City of Vancouver Food Strategy – PowerPoint presentation

Support and enable all forms of urban agriculture (especially community gardens and urban farms)

Update to Council
November 14, 2012
Standing Committee On Council On Planning, Transportation And Environment
Wendy Mendes, Social Planner, Social Policy, presented a status update on the proposed Vancouver Food Strategy.

Excerpts

Notable Advances

450 new garden plots were created from 2010-2012

Land area of urban farms has increased from 2.3 acres to 8.28 acres since 2010

Six farmers markets contribute $15 million/year to the local economy

Five priority action areas

1. Growing food

Support and enable all forms of urban agriculture (especially community gardens and urban farms), and make stronger connections with all parts of the food system

2. Human capital

Collaborate with Vancouver Coastal Health to support Vancouver’s Neighbourhood Food Networks

Enhance access to participation in community-based food programs, particularly for vulnerable and isolated groups

3. Food access

Improve access to healthy, local, affordable food for all by increasing the number of farmers markets and community food markets, and piloting healthy food retail programs

4. Food processing and distribution

Address gaps in local food processing, storage and distribution infrastructure by exploring possibilities that might include a food business incubator or central food hub

Increase the percentage of local and sustainable food purchased by City facilities

5. Food waste

Reduce food waste going to landfill or incinerator by expanding food waste disposal programs

Create community food composting facilities

See there PowerPoint presentation here.

Video clip of presentation here. (Very slow.)

Council Reports here.