DNPAO State Program Highlights Food Policy Councils

State-Based Programs Food Policy Councils The Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Food Policy Councils (FPCs), and related Program (NPAO) is a cooperative agreement food advisory councils or coalitions, support between the CDC‟s Division of Nutrition, and advise citizens and officials in human services, and education, as well as Physical Activity and Obesity (DNPAO) and developing policies and programs to improve representatives from the following functional 25 state health departments. The program regional, state, or local food systems. Many areas: nutrition and health, agriculture goal is to prevent and control obesity and FPCs aim to identify and propose solutions to production, food wholesale or food retail, other chronic diseases through healthful improve local or state food systems; anti-hunger and food assistance, and eating and physical activity. encourage local economic development; and economic development. The purposes of the increase consumer access to and the Council will be to identify and use existing DNPAO Target Areas availability of affordable, healthy foods such studies of the food system and examples of The state programs develop strategies to as fruits and vegetables. FPCs typically best practices; collaborate with other leverage resources and coordinate statewide include stakeholders from public, private, organizations with similar purposes and local efforts with multiple partners to address all and nonprofit sectors and represent a wide and regional food policy councils in the state, of the following DNPAO principal target array of interests, including nutrition, health, including farm-to-school; develop local food areas: agriculture, education, policy, community recommendations to promote building Increase physical activity design, and commerce. FPCs may be robust, resilient, and long-term food Increase the consumption of fruits commissioned by state, tribal, or local economies; develop recommendations and vegetables governments, developed at the grassroots regarding hunger and food access; and Decrease the consumption of sugar level, or some combination of the two develop recommendations for actions that sweetened beverages approaches. state and local governments, businesses, Increase breastfeeding initiation, agriculturists, and consumers can take to duration, and exclusivity State Activities Promoting build strong local food economies. Reduce the consumption of high energy Food Policy Councils Future plans for the state program include dense foods implementing policy priorities within the Decrease television viewing Developing Statewide Food Blueprint and, in collaboration with the Food Policy Councils Strategies Related to Fruit Systems Advisory Council, implementing the and Vegetable Consumption Colorado pending the adoption of SB106. DNPAO developed six guidance documents Colorado Contact to provide assistance and direction regarding Colorado Legislative Initiative to Eric Aakko each of the principal target areas. The Create a Food Systems Advisory Director Council Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Program guidance document developed to address (303) 692-2606 Through a partnership between the Colorado increased access and availability of fruits and [email protected] vegetables includes the following strategies: Department of Public Health and Promote food policy councils as a Environment, the Colorado Health Iowa means to improve the food Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, and environment at the state and local LiveWell Colorado, a nonprofit organization A Blueprint for Action: Building levels committed to reducing obesity, a Food Policy Food System Policy Networks to Improve access to retail venues that sell Blueprint was developed and published. The Advance Food Access and Health or increase availability of high-quality Blueprint identified the most pressing policy Among Iowans needs and opportunities to strengthen fruits and vegetables in currently Iowans Fit for Life is a joint statewide access to and consumption of healthy foods underserved communities initiative between the Iowa Department of in Colorado. Include or expand farm-to-where-you- Public Health and various partners that are programs in all possible venues One recommendation from the Blueprint was promotes increased opportunities for Ensure ready access to fruits and to formally establish a Colorado Food physical activity and healthy eating for all vegetables in worksite food service and Systems Advisory Council to oversee and Iowans. This partnership targets Iowa in food offered at meetings and events advise the achievement of policy priorities residents through seven channels: Support and promote community and detailed in the Blueprint. Since the January community, early childhood, educational home gardens 2010 publication, the legislative initiative settings, health care, older adults, worksite Establish policies to incorporate fruit and SB106, “A bill for an act concerning the wellness, and agriculture and food systems. vegetable activities in school curricula creation of a Food Systems Advisory Council” More specifically, the agriculture and food Include fruits and vegetables in has been successfully passed through both systems workgroup plans to address critical emergency food programs the Colorado House and Senate. food system issues to increase access to The bill recommends that the Council include healthy foods, improve public health, and members from the departments of public build a more sustainable and resilient food health and environment, agriculture,

Created May 2010 system. The Department of Public Health, bring together diverse stakeholders across Established Statewide Food the Iowa Center on Health Disparities at the the food system, from farmers to University of Northern Iowa, and additional consumers, to create a sustainable, Policy Councils workgroup members are focused on a major systemic, and inclusive food policy for the Michigan initiative to launch a state food policy state. The Alliance is also working closely council. The Council would be a diverse and with state legislators to promote House Bill Michigan Food Policy Council engaged statewide collective of food-related 4568, which would create a statewide food The Michigan Food Policy Council was associations and stakeholders. The policy council. created by an executive order in 2005 to proposed mission of the Council is to develop House Bill 4568 is currently on the House bring together a diverse group of and recommend research, programs, and calendar for consideration. If enacted, the stakeholders to recommend programs and policies that improve a food system legislation would establish a 15-member policies to the governor that improve the supportive of healthier Iowans, communities, statewide food policy council to advance four state‟s food environment. The Council economies, and environments. food system goals: (1) to increase consists of 25 members representing a broad During this development process, an Iowa production, sales, and consumption of spectrum of nongovernmental entities and food policy council stakeholder group has Massachusetts-grown foods; (2) to develop governmental agencies including the been established and several meetings have and promote programs that bring healthy Departments of Agriculture; Community been convened. The Council stakeholders foods to Massachusetts residents and Health; Energy , Labor, and Economic have participated in various strategic increase access in communities with Growth; Education; Human Services; planning exercises; drafted a mission, vision, disproportionate burdens of obesity and Environmental Quality; Corrections; and and a series of goal statements; discussed chronic disease; (3) to protect the land and Management and Budget. various governance structures; and will water resources needed for sustained local The Council focuses on various areas for begin conducting a comprehensive statewide food production; and (4) to train, retain, and investigation and recommendations such as assessment of food systems, food access, recruit farmers and provide for the continued expanding food-related businesses and jobs; and health indicators. It is anticipated that economic viability of local food production, creating urban and rural partnerships; the results from the food assessments will processing, and distribution. improving access to fresh and healthy foods; leverage long-term collaborations among The Bill requires the Council to meet at least promoting purchase of local foods; and partners and stakeholders, enhance four times a year and also to develop an enhancing agricultural viability. Since the leadership capacity, and promote the annual report with recommendations and establishment of a statewide Council, several development of the Council. progress made on the four goals. In accomplishments to date have been Future plans include the launch of the addition, the Council could potentially work reported: Council and collaboration with the University to solicit public input through public hearings In Detroit, the Michigan Neighborhood of Northern Iowa to build a food system or informational sessions; conduct research Food Movers Pilot Project has fostered framework, or a “Blueprint for Action.” This and analysis as needed; propose changes to entrepreneurism through mobile fresh food will include an assessment of food security, state or federal programs or regulations, or businesses. The Council identified three public health, and agriculture to create a suggest new programs, policies, or entrepreneurs who now serve designated blueprint for a healthy food system that can initiatives; recommend investments needed routes to deliver fresh produce and map support healthy Iowans, farms, and to reinvigorate the state‟s food system; and the process of starting a mobile produce communities. explore potential public and private truck business, including truck purchases partnerships to catalyze action on the goals. Iowa Contact and licensing. Through this project, The legislation is supported by the major Carol Voss, MED, RD, LD shoppers are also able to enter the Nutrition Coordinator agricultural, public health, anti-hunger, and vehicles to hand select fresh fruits and Iowa Department of Public Health community gardening organizations in the vegetables. (515) 242-5566 state and has been developed in close [email protected] consultation with the Departments of Public The Council partnered with the Michigan Health and of Agricultural Resources. Farmers‟ Market Association to increase Angie Tagtow, MS, RD, LD the number of farmers‟ markets that Environmental Nutrition Solutions (515) 367-5200 To date, the process of the Council accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance [email protected] development has fostered collaboration Program electronically and to strengthen across state partners and increased visibility consumer outreach. Massachusetts of food system issues across various sectors. The Council was one of three host Massachusetts Food Policy Alliance Massachusetts Contact organizations of the Michigan Food Summit and also served on its planning committee. and Food Policy Council Cynthia Taft Bayerl, RD, MS, LDN Nutrition Coordinator During the Summit, participants The Massachusetts Department of Public Massachusetts Department of Public Health reevaluated Michigan‟s food system and Health is involved with two statewide (612) 624-5439 work around the state, including that of initiatives that seek to improve the health of [email protected] the Council, and identified critical next Massachusetts residents through steps for improving Michigan‟s food improvements in the food system. This environment. includes participation in the Massachusetts Food Policy Alliance and commitment to the In 2008, legislation PA 231 passed, development of a statewide food policy providing a property tax incentive to council. grocery stores that establish or improve in underserved areas and offer fresh produce, The Massachusetts Food Policy Alliance is a meat, and dairy. Following its passage, committed group of more than 30 the Council collaborated with Healthy Kids, organizations, including the Department of Healthy Michigan to assist communities in Public Health, which supports the utilizing the legislation in grocery effectiveness of food policy councils at the developments and improvements. local and state level. The Alliance strives to Following recommendations from the nutritious foods. In addition to participation options for the structure and leadership for a Council, the Michigan legislature in annual Council meetings, the DOH is new state food policy council. In 2009, introduced a package of bills to support involved with periodic interactions and Senate Bill 1067 was enacted to establish farm-to-school initiatives that lowers the meetings associated with the latter the North Carolina Sustainable Local Food small purchase threshold, or dollar amount workgroup. Advisory Council to address program and at which a school or district must initiate a policy considerations regarding the In a December 2009 report to New York formal bid process, for school food development of a sustainable local food Governor Paterson, the Council detailed purchases. In 2008, the bills successfully economy in the state. The Council was several accomplishments that involved the passed both chambers of the Michigan launched by the efforts of the Farm to Fork DOH. This includes the DOH‟s legislature and were signed into law by the Initiative, which is coordinated by the Center administration of the Hunger Prevention and Governor. for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS). Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), The Division of Public Health has been Michigan Contact which requires food banks to spend portions actively involved with the Farm to Fork Diane Golzynski, PhD, RD of the HPNAP funds they receive to purchase Initiative by serving on the advisory Fruit and Vegetable Coordinator fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat fluid committee, leading or serving on Michigan Department of Community Health milk, and buy locally, where possible. The [email protected] workgroups, and moving food system related DOH has also worked with partners to http://www.michigan.gov/mfpc work forward within the state. develop the Health Bucks Program, which New York increases access to fresh fruits and The Council was created to study, develop, vegetables in New York City through the and promote policies that will create jobs, New York Food Policy Council distribution of $2 Health Bucks coupons to support communities, preserve the natural In 2007, the New York State Council on Food purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at environment, increase access to fresh and Policy was established. In June 2008, the participating farmers‟ markets. The CDC‟s nutritious foods, and provide greater food Council was granted continuation by the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and security for all North Carolinians. The State governor. The Council brings the public, Obesity is currently conducting a process Health Director serves as one of the 27 producers, and government together to and outcome evaluation of the Health Bucks appointed members of the Council, ensuring explore ways to improve existing food program. Lastly, New York State became the the Division of Health‟s work on developing production and delivery systems; expand first in the nation to allow the Women, sustainable food systems to prevent chronic capacity and ensure the availability of safe, Infants, and Children (WIC) fruit and disease and obesity is well-represented. fresh, nutritious, and affordable food for all vegetable checks to be used at farmers‟ New Yorkers; and expand the sale of locally markets because of a collaboration between Currently, the Council has begun to meet, grown products to enhance the agriculture existing Council members, including the establish its governing structure, and will and state economy. In addition, the Council DOH, Department of Agriculture and begin to prioritize policies and programs that works to develop and make Markets, Farmers‟ Market Federation, and support the mission of the Council. recommendations to the governor on state Cornell Cooperative Extension. proposals in food policy. North Carolina Contact New York Contact Diane Beth, MS, RD, LDN The Council is composed of 21 members Patricia Jordan Nutrition Manager and Fruit and Vegetable appointed by the governor from all aspects Fruit and Vegetable Coordinator Nutrition Coordinator New York State Department of Health of the food system. Members include state (917) 707-5221 [email protected] agency heads from the Department of [email protected] Agriculture and Markets (Chair of Council); Ann McMahon www.ncpanbranch.com www.fruitsandveggiesnc.com Department of Health (DOH); Office of Coordinator for New York State Council on Food Temporary and Disability Assistance; Policy (518) 485-7728 South Carolina Department of Economic Development; [email protected] Office for the Aging; State Education www.nyscfp.org South Carolina Food Policy Council

Department; and the Consumer Protection In 2006, a multi-stakeholder group Board. The Council also benefits from the North Carolina recognized the impact of health, expertise and insight contributed by the environmental, educational, and economic Dean of the New York State College of North Carolina Sustainable Local factors on the state‟s food systems and Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell Food Advisory Council: Stronger formed the South Carolina Food Policy University; an anti-hunger advocate; two and Better the Second Time Council, which is housed under the State food assistance organization representatives; From 2002—2004, North Carolina had a Department of Agriculture. The Council a nutritionist; a school food administrator; a state food policy council, which was provides a forum for stakeholders in food, farm organization; three representatives established through funding from Drake health, and agricultural sectors to collaborate from the food industry (producers, University and was coordinated by the North on the sustainability of agriculture and food distributors, processors, and retailers); and Carolina Department of Agriculture and systems in the state and propose solutions members with food policy experience. Consumer Services. With strong and initiatives to key decision makers. Members of the Council participate in one or involvement from public health nutrition Annually, the Council develops a report that more of four workgroups organized by key leaders, the Council boasted several is provided to the State Commissioner of food policy issue areas that include the successes, including the acquisition of a Agriculture. In the most recent report, following: (1) maximize participation in food state funding match for the WIC Farmers‟ strategies for improving accessibility and and nutrition assistance programs; (2) Market Nutrition Program. Despite these availability of fruits and vegetables and other strengthen the connection between local accomplishments, the Council was disbanded healthy foods as part of a Farm to Institution food products and consumers; (3) support after significant administrative, leadership, Initiative were recommended. efficient and profitable agricultural food and funding changes within the Department In addition to developing annual production and retail; (4) increase consumer of Agriculture and Consumer Services. recommendation reports to key decision makers, the Council recently hosted the awareness and knowledge about healthy After 2004, public health nutrition leaders state‟s first Sustainable Local Food Systems eating and improve access to safe and and various partners strategized the best Workshop. Participants from local farms, markets, and also consumers, addressed the Supporting Local Food Policy these trainings. The first training introduced local food policies in the state from farm to the steps of developing a food policy council; fork, including sustainable production, Councils the second training described community distribution, and consumption trends. The Utah food assessments and USDA‟s Community goal of the workshop was to explore Foods Projects; and the third provided an challenges and opportunities related to key Salt Lake City Food Policy Task advanced training of food policy councils and economic, environmental, health, safety, and Force community food assessments. National access factors critical to sustainable, local In April 2010, the Utah Department of experts, local policy makers, and food systems. Health‟s Physical Activity, Nutrition, and communities from across the state and country presented at the trainings, which As a result of the Council‟s work, numerous Obesity Program released a Nutrition and incorporated a combination of presentations, organizations and institutions throughout the Physical Activity Plan with goals and facilitated exercises, and time for structured state have established local Farm to strategies to decrease obesity, improve networking. Institution and Farmers‟ Market Programs. nutrition, and promote regular physical For example, a Farm to School program in activity among Utah residents. The Plan The three trainings had 95 attendees Anderson County has been successful in includes a strategy to assist communities in representing 16 geographically diverse supplying schools with the freshest local developing a food policy council or task force counties, with several participants attending produce available; providing nutrition to examine local food policies and more than one workshop. At least three education to students and staff; and environments and set priorities to improve counties conducted or are conducting a reconnecting students with agriculture availability of and access to healthy foods. community food assessment and at least two through activities such as school gardens Concurrent to the release of this plan, the counties have created a food policy council and field trips to a farm. In addition, the Salt Lake City Food Policy Task Force was after attending one or more trainings. Healthy Carolina Farmers‟ Market at the convened in the Salt Lake City‟s Mayor‟s The NPAO program plans to fund yearly University of South Carolina and the Clemson Office of Sustainability. This Task Force is trainings and provide technical assistance to Farm Fresh Market at Clemson University comprised of a diverse group of individuals communities to increase their capacity in have worked to improve access and and organizations that are committed to improving access to healthy foods in their availability of fresh and local produce to identifying policy and program opportunities food systems. The NPAO program will students, staff, and the local community. that will improve access to healthy foods in the city. In addition, the Task Force is continue to work with state-level agencies The Council has proven to be a viable, currently evaluating existing ordinances that and organizations to build support for functioning group that continues to work have been identified as barriers to food increasing capacity of local-level food system towards the goals of growth, promotion, and production and nutrition and this information groups. protection of a healthy agricultural industry will be used to recommend policy revisions Washington Contact and a safe, plentiful, and healthy food supply to expand home gardening and food Amy Ellings for residents of the state. In the production opportunities for residents. Nutrition Coordinator development of the Council, South Carolina‟s Washington State Department of Health Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and This Task Force is the first within the state to (360) 236-3754 Obesity (SC DNPAO) worked to provide the be convened by a local government entity. [email protected] Department of Agriculture with a list of Because of its success, the Utah Physical www.doh.wa.gov Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Program will www.accesstohealthyfoods.org potential members and helped identify key stakeholders to form a steering committee. use the Task Force as a model for other In addition, SC DNPAO program staff and communities in the state and share other agency representatives have been resources and success stories. members of the Council since the first Utah Contact meeting in 2006. The SC DNPAO nutrition Patrice Isabella Need more information? coordinator currently holds a seat on the Nutrition Coordinator Visit the CDC DNPAO website to learn Board of Directors for the Council. Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Program more information about our funded at the Utah Department of Health South Carolina Contact state programs: (801) 538-6269 http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/stateprogram Teresa Hill, MS, RD, LD [email protected] Nutrition Program Coordinator www.health.utah.gov/obesity s/index.html Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity at the South Carolina Department of Washington Health & Environmental Control Community Food System Capacity Anne „Beth‟ Crocker, BS, JD, LL.M General Counsel and Director of Legal Affairs Project South Carolina Department of Agriculture Since 2008, Washington‟s Nutrition, Physical (803) 734-2193 Activity, and Obesity Prevention Program [email protected] (NPAO) has funded the Access to Healthy http://agriculture.sc.gov/ Foods Coalition to host and facilitate trainings to help communities increase their capacity to address issues related to food systems. The Access to Healthy Foods Coalition is a group of businesses, industries, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations that work to improve access to healthier foods for Washington residents. State NPAO grantees, food policy council members, several food system group members, and individuals from various organizations were invited to participate in