The 200-mile radius around Los Angeles produces all sorts of fruits, nuts, and vegetables. In 2007, the area contributed $12.6 billion to the regional economy; so why does most of that food never see L.A. residents’ plates? This new report raises that question, among others, and makes over 50 recommendations for the city's brand-new food policy.
The report, a collaborative effort of the LA Food Policy Task Force and many other individuals and organizations, defines “Good Food” as food that is healthy, affordable, fair, and sustainable and lays out an agenda to make L.A. a global leader in “Good Food.”
The vision of Good Food grew out of a desire to improve upon conventional food systems present in the L.A. region. Water and energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, pesticide pollution of soil and rivers, obesity, and poor small farmers are examples of the issues this Good Food agenda is meant to resolve. Better access to local and nutritious food is also a target, the system intends to increase the number Good Food venders in neighborhoods to provide alternatives to convenience stores.
The Good Food for All Agenda has six Action Areas:
1. Promote a Good Food Economy
2. Build a Market for Good Food
3. Eliminate Hunger
4. Ensure Equal Access to Good Food in Underserved Communities
5. Grow Good Food in Our Neighborhoods
6. Inspire and Mobilize Good Food Champions
To effectively enact the Agenda, the task force recommended a regional food policy council to foster collaboration and coordination, expand participation, build momentum and capacity to rebuild a sustainable and equitable regional food system in L.A., and to be a leader for other communities around the world.
