HEALTHY FOOD SYSTEMS

The food are available to us depends on who we are, where we live, and the resources we have. Law and policy plays a big role in shaping our food systems, from access to land to grow food; to how food is processed, distributed, and marketed; to whether healthy foods are easy to find and convenient, or expensive and scarce, and for whom. Zoning and tax law changes can make it easier to create new grocery stores, farmers markets, food shelves, urban farms, and community gardens. New regulations and incentives can make land access easier for new and emerging farmers, or help food outlets increase the healthy products they sell. Community groups and governments can create food policy councils to amplify residents’ voices in improving their community food systems.