Food Policy Councils in the East Bay

 by Brian Perlmutter

The failure of federal policy to build healthy, equitable community food systems has led the growth of local food policy councils across the United States. The San Francisco East Bay is no exception, and food policy councils have sprung up in Richmond, Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro. Food policy councils are so prolific in California that there is even a council of councils — the California Food Policy Councils. All of these councils serve as a platform for community collaboration surrounding food issues — a space for people to come together and work towards innovative solutions to problems of availability, affordability, and nutrition. Although Food Policy Councils vary in structure, they are all connected to political bodies through formal or informal means as they push for just and effective food policy.

Since their creation, East Bay Food Policy Councils have established cooking and gardening curriculums in schools, commercial composting efforts, and youth development programs. They have cultivated initiatives such as the Spiral Gardens Food Security Project and Farm Fresh Choice, which provide at cost produce and free gardening workshops to low-income neighborhoods. Richmond recently received land and a $1m grant to develop a community-driven farm. The East Bay Food Policy Councils have proven to be a major force behind the Food Sovereignty Movement’s growing momentum.

Since 2013, Food First has presented the Monthly Event Series at La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley, CA. The La Peña Event Series provides a valuable opportunity for community members to engage with organizers, researchers, and activists about topics related to our right to food and address concerns and proposals for future action. August 2015 edition on the Series focused on East Bay Food Policy Councils.

In this video, we hear from the Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and California Food Policy Councils as they discuss their values, challenges, and plans for the future with an audience at La Peña Cultural Center (Oakland).