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.
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.
If you would like to be considered for appointment to the Food Policy Council, please submit an interest form or contact dcfpc@douglascountyks.org.
| County Commission Appointees (9): | City of Lawrence Commission Appointees (7): |
Ashley Hornberger Agricultural Producer Cody Haynes Agricultural Producer <Vacant> Land/Water Conservation / Sustainable Ag Liaison Ryan Bowersox, Vice Chair <Vacant> Agricultural Producer Christine Ebert Public Health Organization Margit Kaltenekker K-State Research & Extension-Douglas County Liaison Cheryl Hunsinger Agricultural Producer | Douglas County Farm Bureau Liaison <Vacant> Chamber of Commerce Liaison (Eudora, Baldwin, or Lawrence) | Erin Melton Dietrich Earnhart Elizabeth Keever Maggie Bornholdt Emily Lysen, Chair Ben Sikes City of Lawrence Sustainability Advisory Board Liaison Tyler Lindquist
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Council Staff Liaison:
Connie Fitzpatrick, Food Systems Specialist
E: dcfpc@douglascountyks.org P: 785-330-2873