Portland, OR Food Policy Council

Type: Policy
Status: Ongoing
Source File: http://www.portlandonline.com/osd/index.cfm?c=42290&
Description:
Portland Multnomah Food Policy Council
The Food Policy Council is a citizen-based advisory council to the City of Portland and Multnomah County. The Council brings citizens and professionals together from the region to address issues regarding food access, land use planning issues, local food purchasing plans and many other policy initiatives in the current regional food system.
Meeting Information
Food Policy Council meetings are open to the public. Please come and make your voice heard. Meetings are held from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month.
Vision
All City of Portland and Multnomah County residents have access to a wide variety of nutritious, affordable food, grown locally and sustainably.
 
Mission
Bring together a diverse array of stakeholders to integrate the aspects of the food system (production, distribution, access, consumption, processing and recycling) in order to enhance the environmental, economic, social and nutritional health of the City of Portland and Multnomah County.
 
Goals
# Educate and compile information about the local food system.
# Develop strategies to enhance the environmental, economic, social and nutritional health of the City of Portland and Multnomah County.
# Affect and develop food policy.
# Advocate and advise on policy implementation.
Governing Principles
The City of Portland and Multnomah County will promote, support and strengthen a healthy regional food system, based upon the following principles:
 
1) Every City and County resident has the right to an adequate supply of nutritious, affordable and culturally appropriate food (food security).
 
2) Food security contributes to the health and well being of residents while reducing the need for medical care and social services.
 
3) Food and agriculture are central to the economy of the City and County, and a strong commitment should be made to the protection, growth and development of these sectors.
 
4) A strong regional system of food production, distribution, access and reuse that protects our natural resources contributes significantly to the environmental well-being of this region
 
5) A healthy regional food system further supports the sustainability goals of the City and County, creating economic, social and environmental benefits for this and future generations.
 
6) Food brings people together in celebrations of community and diversity and is an important part of the City and County’s culture.
City and County commitment
In order to play its role in creating a healthy regional food system, the City and County will:
 
1) Support an economically viable and environmentally and socially sustainable local food system.
 
2) Enhance the viability of regional farms by ensuring the stability of the agricultural land base and infrastructure and strengthening economic and social linkages between urban consumers and rural producers.
 
3) Ensure ready access to quality grocery stores, food service operations and other food delivery systems.
 
4) Promote the availability of a variety of foods at a reasonable cost.
 
5) Promote and maintain legitimate confidence in the quality and safety of foods available.
 
6) Promote easy access to understandable and accurate information about food and nutrition.
Category:City Governments
Category:County Governments
Category:Food-Related Policies
Category:Oregon
Category:Policies
Category:Portland