Print E-mail Dissolved: Lessons Learned from the Portland Multnomah Food Policy Council

Amy Coplen,Monica Cuneo

doi:10.5304/jafscd.2015.052.002

Amy Coplen, Monica Cuneo

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2015.052.002

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Abstract

The city of Portland, Oregon, is often hailed in news and popular media as the capital of the U.S. alternative food movement. In 2002, the Portland Multnomah Food Policy Council (PMFPC) was established to address the region's growing interest in cultivating a sustainable local food system. Council members contributed to many notable achievements, including a healthy corner store initiative, a beginning farmer training program, and changes to zoning codes to expand urban agriculture. However, the PMFPC was dissolved in the summer of 2012 after local government agencies expressed that the council was losing relevancy. After a decade of conducting food policy and advocacy work in a region praised for fostering both citizen engagement and sustainable food systems, what can we learn from the story of the PMFPC? In this reflective case study, we explore the challenges associated with citizen engagement in local food policy. Through semistructured interviews and analysis of PMFPC documents, we provide insight into how particular obstacles might have been avoided or overcome. Our research speaks to the broad arena of public participation and highlights the importance of negotiating and clearly articulating the roles and responsibilities of council members, government staff liaisons, and elected officials; regularly evaluating the usefulness of established roles, structures, and processes; and making the changes necessary to maintain the relevance of the council throughout its life. We conclude with lessons learned and recommendations for both citizens and government agencies hoping to foster productive public engagement and to advance local food systems policy.

Highlights

The city of Portland is often hailed in news and popular media as a capital of the U.S alternative food movement.1 A commitment to local, sustainable, and organic food is embodied in an urban landscape of abundant farmers markets, widespread availability of local and artisanal products, and a vibrant scene of farm-to-table restaurants
Former members of the Portland Multnomah Food Policy Council (PMFPC) communicated the potential for the PMFPC to serve as a vehicle of “genuine” engagement, whereby they would be “co-producers” of public policy (Sanoff, 2000; Wang, 2001)
A former government employee and selfidentified long-time PMFPC advocate argued that elected officials sometimes based their decisions on a different set of factors than the council was using to make its recommendations and that this was “just the nature of the political process.”

Summary

Introduction

The city of Portland is often hailed in news and popular media as a capital of the U.S alternative food movement. A commitment to local, sustainable, and organic food is embodied in an urban landscape of abundant farmers markets, widespread availability of local and artisanal products, and a vibrant scene of farm-to-table restaurants. In the last few years of the council’s existence, members contributed to many notable achievements, including the creation of the Multnomah Food Action Plan, which laid out a 15year vision and plan for the county’s food system; the Healthy Retail Initiative, which provided funding and technical assistance to corner stores interested in increasing healthy options; the Beginning Urban Farmer Apprenticeship Program, which trained new farmers and producers; and updates to the Urban Food Zoning Codes, which relaxed regulations to increase opportunities for urban agriculture In light of these successes, many PMFPC members and community supporters were surprised when the city and county dissolved the council in the summer of 2012. Over the past two decades, much-needed research has been conducted on the emergence, development, and structure of FPCs in the United States and Canada This literature includes important findings related to the specific barriers and challenges these councils face in their efforts to impact food policy. We attempted to balance our “insider”/”outsider” perspectives by working together throughout each stage of the research process, including co-developing interview guides, cross-coding interview data, and seeking input from and fact-checking by individuals with various affiliations and relationships with the PMFPC over its lifetime

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