Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Industry has Sway Over Food Safety System: Report
Check out this link to a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists who interviewed USDA and FDA regulators.
Monday, August 9, 2010
News
Cancer likes fructose more than glucose. See article here.
Puberty is coming earlier for US girls and it may be related to childhood obesity. See the article here.
Check out this link for several articles discussing farmers markets. Their social and economic benefits, how to set up SNAP/EBT, and more. It's from the Project for Public Spaces, who's link is to the left now.
Our next meeting is August 23. An agenda will be put up soon.
Puberty is coming earlier for US girls and it may be related to childhood obesity. See the article here.
Check out this link for several articles discussing farmers markets. Their social and economic benefits, how to set up SNAP/EBT, and more. It's from the Project for Public Spaces, who's link is to the left now.
Our next meeting is August 23. An agenda will be put up soon.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
News
The Community Food Security Coalition is conducting a webinar this Thursday that sounds really interesting. Check it out here.
Also, see the link to the Florida Department of Education (FL DOE) website to the right. They have some new information there, including the Sunshine Standards that are met through school garden curriculum.
A delegation of seven Tallahasseans are off to the ATL for the American Community Gardening Association Annual Conference. A summary to come.
Also, see the link to the Florida Department of Education (FL DOE) website to the right. They have some new information there, including the Sunshine Standards that are met through school garden curriculum.
A delegation of seven Tallahasseans are off to the ATL for the American Community Gardening Association Annual Conference. A summary to come.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Minutes for 7-20-10 Food Policy Council Meeting
Attendance: Mark Tancig, Jo Landrito, Cheryl Phoenix, Jaqui Griffith, Maggie Theriot, Jeff Phipps
We agreed that JSP would take minutes of the meeting and it would be distributed to the email list and to a blog that Mark will create.
We agreed to move the meetings to every third Monday of the month beginning August 23, 2010 at noon at Second Harvest. The group also discussed holding longer retreat type meetings every quarter or so to allow for deeper discussion. It was decided to attempt to hold such a meeting in conjuction with another event, such as the Tomato Feastival, Farm Tour, Garden Corps, etc.
Jackie discussed her church’s Garden Corp project, which is related to the Becoming Fit @ Church program. Trinity United Methodist Church would like to serve as an information resource for local community gardeners. Jackie will provide us with an update at the next meeting.
Mark reported that Malini Ram had organized two meetings of the Small Farmers Alliance. Further that this alliance would focus on shaping policy, purchasing power, but not on common marketing.
Jo provided an update on ACHIEVE which has been awarded a $75k three year grant to assess the health needs of the area. The grant came from the Center for Disease Control through the National Assesment of Chronic Diseases program. Once the assessment is completed, it will recommend policy changes. The health department will be the contact person for this project.
Mark reported that the Florida Food Policy Council will meet on July 30 in Kissimmee, and requested that anyone going to the Small Farms Conference in Kissimmee should attend this on behalf of our food council. Jeff Phipps volunteered.
Mark reported that several Tallahassee volunteers would attend the American Community Garden Association Annual Conference in Atlanta on August 8.
Mark announced that the Damayan Garden Project had been awarded a Natures Path grant of $25,000. Further that part of that grant would be in goods from Natures Path.
Mark reported that the Food System Guide group was meeting tonight to continue building content for the guide. Further that the geographical scope would include resources within 100 miles of Tallahassee.
In discussion it was agreed that a comp plan amendment which supports the mission of the food council would be emailed to all stakeholders and vetted. Further that Mark and Maggie would be responsible to submit any amendments. It was reported that a code change had already been introduced and accepted which would allow community gardens in all zoning districts. It was further agreed that additional code changes may be suggested after the comp plan policy effort has been completed. It was also suggested that Mark and Maggie keep the council abreast of the ongoing effort to regulate mobile food vendors in Leon County.
Jeff asked how we might put together a long range plan for the supply and distribution of local farm products so that we might petition in future for grants. It was suggested that Damayan is an excellent recipient of grant funds because it is all volunteer. It was further suggested to table this item until we are farther along with the policy change recommendations to the comprehensive plan.
The Leopold Center was suggested as an information source for a food atlas.
Under the duress of jobs, the participants evaporated gracefully.
We agreed that JSP would take minutes of the meeting and it would be distributed to the email list and to a blog that Mark will create.
We agreed to move the meetings to every third Monday of the month beginning August 23, 2010 at noon at Second Harvest. The group also discussed holding longer retreat type meetings every quarter or so to allow for deeper discussion. It was decided to attempt to hold such a meeting in conjuction with another event, such as the Tomato Feastival, Farm Tour, Garden Corps, etc.
Jackie discussed her church’s Garden Corp project, which is related to the Becoming Fit @ Church program. Trinity United Methodist Church would like to serve as an information resource for local community gardeners. Jackie will provide us with an update at the next meeting.
Mark reported that Malini Ram had organized two meetings of the Small Farmers Alliance. Further that this alliance would focus on shaping policy, purchasing power, but not on common marketing.
Jo provided an update on ACHIEVE which has been awarded a $75k three year grant to assess the health needs of the area. The grant came from the Center for Disease Control through the National Assesment of Chronic Diseases program. Once the assessment is completed, it will recommend policy changes. The health department will be the contact person for this project.
Mark reported that the Florida Food Policy Council will meet on July 30 in Kissimmee, and requested that anyone going to the Small Farms Conference in Kissimmee should attend this on behalf of our food council. Jeff Phipps volunteered.
Mark reported that several Tallahassee volunteers would attend the American Community Garden Association Annual Conference in Atlanta on August 8.
Mark announced that the Damayan Garden Project had been awarded a Natures Path grant of $25,000. Further that part of that grant would be in goods from Natures Path.
Mark reported that the Food System Guide group was meeting tonight to continue building content for the guide. Further that the geographical scope would include resources within 100 miles of Tallahassee.
In discussion it was agreed that a comp plan amendment which supports the mission of the food council would be emailed to all stakeholders and vetted. Further that Mark and Maggie would be responsible to submit any amendments. It was reported that a code change had already been introduced and accepted which would allow community gardens in all zoning districts. It was further agreed that additional code changes may be suggested after the comp plan policy effort has been completed. It was also suggested that Mark and Maggie keep the council abreast of the ongoing effort to regulate mobile food vendors in Leon County.
Jeff asked how we might put together a long range plan for the supply and distribution of local farm products so that we might petition in future for grants. It was suggested that Damayan is an excellent recipient of grant funds because it is all volunteer. It was further suggested to table this item until we are farther along with the policy change recommendations to the comprehensive plan.
The Leopold Center was suggested as an information source for a food atlas.
Under the duress of jobs, the participants evaporated gracefully.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Sarasota FPC accomplishments
Click here to see what Sarasota has done in regards to their comp plan. It would be great to get this done here in Leon County.
Let us know what you think in the Comments section.
Let us know what you think in the Comments section.
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