Evanston Food Policy Council

Here's what the Evanston Food Policy Council has been doing this year....

--- Check out "The Talking Farm -- the Farm that has Something to Say" -- Evanston's own urban farm, coming in 2008.

--- Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs Act of 2007. See the legislation that Evanston's State Rep. Julie Hamos sponsored on food and farm policy. The bill was a collaboration with the Evanston Food Policy Council and a growing statewide coalition. It passed unanimously and creates a Task Force to design a fully functioning Illinois-based local food system.

--- Illinois Local Food and Farms Coalition. Join the statewide coalition/list-serv that has come together to support the Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs Act and to work on creating a local food system in Illinois. Serves as a connecting link to organizations and individuals all over the state. Moderated by Debbie Hillman.

Good food and good health have long been an important concern of many Evanston residents. Now food and health are taking on a global policy-wise importance as our food is transported thousands of miles, grown and processed with destructive methods, and becoming less affordable, less nutritious, and less secure. Formed in August 2005, Evanston Food Policy Council is looking to address food issues from a local, sustainable perspective.

           Everyone is welcome. As with all Network groups, participation is civil, friendly, and at-your-own pace. Meetings are approximately every six weeks.

           For more information, contact Debbie Hillman 847/328-7175

Mission Statement: Evanston Food Policy Council is a citizens group working to ensure everyone's access to a safe and diverse regional food supply and to foster awareness of healthy food choices. We advocate sustainable agricultural policies, support organic growing practices, and promote active urban-rural connections through our local food system.

           In February 2006, in the context of the city’s strategic planning process, we developed two papers, which we sent to the City Manager, the Mayor, and to City Council:

“Food as a City of Evanston Policy Issue”  Click here.
“Organic Farm in the City: A Vision Statement”  Click here.

The following are issues we are discussing and working on:

Support direct marketing to consumers through farmers market, co-ops, CSAs
Encourage Illinois to support diversified, organic, family farms
Facilitate community gardens, home garden networks, neighborhood potlucks

School foods/children’s eating:

Investigate connection between behavior and food, learning and food
Get involved with District 65 and District 202 Wellness Committees
Eliminate the 10,000 food ads children see every year
Prevent obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hyperactivity

Evanston’s Farmers’ Market is a great resource that can be a galvanizing opportunity to formalize the city’s commitment to fresh food, good health, and support of regional economies
           Create a citizens’ support group

Federal/state legislative initiatives:

Support legislation to enable more farmers to go organic
Regulate pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified foods with the public’s health in mind rather than corporate profits
Support environmentally sound agriculture

Institutional foods:

Review procurement contracts, government subsidies
Avoid over-processed, additive-laden, pesticide-contaminated foods

Labeling foods:

Advocate consumers' "right to know" regarding how food is grown
Advocate informing consumers what processes/chemicals are used in food production/processing
Advocate labeling of irradiated foods and genetically modified foods (GMOs).

Food security:

If we had a local emergency, how extensive is our local food supply?
Where are all our food resources? Conduct a community food assessment.

Public education programs fostering healthy food choices: films, discussions, speakers

Food-based economic development:

Urban farm, year-round greenhouse, job training center
Local food processing, brokering, warehousing

Foster urban-rural connections, remember where food comes from

           Illinois Farmer-Consumer Coalition. We are an active member of new statewide coalition of existing sustainability groups. IFCC mission statement: “Illinois Farmer-Consumer Coalition is a statewide urban-rural network advocating food system policies and practices that promote a just and healthy, ecologically sound, economically viable, spiritually vibrant, and sustainable quality of life for all family farmers, workers, consumers, and their children.”

Foster other food group connections:

Genewise, Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council, Rogers Park Neighborfood Council
Meet with farmers, restaurateurs, other food activists

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