With the staggering rise in early childhood obesity and headlines about genetically engineered crops, dependancy on foreign oil, food miles, climate change and global food shortages, the public is becoming increasingly concerned about the way our food is grown, processed, and transported.
A “perfect storm” is brewing that brings a multitude of food security, social justice and economic issues to the fore front of public interest.
This past November the Northeast Ohio Food Congress held a conference with food advocates and seek out ways to develop a regional food economy. A couple of the organizers, Chris Norman, Director from Crown Point Ecology Center and Beth Knorr from the Countryside Conservancy are co-chairing a working group of community advocates, businesses leaders, government planners and educators to explore starting a Food Policy Council in Summit County.
On January 28th, inspite of a winter storm, 20 dedicated food advocates drove through a blizzard to Mustard Seed Market and Cafe in Montrose for the first meeting of the Summit County Food Policy Coalition. The meeting was facilitated by
Round River Consulting. They led the group through the first stage of developing our guiding principles.
Food Policy Councils (FPCs) are made up of a broad based group of dedicated individuals from both the public and the governmental sectors, each of which bring different talents and knowledge to the table. In the United States there are many cities beginning Food Policy Councils, as the topics of healthy food access, school lunches, urban agriculture, and farmland preservation continue to pop up in news across the nation. A broad goal of many Food Policy Councils is to examine the function and operation of a regional or local food system, and to provide recommendation and guidance for improvement for policies that relate to food production and consumption.
Anyone that is excited to assist our communities develop avenues for producing healthy food locally, help our struggling neighbors gain access to good food, want to see schools provide meals that are fresh and healthy, like to support our regional economy by purchasing food from local farms, or those that just like to be active in their community should attend. Community gardeners, teachers, students, parents, administrators, public servants, non-profits, engaged citizens....anyone with an interest and passion are welcome. The group meets once a month throughout Summit County.
for information about the coalition please contact Christopher Norman, Director, Crown Point Ecology Center
P.O. Box 484
3220 Ira Rd
Bath, Ohio 44210
330.668.8992 ext. 104
www.crownpt.org
"Crown Point gives voice to sustainability, community, spirituality and justice."
