What is Food Policy?

Food policy is defined as "any decision made by a government agency, business, or organization which affects how food is produced, processed, distributed, purchased and protected," according to Neil D. Hamilton in Putting a Face on Our Food.

What is a Food Policy Coalition?

Food policy coalitions/councils are comprised of stakeholders from various segments of a local food system. The primary goal of most food policy coalitions/councils is to examine the operation of a local food system and provide ideas and recommendations for improvement through public policy.

In Cleveland-Cuyahoga County we refer to our FPC as a "coalition" rather than "council" because it's not administered through any government organization, as food policy councils typically are. Merriam-Webster defines a coalition as "a temporary alliance of distinct parties, persons, or states for joint action," which is a good description of the types of partnerships that develop within the Coalition around policies, programs, and projects.

A few examples of other regional food policy coalitions/councils:

As you can see on this map, Ohio is home to more than 10 food policy councils and similar organizations.

Here are comprehensive lists of food policy coalitions/councils across the United States and Canada:

What is a Food System?

A food system is the network of food producers (farmers), food consumers (eaters), and all the industries that link them together. The five key segments of food systems are: