All Montgomery County residents will have improved physical, social, and affordable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious foods that meet their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.
Why Is This Important?
In order for residents to realize complete food security, all dimensions of the food system must be addressed. This includes the land, water systems, farmers, manufacturers, processors, distributors, retailers and consumers, and the generated waste.
Improvements to the food system can be influenced by new policies and the strength of the county’s investment in advancing equity.
There is a relationship between the inability to access or afford foods that support healthy living and negative health outcomes. Unhealthy eating leads to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, overweight and obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Distance to grocery stores and lack of transportation are barriers to accessing healthy food options. The cost of travel time to find healthier options in addition to out-of-pocket expenses may be too high. As a result, low-income residents tend to rely on foods that are cheap and convenient to access but are often low in nutrients.
There are numerous economic benefits to strengthening the local food economy. Supporting local farms and food businesses can boost employment and therefore income and the local tax base.
Strategies and Leads
| Strategies | Leads |
| Develop/revise policies and practices that address issues within the local food system such as agricultural use and food insecurity. |
Food Equity Coalition (Vibrant Local & Urban Farms, Empowered & Healthy Communities) |
| Pursue grants and other funding opportunities that will support vibrant farms and the distribution of locally sourced foods. |
Food Equity Coalition (Thriving Local Economy, Vibrant Local & Urban Farms) |
| Build a strong county food economy through the creation of local food system jobs and the expansion of the capacity of the local food supply chain. |
Food Equity Coalition (Empowered & Healthy Communities, Thriving Local Economy) |
| Promote the use of land to contribute to a healthy and sustainable food system (i.e., grocery stores, smaller markets, community gardens, and urban farms). |
Food Equity Coalition (Thriving Local Economy, Empowered & Healthy Communities, Vibrant Local & Urban Farms) |
| Improve food security and public health through improved access to nutritious, local, and affordable food and hunger relief programming in food desert communities. |
Food Equity Coalition (Empowered & Healthy Communities) |
| Promote opportunities to protect and regenerate the county’s soil water and land. |
Food Equity Coalition (Vibrant Local & Urban Farms) |
| Support the development of a closed-loop food ecosystem through composting. |
Food Equity Coalition (Vibrant Local & Urban Farms) |
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