Collaboration Meets Opportunity: The Baltimore Food Policy Initiative

Raychel Santo,Anne Palmer,Rachel Yong

doi:10.5304/jafscd.2014.043.012

Abstract

As cities across the nation seek to improve healthy food access, this participant observer case study highlights how one midsized city successfully developed a collaborative infrastructure to understand and address inequity in healthy food access. We trace the genesis and evolution of Baltimore's Food Policy Task Force, the hiring of a food policy director, and the establishment of the Baltimore Food Policy Initiative, which is an intergovernmental partnership to increase access to healthy, affordable foods in urban food deserts. While some cities have approached food access issues through community coalitions pressuring city government or government edicts, Baltimore successfully identified its need, used available research to drive and inform action, established priorities, and acted expeditiously with a focus on sustainability. This case study is relevant and applicable for those seeking to influence change in local food policy in midsized urban settings.

Highlights

Since the 1980s, food system stakeholders across North America have formed entities to consolidate their efforts to increase the accessibility, consump-Volume 4, Issue 3 / Spring 2014tion, and affordability of healthy and sustainable food (Clancy, Hammer, & Lippoldt, 2007; Scherb, Palmer, Frattarolli, & Pollack, 2012)
The nation has seen an increase in food policy groups, councils, or coalitions that are attempting to change food policy at the city, state, regional, and tribal level (Neuner, Kelly, & Raja, 2011; Scherb et al, 2012)
A recent report analyzing 13 U.S municipal food policy directors found that over half of the cities’ efforts originated from within local government through a centralized, top-down approach directed by the mayor, a city council member, or another civil servant (Hatfield, 2012)

Summary

Introduction

Since the 1980s, food system stakeholders across North America have formed entities to consolidate their efforts to increase the accessibility, consump-. The nation has seen an increase in food policy groups, councils, or coalitions that are attempting to change food policy at the city, state, regional, and tribal level (Neuner, Kelly, & Raja, 2011; Scherb et al, 2012) These policy actions have the opportunity to create organization and institutional changes, potentially modeling effective solutions for the federal, state, and local level, and can help nonprofits seeking to improve access to nutritious foods and address food insecurity in urban settings. A recent report analyzing 13 U.S municipal food policy directors (sought out through the Urban Sustainability Directors Network) found that over half of the cities’ efforts originated from within local government through a centralized, top-down approach directed by the mayor, a city council member, or another civil servant (Hatfield, 2012). To maximize the accuracy of our account, the draft manuscript was shared and revised with key stakeholders’ input

Methods

Findings

Conclusion and Lessons Learned