By Kathy Utley, Member of the Madison Food Policy Council
Pictured are my son-in-law James Wells and my granddaughter, Olivia making a fresh vegetable crudites for her twelfth birthday party. Jim is a chef and is teaching Olivia basic culinary knife skills. What does this have to do with food security and the Madison Food Policy Council?
Well it all begins with last nights Food Policy meeting, Wednesday, January 7th at the Madison Central Library. First item on the agenda were two presentations given by the City of Madison, the Dane County Department of Public Health and UW Cooperative Extension.
Representatives from the Dane County Public Health Department Nick Heckman and Jordan Bingham gave a presentation to the council regarding the Racial Equity and Social Justice Initiative being implemented by the City of Madison. Starting off the new year focused on the cities racial disparities, the presentation and discussion centered on racial equity and food security. Bingham and Heckman laid out the equity tool or lens through which all city policy decisions will pass through hopefully helping to create policies that are beneficial to all who live in Madison. The food policy council members engaged in a discussion of how this tool could be used to make food policy more equitable as well.
Secondly, Lexa Dundore, a VISTA with UW Cooperative Extension, reviewed the 2014 Food Summit held last October at the Lussier Family Heritage Center. Her report included some concepts for policy-related suggestions as well as some organizational ideas. Among several ideas for policy related decisions was a review of food policy through an equity and empowerment lens or impact framework in community food solutions. Equity in food security was a priority of the Food Summit. One council member commented at how well organized the summit was this year and was optimistic that real meaningful change was the outcome this year.
In new business, the council voted to recommend that the City of Madison authorize the Dane County Department of Human Services to begin the operation and administration of the EBT and MadMarket Double Dollars programs at Madison and Dane County Farmers markets through the Community Action Coalition of South Central Wisconsin.
The City of Madison is contributing $25,000 dollars for the operational costs of the program. Last year the city reported that 605 individuals participated in this dollar for dollar matching program. Farmers market customers paying with EBT will get $2 dollars of produce for each dollar they spend. Only four Farmers Markets participate in this City of Madison Program. Participating markets are the Westside Community Market, Brittingham Farmers Market, Northside Farmers Market and Eastside Farmers Market. There were 128 new participants in 2014. The program is designed to motivate SNAP recipients to utilize farmers markets and have access to locally sourced produce. This program supports local farmers too.
Mark Woulf, Alcohol and Food Policy Coordinator for the City of Madison updated the council on the Cities efforts to secure a full-service affordable grocery store in the Allied Drive neighborhood. Woulf handed out a memorandum from the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development addressed to Mayor Soglin and members of the Common Council dated, December 15th, 2014. The Verona/Allied Drive Food Retail and Economic Redevelopment Staff Team were recommending that the city secure a grocery store to replace the existing retailer who is leaving the neighborhood. They were suggesting an aggressive or quick turnaround in order to eliminate any negative impact on the people who live in this neighborhood. Additionally, they were requesting that the city explore the feasibility of a neighborhood or community center to provide complimentary services or support food security through services and programming. Also, it was recommended that an economic development plan include transit-oriented development for the Verona/Belt-line corridor that does not displace current residents.
The city is recommending allocating $300,000 for financial assistance in the form of a low interst loan that can be used to acquire property or act as working capital in the Allied neighborhood to provide an incentive for the establishment of a grocery store for local residents.
A citizens group from the Allied neighborhood called "The Allied Cooperative" has been consulting with Willy Street Coop about creating a cooperative business model for that location. The cities Business Development Specialist will work with this group in their business planning process.
Ruth Rohlich, Business Development Specialist with the City of Madison, distributed a two page report on the positive benefits of worker owned business.
Short term and "emergency" funds will be allocated to offset the cost of public transportation and other transportation services for those identified as most vulnerable. Joining Forces for Families and Local WIC Offices (Public Health Madison and Dane County) and the Allied Cooperative will administer the funds.
So, what does the photo of my granddaughter and son-in-law have to do with this report? Olivia has grown up in a culture and community that educates and encourages young people to eat a plate of fresh veggies at a little girls birthday party over snacks that are full of calories, salt and sugar. We want everyone to have access to fresh and nutritious foods so that they can live a long and healthy life.
Happy New Year from one member of the Madison Food Policy Council and her family.
Pictured are my son-in-law James Wells and my granddaughter, Olivia making a fresh vegetable crudites for her twelfth birthday party. Jim is a chef and is teaching Olivia basic culinary knife skills. What does this have to do with food security and the Madison Food Policy Council?
Well it all begins with last nights Food Policy meeting, Wednesday, January 7th at the Madison Central Library. First item on the agenda were two presentations given by the City of Madison, the Dane County Department of Public Health and UW Cooperative Extension.
Representatives from the Dane County Public Health Department Nick Heckman and Jordan Bingham gave a presentation to the council regarding the Racial Equity and Social Justice Initiative being implemented by the City of Madison. Starting off the new year focused on the cities racial disparities, the presentation and discussion centered on racial equity and food security. Bingham and Heckman laid out the equity tool or lens through which all city policy decisions will pass through hopefully helping to create policies that are beneficial to all who live in Madison. The food policy council members engaged in a discussion of how this tool could be used to make food policy more equitable as well.
Secondly, Lexa Dundore, a VISTA with UW Cooperative Extension, reviewed the 2014 Food Summit held last October at the Lussier Family Heritage Center. Her report included some concepts for policy-related suggestions as well as some organizational ideas. Among several ideas for policy related decisions was a review of food policy through an equity and empowerment lens or impact framework in community food solutions. Equity in food security was a priority of the Food Summit. One council member commented at how well organized the summit was this year and was optimistic that real meaningful change was the outcome this year.
In new business, the council voted to recommend that the City of Madison authorize the Dane County Department of Human Services to begin the operation and administration of the EBT and MadMarket Double Dollars programs at Madison and Dane County Farmers markets through the Community Action Coalition of South Central Wisconsin.
The City of Madison is contributing $25,000 dollars for the operational costs of the program. Last year the city reported that 605 individuals participated in this dollar for dollar matching program. Farmers market customers paying with EBT will get $2 dollars of produce for each dollar they spend. Only four Farmers Markets participate in this City of Madison Program. Participating markets are the Westside Community Market, Brittingham Farmers Market, Northside Farmers Market and Eastside Farmers Market. There were 128 new participants in 2014. The program is designed to motivate SNAP recipients to utilize farmers markets and have access to locally sourced produce. This program supports local farmers too.
Mark Woulf, Alcohol and Food Policy Coordinator for the City of Madison updated the council on the Cities efforts to secure a full-service affordable grocery store in the Allied Drive neighborhood. Woulf handed out a memorandum from the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development addressed to Mayor Soglin and members of the Common Council dated, December 15th, 2014. The Verona/Allied Drive Food Retail and Economic Redevelopment Staff Team were recommending that the city secure a grocery store to replace the existing retailer who is leaving the neighborhood. They were suggesting an aggressive or quick turnaround in order to eliminate any negative impact on the people who live in this neighborhood. Additionally, they were requesting that the city explore the feasibility of a neighborhood or community center to provide complimentary services or support food security through services and programming. Also, it was recommended that an economic development plan include transit-oriented development for the Verona/Belt-line corridor that does not displace current residents.
The city is recommending allocating $300,000 for financial assistance in the form of a low interst loan that can be used to acquire property or act as working capital in the Allied neighborhood to provide an incentive for the establishment of a grocery store for local residents.
A citizens group from the Allied neighborhood called "The Allied Cooperative" has been consulting with Willy Street Coop about creating a cooperative business model for that location. The cities Business Development Specialist will work with this group in their business planning process.
Ruth Rohlich, Business Development Specialist with the City of Madison, distributed a two page report on the positive benefits of worker owned business.
Short term and "emergency" funds will be allocated to offset the cost of public transportation and other transportation services for those identified as most vulnerable. Joining Forces for Families and Local WIC Offices (Public Health Madison and Dane County) and the Allied Cooperative will administer the funds.
So, what does the photo of my granddaughter and son-in-law have to do with this report? Olivia has grown up in a culture and community that educates and encourages young people to eat a plate of fresh veggies at a little girls birthday party over snacks that are full of calories, salt and sugar. We want everyone to have access to fresh and nutritious foods so that they can live a long and healthy life.
Happy New Year from one member of the Madison Food Policy Council and her family.