PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY FOOD EQUITY COUNCILSydney Daigle

Program Coordinator

pgfoodcouncil@gmail.com

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WHAT IS THE PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY FOOD EQUITY COUNCIL?

THE PGC FEC is a local food policy council (FPC). FPCs collaborate to creatively improve local food systems and in turn spur economic development improve public health and ensure environmental sustainability.

Developed out of existing, and ongoing, regional initiatives

Supported by a CDC Community Transformation Grant administered by the Institute for Public Health Innovation

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IMPORTANCE OF FOOD POLICY COUNCILS

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Food system players operate in “silos” in a broken system

FPCs provide a democratic platform for all to join in and repair the cracks

Opens a seat for decision makers and community members at the decision making table

The mission of the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council is to significantly improve public health and community well-being of all who live, work, study, worship and play in the County.

It will develop and support policies, approaches, procedures, practices and initiatives to create systemic change to the local food system, promoting health, economic opportunity, food security, and well-being, especially among communities that have been negatively impacted by the current food system.

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WHY FOOD EQUITY?

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Food Equity means meaning able to find healthy, affordable, sustainable, culturally-appropriate, safe food in all neighborhoods.

It also means working toward justice and economic opportunity from seed to fork.

For the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council, the bottom line is people, not just food.

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LIMITED SUPERMARKET ACCESS IN THE COUNTY

More than .5 miles from supermarket

More than 1 mile from supermarket

4% of low-income Maryland residents live more than 1 mile to a supermarket

5%, or 35,699, of low-income Prince George residents live more than 1 mile to a supermarket

45% of County Census Tracts have low-income residents with more than .5 miles distance to a supermarket

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas

ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE OF FAST FOOD NEAR SCHOOLS

January 29, 2014

Graphic Source: Maryland Food System Map-John Hopkins

Students with fast-food restaurants within one half mile of their school consumed less fruits and vegetables, consumed more soda, and were more likely to be overweight or obese. This result is unique to fast food restaurants.

Proximity of Fast-Food Restaurants to Schools and Adolescent ObesityDavis and Carpenter, 2009http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2661452/

WHO WE ARE:

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University of Maryland Extension Bowie State University ECO City Farms Safeway Giant PGC Council Member Eric Olson University of Maryland, Dining Services Capital Area Food Bank Department of Social Services PGC Planning Department PGC Schools Food and Nutrition

Services Greenbelt Farmers Market Maryland Hunger Solutions PGC Health Department John Hopkins Priority Partners Share Our Strength Apple Grove Civic Association

Representation Breakdown

19%

14%

29%

19%

19%

Business

Urban & Rural Agriculture

Community-based Orga-nizations

Institutional Health & Ed-ucation

Government

PRELIMINARY WORKGROUPS:

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GOALS

Develop and advance comprehensive policies to address the social determinants of food equity and related health effects

Integrate food system planning into all County economic and community development

Ensure food equity for all who eat in the County

Expand the reach of nutrition programs for low-income people

Create countywide awareness of the role food plays in health

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What have FPCs accomplished?FPC LOCATION ACTIVITY

New Mexico Food & Agriculture Policy Council

Expanded farm to school funding; expanded funding for NMSU Extension support for tribal nations; stopped the sale of sugary soft drinks in schools and replaced them with fruit juices and water

Cleveland/Cuyahoga County FPC Secured zoning changes to protect community gardens, urban farms, and the raising of chickens and bees

Hartford, Connecticut FPC Worked with city WIC agency to improve service delivery; restored WIC caseload to 10,000 from 6,000 persons

Kansas City, Missouri FPC Prepared several policy briefs; modernized KC’s agriculture zoning code; co-hosted food summit; conducted a food issues survey with candidates for local office

New Orleans Food Policy Advisory Committee

Helped formulate the Fresh Food Retailer Initiative, which leverages public and private funds to provide low-interest and forgivable loans for food retailers who commit to sell fresh fruits and vegetables in underserved neighborhoods. Source: Doing Food Policy Councils Right, Mark Winne Associates, 2012

FOOD POLICY COUNCILS: LESSONS LEARNEDCHALLENGES

Dependence on one strong personality, organization or political figure

Lack of funding

“Single-issue” focus

Over-committing to specific programs

Source: Food Policy Councils: Lessons Learned, 2009Harper et al.

FOOD POLICY COUNCILS: LESSONS LEARNEDKEY RECOMMENDATIONS Engage members across different sectors of the food system and from

different socio-economic backgrounds and draw from a diverse, but organized base

Establish priorities and agree on some kind of a strategic plan from the outset

Establish clear structures for decision-making, communication and evaluation from the beginning

Examine structural trade offs between being within or independent of government, how the council is funded, and what issues the council chooses to prioritize

Make sure to include elements of self-education (for members) and public education

Diversify political and internal leadership support Evaluate and monitor the effects of the councils’ policies and/or

activities

Source: Food Policy Councils: Lessons Learned, 2009Harper et al.

Why an INDEPENDENT FPC?

STRENGTHS CHALLENGES

More community control

Less political accountability and legitimacy

Fewer bureaucratic restraints

Lack of buy-in with public officials

Diverse sources of funding

Staffing concerns

Source: Doing Food Policy Councils Right, Mark Winne Associates, 2012

FOOD EQUITY COUNCIL

Models and best practices adopted by the FEC: Decisions by consensus Council member buy-in

Meetings Leadership positions Committees

Community buy-in Engagement efforts Forum

Recognition by governing institutions Policy focus

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Thank you!

Sydney DaiglePrince George’s County Food Equity Council

Program Coordinator

(240) 253-1036pgfoodcouncil@gmail.com