Food Policy Coalition—Working to Make Fresh, Affordable, Local Foods Available to All Northeast Ohioans
Food is sometimes considered the most common denominator in the human experience. We need to eat, and so over time, we have developed systems—economic, agricultural and cultural—to support that need. As human beings, we know food. But do we know the policies, practices, laws and ultimately, dollars, that influence all things related to food and determines what ends up on our dinner plates?
For the last year, a group of individuals and organizations has been meeting regularly in pursuit of answers to that question. They call themselves the Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition. Originally convened by Steps to a Healthier Cleveland, a program of the Cleveland Department of Public Health, the group includes members from many diverse backgrounds: government, education, health and medicine, agriculture, nonprofit and social services, economic development, small business, faith institutions and retail food. The very diversity of the group demonstrates how food transcends boundaries and can bring together even the most unlikely partners. Again, we all have to eat; and anyone who has a stake in what, how, when or where we eat has a vested interest in food policy.
Food policy is defined as “any decision made by a government agency, business, or organization which affects how food is produced, processed, distributed, purchased and protected,” according to Neil D. Hamilton in Putting a Face on Our Food. Food policies cover everything from where and what farmers can grow to regulations for food packaging. For example, there’s a food policy behind the “certified organic” label on that jar of pickles you bought last week. Similarly, another policy exists to tell your child’s school what it can and can’t serve for lunch.
The food policy coalition strives to examine how our local food system works and provides ideas and recommendations for improving it. Its mission is to “cultivate a stronger and more sustainable local food system” in order to bring the following benefits to residents of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the broader Northeast Ohio region:
- More access to healthy foods—Many inner-city neighborhoods have been called “food deserts” where it’s easier for residents to buy cigarettes or beer than fresh produce. Fast food restaurants dominate, grocery stores are absent, and both hunger and obesity curiously co-exist. Better access to healthy foods can significantly improve the health of residents living in inner-city neighborhoods.
- Community & economic development—Each year, more than $3 billion is spent on food in Cuyahoga County. Clearly, the food system is an economic force in Northeast Ohio, creating jobs, stimulating markets, attracting visitors and residents, and even building community and connections among those who live and work in a geographic area, as in the case of neighborhood gardens.
- Urban growth—The coalition means this literally—growing food in urban spaces. As people move out of the city, more vacant land is created. This vacant land can either become a blighted eyesore or, alternatively, can be used for community gardens, market gardens or native plant preserves.
- Environmental sustainability: Shipping food from other food systems outside of Northeast Ohio costs money, creates pollution and relies heavily on fossil-based
energy. A strong local food system provides food that doesn’t need to travel long distances and reduces our community’s “carbon footprint” on our planet. - Cleveland Plus: Regionalism is more than a buzz word when it comes to food policy. Our local food system transcends municipal boundaries and crosses both urban and rural lines. Any discussion of our regional economy must examine the food system—where and how do people eat when they live, work or visit Northeast Ohio? What does that mean for jobs, quality of life, health, etc.?
These issues are being addressed by a working group of the larger Food Policy Coalition, which is led by three co-chairs: Brad Masi from the New Agrarian Center, Matt Russell from the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) Center for Health Promotion Research and Morgan Taggart from Ohio State University Extension. Members meet monthly to discuss problems and opportunities, and each working group is developing an action plan for the coming year.
Matt Russell from CWRU offers a vision for the impact of the coalition: “The food policy coalition is working to create a shift in our region about how we think about our relationship with food and food systems. Historically, Northeast Ohio had strong ties to agriculture, from our rich rural farmland and network of greenhouses, to the urban Victory Gardens that helped feed Cleveland residents during tough economic times. The work of the Food Policy Coalition is to reestablish this connection to the land in order to promote a stronger regional economy, improve individual and community health, and to reduce our regional carbon footprint through innovative and sustainable policies and programs.”
The coalition’s work is timely, as Governor Ted Strickland has recently assembled a statewide food policy council to grapple with these issues on a larger scale. The food policy coalition is represented in this statewide group and is optimistic that the two groups’ agendas will align to create change for people in Northeast Ohio and beyond.
For more information or to get involved, contact Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition, Morgan Taggart at 216-429-8238; taggart.32@osu.edu.