Food Systems


Strategies for Food Systems

Support the production, distribution, and availability of food to increase access and consumption of healthy foods.

Activity Description
Food Systems Policy Develop and support food systems policies at state, regional, county, or municipal levels
Food Access Enhance policies, systems, and environments that support no-cost food programs (where food is free)
Food Retail Enhance policies, systems, and environments that support food retail (where food is purchased)
Farmers/Growers Train and connect local farmers and food producers to support locally-based food access and food retail
Gardens Support community and home gardens
Community Engagement Engage residents in SNAP-Ed eligible communities in the process and planning using consulting, involving and collaborating techniques.

Tools for Food Systems

Displaying the most recent 21 of 29 total tools.

From the Ground Up: Land Use Policies to Protect and Promote Farmers’ Markets

Posted on February 25, 2016

This guide provides an overview of farmers’ market policy issues and community tested best practices. It also features a set of complementary model land use policies for comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances. This guide was written for local government staff (planners, public health departments, etc.), elected officials, farmers’ market managers, food policy councils, and other stakeholders, to provide practical guidance and tools that communities can customize to create more farmers’ market opportunities and to ensure their long-term viability.

View Tool

Geographic Preference: A primer on purchasing fresh local foods for schools

Posted on February 25, 2016

This primer summarizes state and federal law and provides guidance for setting a preference that complies with both. It also provides step-by-step guidance on how a school district can implement a geographic preference policy starting with articulating the legal authority and rationale for buying local.

View Tool

Green for Greens: Finding Public Funding for Healthy Food Retail

Posted on February 25, 2016

This guide provides a general overview of economic development and ideas for how to approach economic development agencies with healthy food retail proposals. It also provides a comprehensive overview of local, state, and federal economic development programs that have been or could be used for healthy food retail projects.

View Tool

Ground Rules: A Legal Toolkit for Community Gardens

Posted on February 25, 2016

This toolkit is designed to help overcome the legal and practical barriers to establishing community gardens on land that is not municipally owned. It provides several model agreements and other documents that can easily be tailored, simplifying the process of building an agreement that benefits both landowners and the community.

View Tool

Guide: Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs

Posted on February 25, 2016

This guide covers procurement basics, defining local, where to find local products, and the variety of ways schools can purchase locally in accordance with regulations. Throughout the guide, examples illustrate the many mechanisms available for districts to procure local food.

View Tool

Health on the Shelf: A Guide to Healthy Small Food Retailer Certification Programs

Posted on February 25, 2016

This toolkit describes how to create a strong, healthy small food retailer certification program that requires participating stores to increase the variety of healthy foods they sell, reduce the offerings of unhealthy foods, and proactively market healthy options with help from a sponsoring agency or organization. Ir provides step-by-step instructions for developing a certification program, with ideas and examples from existing programs.

View Tool

Providing Fresh Produce in Small Food Stores: Distribution Challenges & Solutions for Healthy Food Retail

Posted on February 25, 2016

This tool is intended to provide a range of promising, innovative strategies for overcoming the challenges of sourcing and marketing fresh produce at affordable prices.

View Tool

Seeding the City: Land Use Policies to Promote Urban Agriculture

Posted on February 25, 2016

This toolkit provides a framework and model language for land use policies that local policymakers can tailor to promote and sustain urban agriculture in their communities.

View Tool

Ten Steps to a Successful Vegetable Garden

Posted on February 25, 2016

This handout details the ten steps to a successful vegetable garden.

View Tool

Key Contacts for Food Systems

Jackie Rybin

Jackie Rybin

Food Systems Specialist
Elisabeth Tyndall

Elisabeth Tyndall

Early Childhood Nutrition Education Specialist
443-477-2942