A new committee designed to strengthen local food movements while promoting healthy lifestyles convened for the first time Wednesday.
The Madison Food Policy Council, created by Mayor Paul Soglin, focuses on rehabilitating underprivileged neighborhoods by increasing residents’ access to locally grown, healthy food.
“One of the things that characterizes neighborhoods that are under stress is that they don’t have access to good food at good prices,” Soglin said.
Soglin said instead of waiting for communities to improve economically, socially and environmentally, local communities need to provide healthy, inexpensive food options that could rehabilitate struggling neighborhoods.
A primary goal for the council is to improve the Dane County Farmers’ Market by creating programs that eliminate inefficiencies such as trying to utilize the 30 to 40 percent of food products that are left over once the market closes in November, according to Soglin. Committee members will decide how to overcome these inefficiencies by either selling more or donating food at the end of the season.
Additionally, the city’s Food and Alcohol Policy Coordinator Mark Woulf said he hopes to enact incentive programs to use food stamps at the market as a way to promote healthy living in the community.
Soglin also emphasized the need to nurture people in the local food business by providing them with the necessary tools, education and assistance to be successful in their businesses.
Another project idea that involves the city zoning board would develop a healthy city design by regulating the number of fast food restaurants within a specific area, according to city planner Matt Tucker.
Also at the meeting, council members discussed collaborating with other groups dedicated to local health and agriculture, such as the Dane County Food Council.
Communication and cooperation between the city’s neighborhoods is the most integral part of the Food Policy Council’s mission because its ultimate goal is to create a sustainable agricultural economy in Madison, according to Soglin.
“Yes it is about nutrition, yes it is about access to food and the secret here is making sure every corner of the city is engaged and everyone has access to food, good nutrition,” Soglin said.
