The latest installment of the Kitchen Table Talks conversation series focused on Mayor Gavin Newsom's Executive Directive on Healthy and Sustainable Food. Guest speakers Paula Jones, Director of Food Systems at San Francisco Department of Public Health and Antonio Roman-Alcala, Food Policy Educator opened the conversation. Neighborhood Fruit participated in the conversation and wanted to share some interesting takeaways with our community.
On July 9, San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Directive on Healthy and Sustainable Food, which aims to bring cross-agency leaders together to develop a prototype for of an urban "foodshed". Under the directive, it is the official city policy to increase the amount of healthy and sustainable food available to San Francisco residents, charging mayoral agencies with specific steps to accomplish this goal.
This Executive Directive is innovative because it is systematic in its approach and holistic in its scope, requiring participation of many city agencies that don't typically collaborate. Unfortunately, there currently isn't funding to support new projects under this Executive Directive and the city already has a long list of priorities related to the "foodshed": nutrition assistance programs, food safety, public education, etc. This has meant that city agencies have to be creative to make it work. On the other hand, by opening up these communication channels and encouraging collaboration, change is already starting to happen.
The Executive Directive on Healthy and Sustainable Food is the result of vocal demand by the voting public; it came about because voters communicated to their representatives about their values. Conceptualizing "democracy" as a verb empowered San Franciscans to move the needle and once again, provide leadership to concerned citizens of other cities. So, if you want better food in your community, start talking to your representatives!
