Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
More Details on Villaraigosa's Food Policy Task Force, Local Restauranteurs Pledge to use More Local Food
Photo by NatalieMaynor via Flickr
()
Photo by NatalieMaynor via Flickr
This morning at the Little Tokyo/Arts District Farmers Market, where the city celebrated 30 years of certified farmers markets (even though it began in Gardena), Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the creation of a food policy task force that will provide a report and recommendations in the next six months on a city food policy council and a foodshed assessment (details listed below).
"In honor of the visionary work of those who founded farmers’ markets 30 years ago, we recognize their important contributions to bring healthy, fresh and locally produced food to Angelenos,” said Villaraigosa. “We make a commitment to the future by launching the work of a task force to help provide access to good food for all Angelenos, particularly those in under served communities. By purchasing produce at farmers’ markets, not only are you helping the environment and living a healthy lifestyle, but you are also supporting local business and creating local jobs.”
Additionally, celebrity chefs in attendance this morning signed a Locally Grown Good Food pledge, agreeing to buy and serve locally grown food as much as possible, in their restaurants, according to the Mayor's office. Chefs in attendance were Evan Kleiman of Angeli Caffe, Neal and Amy Fraser of Grace, Mary Sue Milliken of Border Grill and Ciudad, Michael Cimarusti of Providence, Nancy Silverton of Osteria Mozza, Pizzeria Mozza and La Brea Bakery, Eric Greenspan of The Foundry on Melrose, Kenneth McCaskill of Engine Co. No. 28, Jaime Martin De Campo and Ramiro Arviso of La Casita Mexicana and Claude Beltran of Noir Café.
Support for LAist comes from
While members of the task force were not identified, the city will be working in collaboration with the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute of Occidental College, and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps on the report. The Mayor's office lists the following that is expected to be completed in the next six months.
The goal will be to develop policy, conduct research, and provide
recommendations in the areas of:
- Best practices in the field of food policy council development
- Food retail and marketing issues
- Food access and transportation
- Urban agriculture and community gardens
- Enhance urban and rural community relationships and
understanding;
- Emergency food networks
- Sustainable agriculture, water use and pesticide use
- School feeding and nutrition education programs
- Food waste
- Local and regional food initiatives
The task force will also be asked to set the framework for a foodshed
assessment, in order to:
- Define the boundaries of the L.A. foodshed
- Identify how much, how and where food is grown within our
foodshed
- Determine the level of regional self sufficiency in food
production
- Identify sources of food in the region.
- Identify methods to enhance regional food security and access to
Good Food within the city and county
of Los Angeles.
- Examine food production resources within the City of Los
Angeles,
including urban agriculture and community gardens
- Understand city and county food consumption patterns
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist