gottlieb,“theproblemwasn'tsomuch

fundingasopportunitysquandered.”99Thisfactisparticularlyironic,giventhatthe

developingsituationnowinLosAngeleshasgreatpotential,buttheCityandstate

aredeepindebt,andhavenexttonothingtogivetoanewgroup.

Thus,whateverbodyevolvesoutoftheLAFPTF,itwillhavetobescrappy.

Thisisperhapsallthemorereasonforthegrouptobemoreofanamalgamationof

thosealreadyinexistence,ratherthanasuperimposedFPC.TheCityshouldtakethe

positionthatitwantstoseeafocusonGoodFoodandwilldowhatitcantofurther

thisagenda(throughadoptingapassageintoitsMunicipalCodeandpayingthe

salaryofacoordinatorforthedevelopinggroup),butthatfornow,theresourcesit

candevotewillnotbemany,andtheywillgotowardstreamliningtheexisting

organizationsandworkdoneintheCityandCounty(thissuggestionwillbe

discussedfurtherintheRecommendationssection.

99PersonalcommunicationwithProf.Gottlieb.April9,2010.

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Linkages

TheHartfordFoodSystemandCommissionhavetheirhandsinmany

differentprojectsandprograms,andworkwithstate,city,andcountyagenciesto

coordinateaction.Byapproachingfoodsystemsworkfrommanydifferentsides,

theyaregenerallyabletoeffecttheirdesiredchanges.TheLAFSHPhadthe

potentialtodothis,astheywereatwo‐prongedorganization,butthankstothe

previouslydiscussedpersonnelissues,couldnotmakethingswork.Fromthe

breadthofissueareasrepresentedbymembersoftheTaskForce,aswellasthoseat

theFPTF’slisteningsessions,itisclearthatthereareenoughdifferentstakeholders

withslightlydifferentagendasthatplansofactionwillneedtobemultifaceted.This

ischaracteristicofasystemsissueandapproach,aseachpieceisinextricably

integrated,butalsoslightlydifferent.

SeatofControlandPolitics

Hartfordhasfounditbesttohaveajointapproach‐throughcitygovernment

withtheFoodAdvisoryCommission,andfromanonprofitanglewiththeHartford

FoodSystem.WhiletheAdvisoryCommissionclassifiesitselfasaFoodPolicy

Council,thetwogroupstogetherfocusmainlyonfosteringanddeveloping

programstoequalizeandbetterthefoodsystem,ratherthanpolicyapproaches.It

seemsthatthemainreasonbehindlocatingtheCommissioninCitygovernmentis

togainleverageandclout,andtoaddtothepartnership’spotentialsourcesof

funding.Also,ithelpstofurthertheagendaoftheHFSandtheCommissionifthere

isactualspecificlanguageintheCity’sMunicipalCodeaboutthefoodsystem.In

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addition,byclassifyingtheCommissionasaFPC,Hartfordsituatesitself

prominentlyintheever‐growingfoodmovement,somethingtoconsiderinLos

Angeles.

Inthe1990s,LosAngelestookanotcompletelydifferentapproachby

creatingthenonprofitorganizationinadditiontothePartnership;however,while

theCityinformallyadoptedtheLosAngelesFoodSecurityandHungerPolicy,itdid

notaddordetractanythingfromitsMunicipalCode,thusnotmakingthesame

strengthofcommitmentaswasdoneinHartford.Thoughunforeseen,thisallowed

theLAFSHPtodissolvewithlittleaccountability.Goingforward,itseemsbestto

beginwiththecreationofanonprofit,liketheHFSorsomethingsimilartoit,andto

capitalizeontheinterestofmembersoflocal(andbroader)government,butnotto

relytooheavilyonitforthetimebeing,especiallyasmanycommunitymemberssee

thisasarelativelyuselessapproach,andthereisverylittleinthewayoffundingto

begottenfromgovernmentatthispointanyway.

Outreach

Good,effectiveoutreachisextremelyimportanttothesuccessandvalueof

anytypeoforganizationalbody,especiallyconcerninganissuelikefood.WhenI

askedMarthaPage,theExecutiveDirectoroftheHFS,ifherorganizationhadcome

acrossanyoppositiontoitswork,shereplied,“I’mnotawareofanyoppositionper

se…itmightbeinterestingtoassesshowmanypeopleareactuallyawarethatthere

ISaCommission!”100Becausethefoodsystemissobroad,andbecausefoodismuch

100PersonalexchangewithMarthaPage,January27,2010

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moreeasilyunderstoodbythepubliconanindividualizedbasis(whatdoIeat,what

doIbuy,whatdoIcook,etc.),101itcanbeverydifficultforadvocatesand

organizationstogetpeopletotakepartinandrecognizebodieslikeFPCs.Itisrare

thatcommunitymemberssitonthesecouncils,astheyoftendonotseethevaluein

thesebodies.Assomeonestudyingthesubject,Icanseethatitisveryeasyfor

advocatesbeconsumedintheparadigmsoffoodsystemslanguage,andtoforget

thatmanypeoplenevereventhinkbeyondtheirownexperience;thisisnottosay

thatlaypeopleareselfish,itissimplydifficulttoseethefoodsystem‐muchofitis

hiddentomostpeople.Thisisfinallybeginningtochange,withfilmssuchasFood,

Inc.becomingmainstreamandsparkingdiscussionandunderstanding.

Inanycase,itisveryimportantforFPCsandsimilargroupstoreachout,

especiallytothosecommunitymemberswhodonotimmediatelyseeaneedfor

them.Educationisanecessarycomponentoffoodsystemswork,andwillneedtobe

afocusinLosAngelesinordertomoveforwardatall.Peoplehavebegunto

recognizethatsomethingisrotten,butmanydon’tquiteknowwhyorwhattodo

aboutit(thisiswhenthelackofeducationthatleadstoblameonindividualsfor

theirbadchoicescanreallygetinthewayofprogress).InhisbookClosingtheFood

Gap,MarkWinnewrites:

Ihaveobservedtheenormousdifferencethatcontactwithrealfood,thesoil,andavegetableplantcanmakeinthelivesofyoungpeople…Foodcompetencynotonlytakesrootintheschoolandthehomebutisnurturedinthecommunityaswell…Ibelievethat(communityandurbanagriculture)offeradmirablebuildingblocksforcommunitydevelopmentandvitaltraininggroundsforcompetentfoodcitizens…Foodcompetencypercolatesupfromthegrassrootstocity

101TheFrameworksInstitute.“NotWhileI’mEating.”3,8

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hall,thestatehouse,andCapitolHill.Peoplewhoaresmartabouttheirfoodchoicesarealsosmartandengagedfoodcitizens…102

Thus,whencommunitiesareeducated(whichwouldpreferablystartduringyouth),

theyareabletomakehealthierchoicesthemselves,aswellastoadvocatefor

healthierframeworksandsystemswithinwhichthesechoicesareeasiertomake.

Recommendations:TheLosAngelesGoodFoodAlliance

ThemainrecommendationIhavearrivedatthroughmyresearchisthat

whileLosAngelesdoesneedanorganizationalbodyofsomesort,thetraditional

FPCformatutilizedinmanyotherplacesaroundthecountrywilllikelynotbe

successfulhere.TheFPCcreatedshouldnotinclude“policy”initsname.Itshould

focusonbeingabodythatcoordinatesandaddsvaluetotheexistingworkinLos

Angeles,andexplorewiththemtofindfundingtofurthertheirefforts.Itshouldbea

bodywithafootingovernmentthroughitsconnectionsandpossiblymembership,

butpotentiallybehousedasacoalition,likelyanonprofitone.Itshouldcontinueto

reachouttoasmanystakeholdersaspossiblethroughoutthefoodsystemto

identifythosewhoneedhelpandtobefitwithorganizationscomplementaryto

theirown.TheLosAngelesGoodFoodAllianceshouldbegintomeetwithasmany

stakeholdersaspossible.AtitshelmshouldbesomeonelikeAlexa,whocanfunction

aschiefcoordinator.Thebodywillconvenemonthlytoassesswhatneedstobe

doneandwithwhomtospeaktodoit.Itwillalsoidentifyfundsforexistingand

developingprograms,andwillhelptooverseeprojectslikeincreasingtheutilization

rateoffoodstampsforthoseeligible,publicoutreachandeducationcampaigns

102MarkWinne.ClosingtheFoodGap.189.

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aboutitsworkandthebroaderfoodsystem,andfosteringdiscussionwithgrocery

storesaboutgettingbetterproduceontotheirshelves,ideallyfromlocalsources.

Also,theLAGFAshouldmakeitaprioritytobeginworkonthecreationofaregional

DepartmentofFoodthroughthestatelegislature,likelythroughthecreationofa

specialdistrict.Thiswillbealongprocess,whichshouldbestartedassoonas

possible,butwilltakequiteawhiletobringtofruition.Itwilltakeagreat

investmentbytheLAGFAinworkingwithorganizationslikePolicyLinkandothers

thatdoadvocacyworkaroundtheFarmBillandotherstateandfederallevel

policies‐theywillneedtoelevatetheworkbeingdoneinLAtomakeanexampleof

it,andtopointoutlessonstostateandfederallawandpolicymakerstobeableto

getresourcestocontinueandfurthertheexistingwork.Itisextremelynecessaryto

bringaboutamoreregionalfocusmovingforward,forallofthepreviously

mentionedreasons;Also,becauseitwillrequiresuchbroadbuy‐intocreate

somethinglikeatrulysuccessfulfoodhub.

Thisseemslikethemostreasonableandintuitivesteptotaketomakethe

foodsysteminLosAngelesbetter,andperhapssomethingmorelikethisshould

havebeendoneinthe1990s,asaccordingtoAndyFisherinJuneof1996“(Los

Angeles’problem)isnotthatthere’snotenoughresources.It’sjustthatthere’sa

lackofcoordinationandplanning.”103Anotherreasonforthisaction,asopposedto

thecreationofatraditionalFPC,isthatabodywith“policy”initsname,andone

thatpromulgatestheideathatitcanhavecontroloverpolicymakingwilllikelynot

gainfavorfromcommunitieswhohaveseenthisprocessbeginandendmanytimes103JodiWilgoren,“CouncilOKsFundsforNewFoodAgency.”LosAngelesTimes:June19,1996.

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already.Aspreviouslystated,manycommunitymembersexpressedthisconcernat

theApril7th,2010FPTFcommunitylisteningsessionheldatCommunityHealth

Councils(seeAppendixAforacompletelistofparticipantsfromeachlistening

session).Specifically,oneparticipantstatedthatthelanguageoftheTaskForce’s

recommendationswastoopolicy‐focused,anddidnottakeintoaccountthe

organizationsthathavebeenworkingontheseissuesallalong.Thisparticipant

suggestedthatresourcesthatcouldbeallocatedtoaFPCshouldinsteadbefunneled

intothosegroupsalreadyworking,ratherthandetractingfromtheirfocusby

expendingtheenergytocreateanothernewbody.104Onthissubject,Frank

Tamborelloremarked,“Weallneedhelpinwhatwe’redoing,”andthatmostofthe

groupsneedmoreresources(mostlymonetary).105Addendumasof4/24/10:Alsoat

theFPTF’smostrecentmeeting,somemembersreiteratedtheseconcerns,specifically

mentioningtheissueofalackoftrustingovernment.TheynotedthatiftheFPTF

wantstoseeitsworkcometoanysortoffruition,thegroupwoulddobestnotto

ignorethisbroadconcern.OneoftheTaskForce’smaingoalsincreatinganewbody

istoaddvaluetotheworkalreadyhappeningaroundthefoodsystem,thoughmany

alreadyworkinginthefieldstillseeitmerelyasafalsefreshstart.

Manyattendeesofthismeetingsharedthisdissatisfactionwithpolicyasa

solution,displayingthecommondividebetweencitygovernmentandcommunities,

especiallythoseclassifiedaslow‐income.FromwhatIcanseeandunderstand,the

bestwaytoattainbuy‐infromthesecommunitiesaswellasanyandall

organizationscurrentlyworkingonfoodsystemsissues,istocreatetheLosAngeles104MinutesfromLAFPTFListeningSessionatCHC,April7,2010.105PersonalinterviewwithFrankTamborello,3/5/10

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GoodFoodAlliance.Aspreviouslystated,thiswouldbeaveryinclusivebody,that

wouldworktocoordinate,bridgeresourcegaps,andfacilitatedeeperwork,but

wouldfocusongroupsalreadyinexistence,ratherthanonagovernment‐centric

approach.Itcouldtaketheformofanonprofit,similartoHFS,andwouldhavea

coordinatorpositiontorunit.TheAllianceshouldbemadeupofasmanyexisting

foodsystems‐relatedorganizationsaspossible(private,nonprofit,etc)alongwith

governmentrepresentativesfromtheCityCouncil,Mayor’soffice,andrelatedCity

andCountydepartments(publichealth,etc).TheseCityandCountyrepswould

functionmainlytoadvocatetotheMayor,CityCouncil,andCountyBoardof

SupervisorsforfurtherfundstopourintotheAlliance.PeoplesuchasPaulaDaniels

andGregKettles(fromMayorVillaraigosa’soffice)couldfilltheseroles.

AnotherimportantpiecewouldbethatLosAngelesaddthe“GoodFood”

languageanddefinitiontoitsmunicipalcode,soastopubliclydeclareitsintentions.

Thedefinitionof“GoodFood”adoptedbytheLAFPTFisuseful,asitdefines

intentionsandclearlylaysoutwhattheydesire.TocallthebodytheLosAngeles

GoodFoodAlliancewouldimplythatitsmembersagreewiththeagendaand

language,andwillworktogethertomakethevisionareality.

ThefactthattheLAGFAwouldbemadeupmainlyofthoseoutside

governmentwouldmakeitpubliclyaccountable,asitsmemberswouldallbe

communitymemberswithconstituenciesfromtheirownpersonalorganizationsto

answerto.SomethinglikethishasnotbeenrealizedyetinLosAngeles,andbased

onpastoccurrencesandthesuccessofHartford’spairingofinside(CityofHartford

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FoodAdvisoryCommission)withoutside(HartfordFoodSystem),itseemsalogical

nextstephere.

Finally,theLAGFAwouldalsofunctionasapubliceducator,developinga

curriculumforvariousdifferentpopulationsaroundtheCityandCountyto

communicatethecentralandsharedgoalsoftheLAGFA.Thiswouldlikelyincludea

proposedmini‐curriculumtoproposetoLAUSDforinclusioninclassrooms,a

programforparentstobedisseminatedandexplainedatfarmers’marketsand

HeadStartprograms,materialtodistributeatgrocerystores(officially,andwiththe

stores’cooperation),andanynumberofothertargetedgroups.Todevelopthis,

LAGFA’smemberswouldworktogether,combiningtheknowledgetheyhave

developedoverdecadesofworkinginthefoodsysteminLosAngeles.

SomepossiblefirststepsforthisAlliancetotake,onceitisorganizedarelisted

below:

PassCountywidesurplusfoodordinance

ThisordinancewascreatedbyHungerActionLAfortheCityofLosAngeles,

andwasadoptedinCitygovernment.AdoptingtheordinanceataCountylevel

wouldbeagoodwaytobegintoreachoutsideCitylimitstocoordinatefood

systemswork,theeventualgoalbeingtocreateamoreregionalnetworkofGood

Food.Theordinanceinitscurrentformstipulates,generally,thatallcity‐ownedand

operatedbuildingsmustworkwithgroupslikeAngelHarvesttodonatelarge‐scale

leftoversfrommeetingsandevents,thusnotlettingperfectlygoodfoodgotowaste.

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Createregionalfoodhub

ThisrecommendationisdiscussedatlengthintheofficialLAFPTFreport,

andwillnotbeexaminedfullyinthispaper.However,itisagoodidea,andshould

beadoptedbytheLAGFAasalonger‐termgoal.Thehubwouldlikelytaketheform

ofanetworkofproducers,distributors,suppliers,andpurchasersthroughoutthe

regionsurroundingLosAngelesCountywhoallsharethegoalofmakingthefood

systeminLosAngelesmorelocallybased.Havingsuchahubwouldmakeiteasier

forlarge‐scalepurveyorssuchasrestaurants,hospitals,schooldistricts,etc.to

purchasemorelocalfood,andwouldideallymakethefoodcheaperasmore

purchaserschoosetobuyfoodthroughit.

Begintoidentifywaysofcreatingaspecialdistricttofacilitatethecreationofa

regionalDepartmentofFood

NocityorstateintheUnitedStateshasanofficialDepartmentofFood.

Neitherdoesthecountry.AsFPCsandsimilargroupsbecomemoreprevalent,the

chancesofaDepartmentsuchasthisatthefederallevelbeingcreatedandaccepted

increase.However,ifLosAngelesreallydoeswanttobecome“theGoodFoodcapital

ofthenation,”106itseemsthatthecreationofsucharegionalDepartmentcouldbea

goodplacetostart.Thiswouldbeahugeundertaking,andwouldlikelynecessitate

thecreationofaSpecialDistrictbythestatelegislature(similartotheMetropolitan

WaterDistrict).107Thistypeofdistrictcouldencompassmanydifferentcounties,

cities,andwaterdistricts,thusallowingforamoreorganizedandstreamlined

regionalapproachandjurisdiction.TheLAGFAcouldbegintoworkonfinding106WorkingdraftofTheGoodFoodForAllAgenda,LAFPTF,April2010.107ConversationwithRobertGottlieb,April5,2010.

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connectionsinthestatelegislaturetobeginconversationsaboutthispotential

development,aswellasdecideonthestructure,agenda,budget,andpersonnelof

suchadepartment.

Identifysourcesoffundingforfurtherresearchandprograms‐federalespecially

OnekeytaskoftheLAGFAwillbetofindmoneyforitself.Suchabodywill

sufferthesameconsequencesashavesomeofthoseorganizationswhoseumbrella

itservesas,ifitcannotfindwaystofunditselfoutsideoftheCityandCounty’s

parchedbudgets.Lookingtofederalgrantmoney,suchasTheNationalFreshFood

FinancingInitiative(NFFFI)108andothers,spurredonbytheFirstLady’sefforts

couldcurrentlybeoneofitsbestbets.

AnotheragendaitemfortheLAGFAtofocusonwouldbetosavetheendangered

summerlunchprogramsfortheyouthandelderly,currentlybeingservedinpublic

parks.Theprogramsarefundedbyfederaldollars,butthemealsareservedbyCity

employeeswhoworkattheparks.Withitsbudgetshrinking,theCityhasplannedto

eliminatethejobsofthosewhoservethemeals,effectivelycuttingofftheprograms

thatstillhavefederalmoneybehindthem.TheLAGFAcouldworkwithexisting

groupstofindawayfortheCitytokeeptheseprogramsrunning,perhapsthrough

allocatingsomeofthatfederalmoneytowardhiringfederalemployeestoservethe

food.Eitherway,thisisanissuethataffectsmany,andwouldbeanothergoodplace

tostart.

108“SchwartzIntroducesResolutiontoAddressNeedforHealthyFoodOptions.”http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa13_schwartz/pr_dec15_freshfoodinitiative.html?utm_source=CFSC+Policy+Updates&utm_campaign=340d2a8fcc‐Policy_Update_12_17_0912_17_2009&utm_medium=emails

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Itisimportant,though,thatthroughmorelocalizedworkinthebeginning,

theLAGFAdoesnotlosesightoftheimportanceofcreatingaregionalbody,and

givingitmorepolicycapabilities.Thiswillbeessentialtothefurtheringofthe

synchronizedwork,andgivetheGoodFoodAllianceanoutletfortheirdesired

programsandpoliciestoimplement.Withoutanexplicitpolicyframeworkinplace,

thereislessaccountabilityforgovernmentofficialsincarryingouttheirpromisesof

betteringthefoodsystem.Thus,theLAGoodFoodAllianceshouldbeconsidereda

stepalongtheroadtodevelopingmoreofanintegratedapproachthatconsiders

policymakingoneofitstoppriorities.Intheircurrentfinancialstate,neitherLos

AngelesnorCaliforniaasawholecanaffordtocreatemuchinthewayofnew

DepartmentsorCommissions,andsoitmakesthemostsensenowtofocuson

coordinatingexistingeffortsandfacilitatingthesharingofresources.Oncethe

budgetcriseshavebeguntoresolvethemselves,amoreformalapproachshouldbe

taken.

Conclusions

ReturningtomyresearchquestionofhowLosAngelescanbestinvolveallof

itsstakeholdersinthecreationoffoodpolicy,Ihavefoundthatlikelythemost

effectiveapproachwillbetocreateanorganizationalandcoordinatingbodyto

bringtogetherandstreamlinetheworkoforganizationsaroundtheCityand

County.ThiswilltakeaformnotentirelyunlikethatoftraditionalFoodPolicy

Councils,butwillfocusmoreoncoordinatingandaddingweighttoworkalready

beingdonethanonpolicymaking.Especiallybecausebudgetsarecurrentlysotight

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inLosAngeles,itisunrealistictocreateapolicymakingbodythatwilllegislate,but

cannotimplement.Fromhere,organizationsaroundtheCityandCountycan

becomemembersoftheLosAngelesGoodFoodAlliance,andwillthenhaveaforum

inwhichtodiscusstheirchallenges,plans,andresources,thussynchronizingfood

system‐relatedworkinthearea.

BuildingahealthierfoodsysteminLosAngelesandthesurroundingregion

willnotbeaquickprocess.Advocatesandprofessionalshavebeencallingfor

changefordecades,butnowthereisanationwidefoodmovement,theexistenceof

whichwillhelpbuoythedisjointedeffortsaroundLosAngelesintosomething

greater,hopefullywithmorelastingpotentialthantheworkthathasgonebeforeit.

ItiscrucialthatinLosAngelesofallplaces,thepastisnotforgotten.What

wentwrongwiththeLAFSHPinthe1990scouldeasilyberepeatednow,butwith

bothhindsightandforesight,itisunlikely.LosAngelesisagainatanimpasse:togo

backwardwouldbetofurtherendangerthehealthofourcitizensandour

environment.Wemustmoveforward.

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AppendixA

LAFoodPolicyTaskForceMeetings(Dates) November20,2009 December11,2009(smallerVisiongroupmeeting) January21,2010 February12,2010 March12,2010 April23,2010 May11,2010May21,2010 June2010LAFPTFListeningSessions(Datesandthemes) 1.InstitutionalProcurement:March 2.LaborandEconomicDevelopmentIssues:April1,2010 3.Community:April7,2010 4.UrbanAgriculture:April10,2010 5.CityandCountyGovernment:April20,2010 6.GroceryandRetail:April29,2010 7.Restaurants:May25,20108.Funders:June11,2010ParticipantsfromeachsessionInstitutionalProcurement

1. StephanieStamps,ComptonUnifiedSchoolDistrict2. CindyCrawford,KaiserPermanente3. TonyKuo,LACountyDepartmentofPublicHealth4. MartinAnenberg,FreshPoint(Sysco)5. CarloBrandon,Sof’ellaGourmetNaturalFoods6. KatherineLederer,Chop’tSaladCompany(NYC)7. ReneeGuilbault,LePainQuotidienandWestCentralProduce8. AndreaAzuma,KaiserPermanente9. SharonCech,UEPI10. RobertGilbert,UCLASustainability

LaborandEconomicDevelopment 1.SheheryarKaoosji,ChangetoWin 2.GoetzWolff,UCLASchoolofUrbanPlanning

3.EdnaBonacich,UCRiverside(andworkingwithLaborCenteronBlackWorkersCenter)

4.JamiePadilla,UnitedFarmWorkers

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5.RomanPinal,UnitedFarmWorkers 6.GinaPalencar,LAANE 7.ElliottPetty,LAANE,LAFPTF 8.MarianaHuerta,RestaurantOpportunitiesCenter 9.JoannLo,FoodChainWorkersAlliance10.BettyHung,LegalAidFoundation11.BobbyTarn,UFCW77012.ChristinaBurrell,UFCW77013.ChrisZazueta,UFCW77014.JackieGitmead,UFCW770CommunityHealthCouncils/HALA

1. VictoriaBrowder,LAANE2. FrancescadelaRosa,WORKS3. PrideSilva,HEAC4. SteveDiaz,LACAN5. KarisEklund6. RuthEklund7. HeatherFenney,CSU8. JesusGarcia,Esperanza9. Ms.Hill,AHRGS‐ACCE10. AmreenKarmali11. JessicaKennedy,UCLA12. MaryLee,PolicyLink,LAFPTF13. LynevaMattley,AHRGS‐ACCE14. FaramarzNabain15. ElliottPetty,LAANE,LAFPTF16. VeronicaRamirez,WattsHealth17. AlexReza18. EthaRobinson19. TaneishaRoby,Mothernet20. TonyaGuerillaSalig,FoodNotBombs21. JolieSheppick,WORKS22. LydiaTreto,LACAN23. ArianaValle,LAANE24. LindaValveede,LACAN25. LisaVasquez,GoodLifeGabby26. EuniceVergara,WORKS27. JeanineWatkins,MudtownFarms28. KarenWong29. GarrettBroad,USCAnnenberg30. FrankTamborello,HALA,LAFPTF31. GwenFlynn,CHC,LAFPTF

UrbanAgriculture

1. JulietteBellocq,HandbuiltStudios

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2. AliBhai,GardenSchoolFoundation3. EdnaBonacich,UCRiverside4. GarrettBroad,USCAnnenberg5. BrigitteCaldero,UrbanSemillas6. GlenDake,LosAngelesCommunityGardenCouncil,LAFPTF7. PaulaDaniels,CityofLABoardofPublicWorks,LAFPTF8. JesseDubois,Farmscape9. ArturoGonzalex,EastLACommunityArtsandMuralsProgram,Vermont

Square,AvalonGardens10. MelissaGuerrero,MiaLehrerandAssociates11. MeredithHackleman,FarmlabGrower12. GuyHatzvi,MetabolicStudio,Farmlab13. AndrewHunt,GrowGood14. EranJamesCalPolyLandscapeArchitecture15. JessicaKennedy,UCLAUrbanPlanning16. TaraKolla,SilverlakeFarms17. CharlesLee,LavenderHillFarm18. JedLind19. JaimeLopez‐Wolters,MetabolicStudio,Farmlab20. MiguelLuna,UrbanSemillas21. FaramarzNabavi,TheRegenerativeCommunitiesProject22. EstherPark,K.A.C.‐LA23. MichaelPinto,ProjectFoodLA24. BradPregerson,GrowGood25. AlRenner,LosAngelesCommunityGardenCouncil26. ErickSanchez,TeamGreenBite27. KavitaSharma,LosAngelesCommunityGardenCouncil28. MarkTeschauer29. OdisWalker,GreaterWatts30. DavidWeinstein,Health&LeJeune31. TeagueWeybright,LAConservationCorps32. EricWhitemyer,CalPolyLandscapeArchitecture33. GoetzWolff,UCLAUrbanPlanning

CityandCountyGovernment Grocery/RetailRestaurantsFunders

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AppendixB

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AppendixC

RecommendationsoftheLAFoodPolicyTaskForcethusfar,asexpressedinworkingdraftoftheGoodFoodForAllAgenda,theofficialreportoftheLAFoodPolicyTaskForce.Foramorespecificlookattheserecommendations,seethefinalreport,dueforreleaseinJune,2010.

TheGoodFoodforAllAgenda:KeyThemesToachieveouressentialstrategicoutcomes,theGoodFoodforAllagendaurgestheCityandCountytotakeactioninfivekeyareastobuildonandaddvaluetofoodreformsunderwayintheLosAngelesregion.

1. EmpowerResidentstomakethegoodfoodchoicetheeasyfoodchoice.Addresshighlevelsofhungerandobesitybyempoweringresidentstomakethegoodfoodchoicetheeasyfoodchoicebyincreasingeconomicstabilityofresidents;increasingtheaffordabilityofgoodfood;improvingthenutritionalqualityofschoolmeals;andstrengtheningtheemergencyfoodsystem.

2. ReturntoOurAgriculturalRootsforLongTermFoodSecurity.MakeLosAngelesamodelforthenationingrowingasustainable,regionalfoodeconomybyprioritizingthedevelopmentofaRegionalFoodHub;incorporatingqualityfoodsystemjobsandsmallfoodbusinessopportunitiesintoeconomicdevelopmentplans;andsupportingresidentseffortstogrowandselltheirownfood.

3. MakeOurCitiesGoodFoodFriendlybyimprovingthefoodenvironmentin

underservedcommunitiesandcommunitiesofcolortoreducehealthdisparitiesandraceandclassinequities;determiningGoodFoodcriteriaandincorporatingpreferencesforGoodFoodinCity,County,andLAUSDprocurementrules;andencouragingfoodbusinessestosourcemoreGoodFood.

4. EducateandInspireOurCommunitiestoBecomeGoodFoodChampions

bystrengtheningnutrition,foodsystem,andfoodcultureliteracyandintegratingfoodsystemslanguageintolocalandregionalplanningdocuments,schoolcurriculum,andexistingCityandCountyprograms.

5. CreateaFoodPolicyCounciltostrengthencoordination,collaboration,and

innovation.

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AppendixDFromtheGoodFoodforAllAgenda(LAFPTFReport):OurVision,Purpose,Mission,andGuidingPrinciplesLosAngelesisaworldcity,withafeastoffoodriches.ItsitswithinaregionthathasanamazingpotentialforgrowingandconsumingfreshandhealthyfoodwithitsmildMediterraneanclimate,remarkablenaturalresources,variedgeography,anddiverseandenterprisingpopulationwithawonderfulrangeoffoodknowledgeandtaste.AllthatmakesitpossibleforLosAngelestobecomealeaderinGoodFood;foodthatisdefinedashealthy,affordable,fairly,sustainably,andregionallyproduced,andaccessibletoall.AndwehaveaflourishingfoodmovementinLosAngelesthathasinspirednewopportunitiesintheproduction,processing,anddistributionofthisGoodFoodandthathasenabledLosAngelestobecomeaplacewhereinnovationcanbeeagerlypursuedandreadilyaccepted.Thatisthevisionofwhatispossible.Butthesearetroubling,ifnotdesperatetimes.Foodbanksandpantriesareoverflowingwithmorepeoplearrivingattheirdoorstepsthaneverbefore.Povertyandunemploymentareendemicandprovidethebackdropforthisenormousgapinfoodsecurity.Atthesametime,ourcurrentsourcesoffoodlargelyconsistofcheap,highcalorie,lownutrient,andhighlyprocessedfoodshippedfromfarawayandgrownbyunsustainablemeans.Becauseofthatpersistentpovertyandgrowingunemployment,hungerhasremainedachronicproblemintheregionwhiletheconsumptionoftoomanycheapcaloriesandtoolittleexercisehascontributedtoadiabetesandobesityepidemic.GoodFoodthatisfreshandhealthyisnotavailableinmanylow‐incomeareasandneighborhoodsofcolor.Moreover,ourfoodretailenvironmentcontinuestobelargelysegregatedbyrace.Manysectionsofthecitylackfullservicegrocerystoresorsupermarkets.Despitebeingdenselypopulated,retailershavebeenreluctanttolocateintheseneighborhoodsmakingitevenmoredifficultforresidentstoobtaingoodfood.DevelopingathrivingregionalfoodsystemandmakingGoodFoodarealitywillrequirepoliticalwill,leadership,policychanges,andcommitment.Itwillneedfinancialresourcesfromboththepublicandprivatesectorandpartnershipsbetweengovernmentagenciesthatcanpromotepoliciestofacilitateamoresustainableandequitablefoodsystem.Itwillhavetoputinplacemechanismstoassistlow‐incomepersonswithpurchasingfood.Anditwillneedparticipationbymanyagenciesandindividuals,bothnon‐profitandforprofit,whichhavetheexpertiseandexperiencetocreateandimplementmanyofthenecessarychanges.Thosechangesrequireavisionofwhatcouldbe.

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AGoodFoodVision:• LosAngelesachievesprominenceinproduction,distribution,and

consumptionofGoodFood.• Regionalinfrastructureforproduction,processing,distributionand

marketingofGoodFoodissubstantiallyincreased,improved,anddeveloped.• Thenewregionalfoodsystemhascreatedandretainedgreenfoodsector

jobswithopportunitiesfortrainingandupwardmobilityavailabletoallresidentsofallraces,ethnicandsocioeconomicbackgrounds.

• IncreasedinvestmentintheregionalfoodshedandretaileconomyprovidesgreateraccesstoGoodFoodinallneighborhoods.

• Increasedinvestmentsintheeconomicstabilityofresidentsthroughjobs,healthcareandpublicassistancereduceshunger.

• Increasedinvestmentinnutritionprogramsstrengthensthehealthofresidents.

• Improvedfoodaccessandconsumptionisacatalysttoreduceclassandraceinequitiesinneighborhoods

• Healthdisparitiesarereducedduetoincreasedaccesstonutritiousfood.• Thehealthiestfoodchoicesaretheeasiestfoodchoices.• CityandCountypoliciesencourageandincentivizethedevelopmentof

healthyfoodretailinunderservedareas,includingcommunitiesofcolor.• Moresmallandmidsizedfamilyfarmshaveemergedinthefoodshedand

thrive.• Thehealthandwellbeingofallworkersalongthesupplychainisa

fundamentalcomponentofasustainablefoodsystemandworkersaretreatedwithrespect,justice,anddignity.

• Foodsystem‐relatedenvironmentalqualityisgreatlyimproved.• Communityresidentshavetheawarenessofhowfoodisproducedandthe

opportunitytolearninschool(andelsewhere)howtoproducetheirownfoodandmakehealthyfoodchoices.

• Cookingfoodisseenasanimportantvalueandresourcesareavailable,includingaccesstoaffordable,fresh,andculturallyappropriatefood,andstorageandcookingcapacitytotransformpreparingfoodintoadailycelebration.

PurposeoftheFoodPolicyTaskForceTheLosAngelesFoodPolicyTaskForcehasbeenchargedwithidentifyinghowaGoodFoodpolicyagendacouldbeaccomplishedandhowtogetthere.Manyofusarealreadyparticipatingandbuildingfoodprogramsandchampioningpolicyinitiativestowardsthatgoal.TheTaskForceseekstofurtherdevelopthepolicyfoundationandinstitutionalstructureforthesupportofanewandvibrant

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regionallybasedfoodsystemthatwillstrengthenthelinksbetweenwherefoodisgrownandwhereitisconsumedwithinthatsameregion.Bypursuingsuchfood‐relatedpoliciesandstrategies,thehealthandwellbeingoftheresidentsoftheLosAngelesregioncanbesignificantlyimproved,andtherewillbegreaterfoodsecurityandaccesstoGoodFoodforallresidents,andincreasedsustainabilitythroughouttheregionalfoodsystem.TheMissionTheLosAngelesFoodPolicyTaskForceisassessingthestateoffoodintheLosAngelesregionandidentifyingopportunitiesforlocalandregionalgovernmententitiesinconjunctionwithGoodFoodadvocatesandchampionstoimprovetheproduction,processing,distribution,marketing,andconsumptionofGoodFood.WeareconveningstakeholdersofthefoodsystemintheLosAngelesregiontoidentifynextstepstowardsthosegoals.Weareconductingresearch,developingaframeworkforhownewpoliciescanbeestablishedandimplemented,andequippingpublicandprivateinstitutionsandGoodFoodadvocateswithastrategicplantomoveforward.GuidingPrinciplesforLosAngelesFoodPolicyTaskForceandPostTaskForce

(Thesehavemostlybeenliftedfromothersources.Theyaremeant,atthispoint,tobestrawprinciplesfromwhichwecandevelopourown.Theyareinnoparticularordernoraretheyinclusiveofallthatwemayconsider.)

1. Toensurequalityoflife,aswellasenvironmentalandeconomichealthinLosAngeles,theregionalfoodsystemmustpromotepublichealth,environmentalsustainabilityandsocialresponsibility.

2. Itiseveryperson’srighttohavegood,nutritiousfoodthatisalsoaffordable

andculturallyappropriate.Eliminatinghungerandensuringaccesstohealthyandnutritiousfoodforallresidents,regardlessofeconomicmeans,isaconcernofallpublicentitiesintheregion.

3. Theregionshallpromoteeconomicopportunitiesinthefoodsectorthat

creategreenjobsandlocalfoodenterprises.4. Employeesinregionalfoodsystemsshouldworkundersafeconditions,be

paidalivingwage,andbeaffordedopportunitiesfortrainingandentrepreneurship.

5. Theregionshallsupportpoliciestopreservetheregion’sprimeagricultural

lands.6. TheCityandregionshallpromoteinnovativeprogramsthateducatefood

systemstakeholdersandthegeneralpubliconthevalueofhealthyfood,and

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anequitableandsustainablefoodsystem.7. TheCityandregionshalladvocateforstateandfederalpoliciesthatsupport

theprinciplesofthisinitiative.8. Decisionsanddeliberationsmustbemadeateverylevelbybodiesand

methodsthatfairlyrepresentthediversityofaffectedviewsandinterestsandarenotdominatedbyanysinglevieworinterest.

9. Thehealthandeconomicwellbeingofeverycommunityisdependenton

ampleandequitablegeneration,retentionandcirculationofcapital.10. Theregionalfoodsystemwillstrivetopromotepoliciesandimplement

practicesthathelptoensurethattheregionsresourcesarenotdegraded,actingfromsoundecologicalpracticestoprotectandpreservetheregionforfuturegenerations.

11. Foodisapartofourcultureswhosecustomsanddiversityenrichour

communities.12. Localfoodsystemsmustbeorganizedandmanagedtoensuresustainability

withspecificcriteriaforecologicalintegrity,socialequity,andeconomicviabilitytobedeterminedatthelocallevel.

13. Stakeholdersoftheregionalfoodsystemwillactwithopennessand

integrity,encourageinclusivenessanddiversity,andhonorequityandself‐determination.

14. Consumerswillbeprovidedwithcompleteinformationonwhereandhow

foodwithintheregionisproduced.15. Theknowledge,experienceandexpertiseofthecommunityareofequal

valueandsignificancetothatoftraditionalresearchandconventionaldataanalysis.

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AppendixEFoodSystemsGraphics:FromSanFranciscoFoodSystems:

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FromKennethDahlberg:

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AppendixFVACHMembers

1. IreneGomez,MayorRiordan’sOffice2. DavidKessler,MayorRiordan’sOffice3. BlancaCintronScot,MayorRiordan’sOffice4. BishopCharlesE.Blake,WestAngelesChurchofGodandChrist5. ElizabethRiley,InterfaithHungerCoalition6. StephenSaltzman,CampaignforLife7. HonorableRobertFarrell8. RobertGottlieb,UCLASchoolofPublicPolicy/SocialResearch9. BertaSaavedra,L.A.AllianceforaDrugFreeCommunity

VACHHearingTopics

1. TheYoungandtheElderly‐SchoolsandSeniors2. FoodAssistancePrograms,Poverty,andHunger3. RetailIssues4. EmergencyFoodNeedsandtheHomeless5. NutritionEducationandNutritionalNeeds‐NutritionalIssuesAmongLow

IncomePersons6. UrbanAgriculture

LAFoodSecurityandHungerPartnershipMembers

1. DorisBloch2. TomC.Chabolla3. RodDiamond4. Dr.WilliamEpps5. BobErlenbusch6. HonorableRobertFarrell‐Staff7. JohnFlores8. RobertGottlieb9. KennethHopwood10. MarionKalb11. DavidKim12. RachelMabie13. WilliamW.McClintock14. BertaSaavedra15. StephenSaltzman‐Chair16. KiranSaluja17. JuanitaTate18. HelenVerDuinPalit19. FrankTamborello

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AppendixGInterviewquestionsforConnecticutprofessionals:

1. WhatisyourroleintheCouncil?2. HowwasitdecidedthatNewHavenneededorshouldhaveafoodpolicy

council(F.P.C)?3. WhatisthedivisionoflaborintheCouncil?4. Howdoyou(theF.P.C)addresstheextremelywidevarietyofinterestsat

playinthearea?5. What,ifany,policieshaveyouwritten?Havetheybeenadopted?Atwhat

level?6. WhatistheamountofinteractionbetweenthisF.P.Candotherlevelsof

government?7. Doyouhaveanynon‐profitinvolvement?8. Doyouhaveanyopportunityforcitizenengagement?9. What,ifany,isthemetricyouusetomeasureyoureffectiveness?10.HowistheF.P.Cfunded?

11.Howlonghaveyoubeeninexistenceinyourcurrentformat?12.WhatisthepersonnelmakeupoftheF.P.C?Howdoyoufillpositions?13.WhoisinchargeoftheF.P.C?14.DoestheF.P.Chaveanyopposition?Ifso,who?Whatistheirargument?15.Whatisyourmethodforinvolvingstakeholders?Doyouhavelisteningsessions(orsomethingsimilar)?16.Whatisyourmethod(ifyouhaveone)forutilizingstakeholderinput?17.CanyouthinkofanyoneelsewithwhomIshouldspeak?InterviewquestionsforLosAngelesprofessionals:

1. Whatisyourcurrentposition?2. WhatroledoyouplayinfoodpolicyinLosAngeles?3. Whatorwhoseinterestsdoyourepresent?Whoareyourconstituents?4. Whatwouldyou/yourorganizationliketoseechangewithashiftinLos

Angelesfoodpolicy?5. Doyouthinkalocal‐government‐runfoodpolicycouncilisthebestwayto

bringaboutthesechanges?6. Inwhat,ifany,waywouldyouwanttobeinvolvedwithsuchabody?7. What,ifany,recommendationshaveyourorganizationalreadymadeinthis

realm?Havetheybeenheeded?8. Howdoyouthinkstakeholdersandcommunitymemberscanplaymoreof

animportantroleintheprocessoffoodpolicydevelopment?9. DidyouhaveanyroleintheLosAngelesFoodSecurityandHunger

Partnership(1996‐1999)?Ifso,whatdoyouthinkneedstobedifferentaboutthisone?

10.WhatwouldbesomeconcretewaysyouthinkthesuccessorfailureofapotentialF.P.C(orsimilarbody)inLosAngelescouldbemeasured?

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11.WhatdoyouthinkshouldbedonetoeffectivelyinvolvethepublicinthecreationoffoodpolicyinLosAngeles?12.Sameasabove,butthestakeholders‐thoseofwhomaren’tontheFPTF13.WhatwastheoutcomeoftheVACH’spublichearings?14.DoyouthinkitwouldbeusefultohavesimilarhearingsoncetheFPTFhasadraftofitsreport?15.Howwerethehearingsin1995publicized?Howdidtheywork‐whomoderatedthem,whoansweredquestions,howwerequestionschosentobeanswered?16.WhataresomewaysinwhichyouthinktheFPTF(oritsnextincarnation)shouldgoabouttryingtoengagethosemembersofthepublicwhodonotgraspeventheideaofthefoodsystem?17.WhatareyourbiggesttakeawaysfromyourinvolvementintheVACHand/ortheLAFSHP?

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AppendixHTheNortheastPartnership Createdin1997basedonapaperwrittenjointlybyMarkWinne(formerlyof

HFS)andHughJosephoftheTuftsSchoolofNutritionScienceandPolicy,the

NortheastPartnershipistheHFSinitiativetobecomemoreofaregionally

associatedbody:“AlthoughHFS’sprimaryfocusremainsonHartford,ithascometo

realizethatstate,regional,andnationaltiesarealsovaluableindevelopinglong‐

termsolutionstofoodinsecurity…”109Thisisaclearandnecessarylessonforlocal

councilstolearn,andhashopefullybeeninternalizedhereinLosAngeles.The

NortheastPartnershiphostedaconferencesoonafteritsinceptionthatdrew200

professionalsandadvocatesfromallovertheregion:“Conference

attendees…soughtvaluableinformationonprogramdevelopment,andinsome

casesdiscoveredpeopleworkingonsimilarissuesrightintheirowntown.What

theyalsorealized…wasthateachregionhadavarietyoffoodandagriculture

problemsthatnosinglegroupcouldsolve…”110Bothofthesearekeylessons,and

aredefinitelytrueinLosAngeles;newgroupsariseeachdaythatservesimilar

purposes,andwithacoordinatingbodysuchasanFPCinplace,couldbemademore

effectivethroughgettingthemintouchwithotherrelatedworkalreadyhappening

inthearea.Also,therearesomeissuesinLosAngeles,specificallythoserelatedto

wateruse,landuse,anythingagricultural,etc,thatcannotbesolvedbyonesingle

group,astheyinvolveanumberofoverlappingjurisdictions(City,County,region,

109TheHartfordFoodSystem‐AGuidetoDevelopingCommunityFoodPrograms,ReplicationManual110Ibid.36

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state,MetropolitanWaterDistrict,etc.).Unfortunately,andduetotheallocationof

resourcemoreimmediatelyneededelsewhere,theNortheastPartnershiphas

becomedefunct.However,theideasatitscoreremainvaluabletokeepinmind

movingforwardinLosAngeles.

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