A cheery, well lit, Save-A-Lot grocery store — featuring fresh produce, lowcost cereals and meat packaging on site — opened this month on Waukegan's southwest side, an area officials called a "food desert" for underserved residents.The store employs 35 local residents and plans to hire two assistant store managers soon, said Save-A-Lot district manager Thomas Hill, after a dozen officials toured the 10,000squarefoot facility Saturday morning.

Building on existing community food system efforts and public interest in local foods, the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota has successfully developed a broad range of food systems related policies. The municipal government and its strong non-governmental partners take a full systems approach, addressing food system areas ranging from urban agriculture to local food business, community kitchens, public markets, food retail and access, and neighborhood connections.

The City of Cleveland municipal government began advancing food policy in 1976 with support for urban agriculture, namely community gardening, which has remained the city’s key area of focus. In 2008 other food systems issues, beyond urban agriculture, began receiving unprecedented municipal government support. For example, the municipal government began linking food production policies with strong food access goals. 

Exploring Stories of Innovation is a series of short articles that explore how local governments from across the United States are strengthening their community’s food system through planning and policy. Beginning in 2012, Growing Food Connections (GFC) conducted a national scan and identified 299 local governments across the United States that are developing and implementing a range of innovative plans, public programs, regulations, laws, financial investments and other policies to strengthen the food system. GFC conducted exploratory telephone interviews with 20 of these local governments. This series highlights some of the unique planning and policy strategies used by some of these urban and rural local governments to enhance community food security while ensuring sustainable and economically viable agriculture and food production.

Cultivating Camden seeks to build off of Camden’s existing assets by identifying opportunities to increase food access and economic opportunities within the city.  It analyzes the city’s current food system and food economy, acknowledging the challenges that residents face in accessing healthy food, while at the same time making recommendations to grow food as an economic sector; increase opportunities for food entrepreneurs; engage Camden’s institutions; and support organizations already working to increase access to healthy food, healthcare, and job opportunities.

This research study is an assessment of access to healthy food in Prince George's County. It identifies issues related to demand and supply of healthy food through surveys of food retailers, and surveys and focus group discussions with consumers. It includes research findings on areas with limited access to healthy food, food-health connection, school meals, and food insecurity in the County. Based on the study findings and national and international promising practices, policy recommendations are provided for creating a healthy, equitable, and sustainable food system that ensures every Prince Georgian has access to nutritious, affordable, sustainably grown, safe, and culturally appropriate food. 

Building on the work of the 2011 Sonoma County Food Forum and2011 Sonoma County Community Food Assessment, the Sonoma County Food System Alliance (SCFSA) and the County of Sonoma Department of Health Services developed the Sonoma County Healthy and Sustainable Food Action Plan (Action Plan). The Action Plan provides a road map with a shared community vision and goals for the local food system, specifically around the areas of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Economic Vitality, Healthy Eating, and Social Equity. Also included are helpful tools and resources, including templates, indicators, and an inventory of sample policies, toolkits, and resources.