The Food Policy Council was established by the County Commission in 2010, and formed as a joint Lawrence-County advisory body with the City of Lawrence in 2013.
Mission
The Food Policy Council (FPC) seeks to identify the benefits, challenges and opportunities for a successful, sustainable local food system in Douglas County, Kansas.
Purpose
To this end, the purpose of the FPC is:
- To advise elected officials on food-system related policy issues and
- To provide a community forum for local food system development.
Bylaws
Read our bylaws to learn more about our purpose and structure.
Goals
The FPC works to help advance community progress towards the following goals, which form the structure for the Douglas County Food System Plan (adopted summer 2017).
- Goal 1: Agricultural producers, food entrepreneurs, and food sector workers thrive in our regional economy
- Goal 2: As our cities grow, we prioritize natural resource conservation and maintain working lands to promote soil health
- Goal 3: We build and design our communities to ensure food access, foster health, and eliminate food deserts
- Goal 4: Our community fosters an equitable food system
- Goal 5: Our community eliminates waste in our local food system
How to Get Involved
Attend a Meeting
The easiest way to get involved in the Food Policy Council is by attending the meetings which occur every third Monday of the month from 6:30-8:30pm at various locations in Douglas County. At these meetings, you can connect with community stakeholders who all have the same goal in mind: a successful, sustainable local food system in Douglas County, Kansas.
Apply for Council Appointment
If you live, work, or own a business in Douglas County, and you have personal passion and experience, or professional expertise related to our community food system, you can apply to serve on the Food Policy Council. Applications will be reviewed and members are appointed by both the Douglas County and City of Lawrence Commissioners with consideration for diversity of perspectives from across all sectors of the food system. We are currently accepting applications for several 2020 Council appointments. Members are appointed for 3-year terms that start in January, with the option to serve a second term. Applications are also accepted on a rolling basis and held for future consideration.
Join a Working Group
Our working groups are open to the public and do not require a formal appointment. They are a great way for residents to engage in on-going collaboration to help advance community priorities and policy change with the FPC. Our working groups are organized around the five goals of the Food System Plan. Our working groups are:
- Food & Farm: Building the local food economy and ensuring we maintain needed natural resources for continued local agricultural production.
- Health Equity: Reducing barriers to healthy food access and promoting equity in our food system.
- Forward: Eliminating food waste through reduction, recovery, and diversion (including composting).
- Economic Development: Building an equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem.
To learn more and find out about monthly meeting dates/times (they vary) contact dcfpc@douglascountyks.org.
Meetings
The Food Policy Council (FPC) meets regularly every third Monday of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at various locations around our Douglas County food system. All meetings are open to the public. See below for information on upcoming meetings, including location and agenda. Past meeting minutes are also posted.
Sign up to receive our Agenda announcements each month!
Working Group Meetings
Our working group are where the real work of the Food Policy Council occurs. All working meetings* are open to the public and interested community members are welcome to join these groups. Our working groups are organized around the five goals of the Food System Plan. If you are interested in receiving more information or joining a working group, please contact dcfpc@douglascountyks.org.
*Working group meeting times vary
Food & Farm, Goals 1 & 2
Areas of Focus: Building the local food economy and ensuring we maintain needed natural resources for continued local agricultural production.
Health Equity, Goals 3 & 4
Areas of Focus: Reducing barriers to healthy food access and promoting equity in our food system.
Food Waste Elimination, Goal 5
Areas of Focus: Eliminating food waste through reduction, recovery, and diversion (including composting).
Upcoming Full Council Meetings
| Food Policy Council (FPC) Mon, Oct 16 2023 6:30 PM | 1006 New Hampshire and Zoom |
| Food Policy Council (FPC) Mon, Nov 20 2023 6:30 PM | 1006 New Hampshire and Zoom |
| Food Policy Council (FPC) Mon, Dec 18 2023 6:30 PM | 1006 New Hampshire, Lawrence and Zoom |
Past Meetings
Members
As a joint County and Lawrence-appointed group, the Food Policy Council is a diverse group of stakeholders, from agricultural producers to public health workers to researchers and more. Below is the current roster of board members and their designated representation, if applicable. Council bylaws call for six organizational liaisons and four agricultural producers among the membership; the remaining positions are flexible, welcoming unique expertise, lived experience, and personal civic interest.
| County Commission Appointees (9) | City of Lawrence Commission Appointees (7) |
|---|---|
| Ashley Hornberger Agricultural Producer | Erin Melton |
| Cody Haynes Agricultural Producer | Dietrich Earnhart |
| Suzy Mooney Land/Water Conservation / Sustainable Ag Liaison | <Vacant> |
| Ryan Bowersox, Vice Chair | Maggie Bornholdt |
| Crystal Bradshaw-Gonzales Agricultural Producer | Emily Lysen, Chair |
| Christine Ebert Public Health Organization | Ben Sikes City of Lawrence Sustainability Advisory Board Liaison |
| Margit Kaltenekker K-State Research & Extension-Douglas County Liaison | Tyler Lindquist |
| Cheryl Hunsinger Agricultural Producer | Douglas County Farm Bureau Liaison | |
| Mackie Moore Chamber of Commerce Liaison (Eudora, Baldwin, or Lawrence) |
Documents
New Hampshire Office
1006 New Hampshire Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
United States
