Here are the policy ideas and solutions we are working on to improve the sustainability, resiliency, and equity of Denver's Food System.
Here are the policy ideas and solutions we are working on to improve the sustainability, resiliency, and equity of Denver's Food System.
Food Producing Animals (FAQ, Advisory, City Council Ordinance, and Link to Permits)
Residential Sales and Cottage Foods (FAQ, Advisory, Guide to Getting Started, Link to Permits)
City Food Purchasing (Advisory)
Mobile Markets (Advisory)
City Wide Composting (Advisory)
Farm to Food Assistance (Advisory)
Greener by Default (Advisory)
Expanding food production across the city.
Expanding food production across the city.
Researching other city’s public land policies
Potentially mapping public land across the City and production sites
Generating pros/cons, costs, alignment with Denver’s existing goals for policies listed above
Meetings are generally held the last Tuesday of each month at 11am over zoom. Please contact denversfpc@gmail.com if you would like to be involved. We welcome interns, graduate students, policy experts, community members, producers, etc. in our meetings. Join the Public Lands for Food Production to address the (1 in 11) people in Colorado who are food insecure in an equitable, stakeholder-driven, community focused and wealth building way.
greener by default
Greener By Default to Promote More Sustainable City Food Purchasing
greener by default
Greener By Default to Promote More Sustainable City Food Purchasing
This subgroup is working on a policy that would promote plant-based defaults at internal events and meetings of Denver government agencies where food is served. Through this policy, Denver government agencies would ensure equitable access to meals for people from all backgrounds. Serving plant-based meals with the option to opt into animal products includes everyone by default, such as the 30-50 million Americans who are lactose intolerant (who are predominantly BIPOC), folks with religious restrictions, young people who are eating more plant-based foods, people of color who are statistically more likely to be reducing their consumption of animal products, and those with allergies or medically prescribed diets. Plant-based defaults have proven to be a tremendously effective yet simple strategy to support people’s interest in consuming healthier and more sustainable foods - increasing their uptake by about 60 percentage points - thereby reducing catering’s water, land, and carbon footprints, while being inclusive of all dietary needs and protecting diner choice.
healthy Food access & affordability
Integrating Food Assistance into Local Food Systems - SNAP Authorization at Farmers Markets
healthy Food access & affordability
Integrating Food Assistance into Local Food Systems - SNAP Authorization at Farmers Markets
This subgroup is focused on increasing access and removing the stigma often associated with receiving and utilizing public food assistance and creating an equitable system of food sovereignty (the right of people to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods and their right to define their own food/agricultural systems) and procurement.
This subgroup seeks to encourage new and existing farmers markets in Denver to be Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) authorized vendors, through dedicated funding support– community development, support farmers, and address barriers to local and healthy food access for all community members, regardless of income level. Policy will support farmers markets of all sizes with technical assistance as they transition to authorized markets/vendors while expanding choice for recipients of public food assistance to purchase culturally relevant, nutritious, and local foods. The goal of this policy is to encourage community access to farmers markets by reducing stigma through thoughtful and responsive engagement and outreach for all communities in Denver.
More information to come as we engage further with community members, local farmers, and market managers to inform an inclusive and equitable policy to support access to local food systems.
community engagement & Racial Equity
community engagement & Racial Equity
We recognize that there are historic and current inequities in the food system that adversely impact production, distribution, and access to resources and nourishing, culturally appropriate food. As a result, the racial equity group is working to create institutional and systemic change geared toward racial equity within the SFPC and Denver communities; specifically focusing on food policy, access, connection, and justice. The Council seeks to normalize, organize, and operationalize these values and goals by integrating social equity, race, and social justice into policies, practices, programs, membership, and decision-making to create more equitable outcomes. It aims to identify and address inequitable policies and legacies of harm to revolutionize the system. This group also spearheads recruitment and outreach efforts to engage diverse communities and perspectives in our work.
Share your policy ideas with the SFPC.
Share your policy ideas with the SFPC.