New Food Policy Council to Address Food Security Concerns

Staff reports

“We have enormous opportunities regarding our community’s commitment to ensuring a stable, healthy, and affordable food supply,” states the opening paragraph of a new White Paper released by the ad-hoc Food Policy Working Group.

In the last three months, this working group has met with more than 40 community members, non-profit leaders, and governmental agencies to glean insight into the barriers to food security for residents of Asheville and Buncombe County. They have compiled the results into a paper entitled “The Future of Food in Asheville and Buncombe County: Addressing Poverty, Public Health, Local Commerce, and Sustainability Through Food Security.”

Food Security is defined by the World Health Organization as a state in
which “all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe,
nutritious food to maintain an active and healthy life.” Because food
security encompasses issues of poverty, public health, local commerce,
and sustainability, the white paper recommends formation of a Food
Policy Council that will work on the policy level with government,
agencies, and institutions in Asheville and Buncombe County.

The working group, consisting of City Councilman Gordon Smith, local
business owner Jodi Rhoden, Bountiful Cities Executive Director Darcel
Eddins, manager of Hillcrest Community Garden Olufemi Lewis, and UNCA
Student Environmental Center Director Brandee Boggs, will present their
results and recommendations at two upcoming events. The first event
takes place at 3 p.m. at the Eat Smart, Move More conference at the NC
Center for Health and Wellness on the campus of UNCA on Friday,
September 16, (with a hands-on exercise illuminating food security
issues to begin at 2 p.m.) The second presentation will be made at the
Burton Street Agricultural Fair on Saturday, September 24. All community
members are encouraged to attend.

Councilman Gordon Smith says, “the issue of food security affects every
corner of our community. Whether viewed through the lens of poverty,
public health, local commerce, or sustainability, food security is a
foundational issue that we must address.”

The White Paper is available for viewing at http://ashevillefoodsecurity.wordpress.com/about/