Summary
The Los Angeles Food Policy Council is a non-profit organisation that has created a network of more than 400 organisations and agencies working for healthy, sustainable and fair food.
Context
Food Policy Councils are a democratic innovation. They bring together the different actors at every stage of the food system so that everyone can play a part in the transition to a food-based city. There are more than 300 of them in the United States.
Food policy councils vary from city to city, but their common goal is to bring together different stakeholders in the food system to address systemic issues such as hunger, health, the environment and the economy.
The history
In 2011, a Los Angeles Area Food Policy Council (LAFPC) was formed, following a presentation by a task force formed in 2009 to discuss food policy in Los Angeles. This working group produced a report entitled Good Food for All Agenda, which included 55 actions based on six major priority action areas.
From 2011 to 2012, LAFPC benefited from the advice and support of the Mayor's Office, led by founder Paula Daniels, and a board of 40 food system experts.
LAFPC is based in Little Tokyo, in the heart of Los Angeles. It currently operates as an independent not-for-profit organisation with financial support from Community Partners, a fiscal sponsorship programme.
The project
The creation of LAFPC has brought together a wide range of actors in the local food chain, from agricultural production to consumption, around a common project aimed at improving the organisation of the local food system. The largest food policy council in the country, the Los Angeles Food Policy Council has become a model for a network of more than 400 organisations and agencies working to promote healthy, sustainable and fair food.
Programs
The LAFPC has a number of programmes in place, including
- The Healthy Neighbourhood Market Network aims to ensure that everyone has access to fresh produce within one kilometre of their home. The scheme promotes social cohesion within the community and local economic development by enabling small businesses in low-income neighbourhoods to bring good food to their communities. Shop owners receive training, advice and improvements to help them sell healthier, more affordable products.
- Community Chefs LA is a series featuring Los Angeles chefs sharing their stories and recipes.
- Food Leaders Lab (FLL) is a leadership training programme launched in 2019 for community advocates and residents in intergenerational, multilingual courses over ten weeks. Each session will explore the dynamics of the food system and case studies on different social movements, including anti-hunger and food security, food sovereignty and regenerative agriculture. In addition, the Food Leaders Lab focuses on building skills in policy, advocacy and community organising.
- Network Events is a series of public events in the form of conferences that enable change agents to network, learn and discuss a range of food system issues. Attracting hundreds of advocates, entrepreneurs, community members and policy makers, the Network is helping to create a real movement around food.
In July 2020, a new programme called 'Seeds of Change LA' was initiated by Christine Tran, the new director of LAFPC. The project involves donating $5 per month for each monthly subscription to one of their partners, as well as donating seeds to local community and school gardens. Currently, the project supports ALMA BACKYARD FARMS, a movement that helps facilitate the reintegration of ex-prisoners and promotes urban agriculture by transforming urban land into productive agricultural plots.
Achievements
LAFPC's latest annual report, from 2020, looks back on 10 years of the movement and its various actions.
Little Extra
In 2015, LAFPC's leadership launched a spin-off organisation, the Centre for Good Food Purchasing, to scale up LAFPC's groundbreaking good food purchasing policies nationwide.
This sheet was written by Magda Salvatore, Let's Food intern, in June. 2021.
Last modification : 18 Jan 2024.
Los Angeles Food Policy Council
LAFPC is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to bring together the players in the food system to work towards healthy, high-quality, sustainable and fair food.