City of Vancouver’s Greenest City 2020 Action Plan Released

Vancouver deputy city manager Sadhu Johnston (in front), pictured with Mayor Gregor Robertson (behind), presented the city’s environmental action plan to city council on Tuesday.

Goal 10: Vancouver will become a leader in urban food systems.

2020 Target: Increase city and neighbourhood food assets2 by a minimum of 50%.

Accountability: Director of Social Policy, Community Services Group

Highest Priority Actions (3 year):

1. Support urban agriculture by:
a. Creating 5-6 community gardens/yr;
b. Enabling 3 new urban farms;
c. Encouraging 2 new farmers markets;
d. Adding public fruit trees;
e. Investing in 3 neighbourhood food networks and
f. Support the development of a Vancouver Food Hub

2. Provide local food in City facilities, such as community centres, through the development
and implementation of a local food procurement plan.
“Neighbourhood food assets” include: community kitchens, farmers markets, pocket markets, community
food composting facilities, garden plots, community orchards, urban farms, and food hubs.

3. Develop a Vancouver Food Strategy.

4. Comprehensive review of policy and regulatory barriers to growing local food for personal consumption or economic development, and plan to remove barriers.

Strategies to 2020:
1. Implement Vancouver Food Strategy
2. Support creation of food infrastructure and food-related green jobs
3. Ensure food system resilience and equal access to resources at the neighbourhood scale
4. Support the provision of information on just and sustainable local food systems
5. Ensure City promotes and advocates for food issues with other levels of government

Actions Underway:
Support farm markets by making it easier to host them in all zones (complete)
Greenest City grants for neighbourhood food projects (first grants made in 2010)
Increased number of community garden plots and other forms of urban agriculture – 450
community garden plots added in 2010, including a community garden at City Hall
Edible landscaping information and support program (ongoing)
Expand street food vending program (summer-fall 2010)
Support urban farming on City land, including SoleFood farm lease on City land (underway)
Plant fruit trees in parks, first orchard complete Fall 2010 (underway)
Increase food carts on public right of way including local foods (underway)
Bee hives located on City Hall (first hives installed 2010)
Backyard chicken bylaw (2010)
Encourage local food in City procurement processes (Fall 2011)
Support food business incubator (winter 2010/11)

See the complete report here. Scroll down to Appendix 1 and then to Goal 10 Local Food, page 141, for details.