A new report from The Los Angeles Food Policy Task Force calls for the government to take steps to increase accessibility to local, healthy food in urban areas.
Policy aims include building more efficient food distribution systems within the city's 200-mile foodshed and lowering prices for fresh foods to levels competitive with processed products. Specific recommendations include establishment of a central downtown market for wholesale exchange and creation of a Good Food Council to unite likeminded groups to fight the "food desert" phenomenon.
Los Angeles is uniquely poised to become a national leader on the issue, says Alissa Walker:
"This is a place where L.A. really has no choice but to be a leader: California is the largest agricultural exporter in the country and could make a drastic impact on federal policy."
The report will be formally announced tonight at a fundraiser featuring food from over 30 Los Angeles chefs.
FULL STORY: Los Angeles Announces a Sweeping Local Food Policy
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research