I’m spending today alongside 300 other “good food” advocates, representing farms, farmers markets, food co-ops, food policy councils, food banks, local businesses, environmental and health organizations, municipal departments, school districts, academia and other interests across the state. We’re here to assess progress and strategize for future activity around the Michigan Good Food Charter, a statewide policy agenda to support equity, sustainability and thriving economies through a food system rooted in local communities.

All of us attending today’s summit have our own personal interests and areas of work. Events like this, and a platform like the charter, are critical to putting our individual efforts in context and motivating us toward a collective vision.

As we review efforts from around Michigan today, I'm also thinking about all of the interesting examples of food-related work around the country, and the opportunities for local governments to become more active partners or even leaders in this arena. It would seem that in order for that to happen, we need to better understand both what local governments are already doing, and why.

Nationally, we have data, including recent surveys by ICMA and the National League of Cities, that document significant local government support of farmers markets and community gardens. I would also agree with Sean McLendon’s earlier post to this blog, in that we observe more communities taking on food system assessments, developing food hubs, and exploring “food shifts,” among a number of other creative approaches. However, much of this information is anecdotal at this point, and there is more to learn about the ways local governments can and do support food systems.

To that end, ICMA and the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems recently launched a national survey to capture information about the food-related plans, policies and programs that local governments around the country have supported. If you’ve received this survey and not yet completed it, I encourage your response! We’re excited to build a national baseline and generate data on an expanded array of specific activities, including such topics as:

-       Policies, ordinances and regulations

-       Land use and planning tools

-       Community development and health programs

-       Participation in food policy committees

-       Collaboration with local partners and surrounding communities

-       Awareness and usage of federal support for food system development

Additionally, the survey asks whether food system elements have been incorporated into your comprehensive, sustainability, climate change or other specific planning documents. Responses here are perhaps preliminary indicators as to where local governments see food systems fitting into broader community visions and priorities, though this question only begins to broach that conversation.

As I suggested in the latest issue of PM Magazine, I see strong alignment between sustainability goals and developing more localized food systems. But to those of you whose communities are active in this arena, I’m curious how you would put your food system efforts in context. In other words, what really motivates you and your communities to engage in this work? What goals do you hope to achieve?