We Shape policies that feed our city

In October 2010, the Denver’s Sustainable Food Policy Council (SFPC) was founded to advise the City on matters of food policy. Since 2010, we have advised the City on the following:

• 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, City Land (FAQ and Advisory)

• City Food Purchasing (Advisory)

• Mobile Markets (Advisory)

• City Wide Composting (Advisory)

• Farm to Food Assistance (Advisory)

• Greener by Default (Advisory)

here are Our current policy areaS:

policy overview

The Land Access working group is dedicated to expanding access to land for urban agriculture throughout Denver to enhance food production, and education opportunities. By 2025, we aim to identify key land opportunities, both public and private, that can be protected from development pressures, incentivize agricultural use on these lands, and ensure these spaces are distributed equitably across Denver neighborhoods. We’re also exploring changes to the Denver zoning code to make it more accessible for urban agriculture initiatives, engaging with policymakers, communities, and advocates to create a resilient and inclusive urban food system.

policy summary

The Protecting Native Pollinators working group is exploring policy options to protect the food system through protecting and enhancing pollinator health and habitats through land use policies, reduced pesticide use on city property, and public education. Pollinators, such as bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and bats are incredibly important to food production, but these animals are losing their habitats in Colorado. As the loss of pollinator habitat is a human-made issue, the effects can only be reversed through human action. In April 2024 the SFPC voted to approve the Protecting Native Pollinators Issue Brief, and is presently working on development of a Mayoral Advisory to make policy recommendations for Mayor Mike Johnson.The working group is in process of developing a Mayoral Advisory to make policy recommendations to Mayor Mike Johnson to support protections for native pollinators.

Integrating Food Assistance into Local Food Systems - SNAP Authorization at Farmers Markets

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.

The SNAP at Farmers Markets working group is examining ways to increase access for SNAP users at Denver farmers markets. Access to local food grown by Colorado producers is often perceived as unaffordable and inaccessible for Denver residents with lower incomes and experiencing chronic food insecurity. As a result, the SNAP at farmers market workgroup through the Sustainable Food Policy Council was developed to further examine perspectives from community members, farmers markets, and local producers. The goal of this issue is to expand community food access to local food systems through the expansion of federal nutrition benefit programs as payment models at Denver farmers markets. 

In 2024 the SFPC voted to approve the SNAP at Farmers Markets Issue Brief and is presently working on development of a Mayoral Advisory to make policy recommendations for Mayor Mike Johnson. More information is 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 through expanding access to SNAP.

Your ideas can make a difference

We'd love to hear your ideas on how to improve Denver's food system. Let us know what you think is needed to improve our local food system.