Week 11 Blog

This weeks readings refer to the policy aspect of food systems and how they can help, or hinder, accessibility. It further delves into the lack of policy in varying areas and how this can leave certain communities to suffer when they may need the most help from these actions. When considering policy within the the greater food system one might consider the department of agriculture and other large government agencies which stand to regulate the greater food systems of the country. This stems from implementation of federal policies and regulations, however it fails to truly adhere to the needs and specific situations of smaller communities. Policy on a federal scale can work to maintain specific standards which must be adhered to, but cannot as easily help to combat situations within varying local communities where there are disparities in the overall food environment. Policy at a community scale can lead to a more preferential system for those who might otherwise suffer, this may be through incentives for stores to locate in a low income area to better increase the access of healthy food options, or maybe through the implementations of community sponsored programs which highlight food education. Even transportation policy can truly serve to better a community by providing an outlet for someone to travel to a grocery store and make food choices that they otherwise might not able to.
 Policy implementation at a state or community level, as opposed to the federal level, will help to better highlight the specific problems of these areas. The creation of food policy councils can serve to create and maintain a local food community that adheres to ideas of sustainability and equality. Especially in the realm of planning, these councils can lobby for the needs of the community and force government to better consider how specific zoning or commercial development may create inequality within the food system. Furthermore these policy groups can help to create programs which highlight community food development such as food hubs and food pantry's, even beyond that they may serve to create emergency food systems in the case of disasters. They also work to establish a greater food network between multiple communities and overall create a stronger food system that spans a greater area. In urban areas these councils and policy makers in general may also help to promote the implementation of urban agriculture and infrastructure reform to optimize community involvement in the food system. These kind of programs and policies can reshape the food landscape in communities and overall provide opportunities than might not have been there otherwise.