ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT


                                                     Date:  October 2, 1995
                                                     Dept. File #: CC 25/95

     TO:       Vancouver City Council

     FROM:     Medical Health Officer

     SUBJECT:  Vancouver's Food Policy Coalition



     INFORMATION

          The General Manager of Community Services submits this report for
          INFORMATION.


     COUNCIL POLICY

     There is no applicable Council policy.


     PURPOSE

     The intent of  this report is to inform City  Council of the existence
     of the  Vancouver  Food Policy  Coalition  and its  discussions  about
     generating a Food Policy for the City of Vancouver.


     BACKGROUND

     In 1990,  nutritionists in  the Vancouver Health  Department initiated
     discussion amongst themselves about the need for a Food Policy for the
     City of  Vancouver.  Highlights  of these discussions  centered around
     issues of local food security;  the production and  supply of adequate
     quality foods and people's ability to acquire them.

     Through  local   networking  with  other  agencies   and  services  in
     Vancouver,   the  Health   Department  nutritionists   expanded  their
     discussions to include agricultural  land sustainability, the Buy B.C.
     First program, food support programs and nutrition education programs.

     By 1993, these discussion meetings became formalized and the Vancouver
     Food  Policy  Coalition was  created.   Members  to date  include Farm
     Folk/City Folk Society, Vancouver  Health Department, B.C. Ministry of
     Agriculture, Reach  Community Health Centre,  Chinese Cultural Centre,
     B.C. Dietitians  and Nutritionists Association, the  Greater Vancouver
     Food Bank Society and the Council of Marketing Boards of B.C.


     DISCUSSION

     The Vancouver Food Policy Coalition is working towards the development
     of a Food Policy for the City of Vancouver.  A draft  discussion paper
     has been produced with a focus  on municipal and community action (see
     Appendix A).   On October 27-28, 1995  the Coalition is sponsoring  an
     international conference at the Chinese Cultural Centre entitled "Food
     Security:  Action  and Policy Conference" (see Appendix  D).  The two-
     day conference will draw  together community members and professionals
     from the areas of agriculture, food distribution and marketing, health
     care and emergency food and social  services to work towards an action
     plan building food security locally.  Experts in these areas and those

     representing cities who already have food  policies will be addressing
     conference participants.  Mexico, Australia, the U.S. and  Canada will
     be represented at this conference.  The organizers are hoping that the
     impetus from  this conference  will assist  in developing a  Vancouver
     Food Policy.


     ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

     One of the principal tenets of food security is maintaining and, where
     possible,  increasing  the  sustainability  of our  food  systems  and
     farming  methods.   To  do this,  we must  enhance  the health  of our
     environment.   Lowering the  number of  pesticides and herbicides  and
     increasing Integrated Pest Management programs  is just one example of
     how  this is already occurring.  Supporting our B.C. Certified Organic
     program is another.


     SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS

     Food  policy discussions  support  healthy  families and  communities.
     With a focus  of enhancing nutrition  and increasing accessibility  of
     locally grown and  produced foods,  especially to those  in need,  the
     following initiatives supported by the coalitions are:

        - Maintenance of Inner City School lunches,

        - Community/sharing kitchens set up  in neighbourhood houses and/or
          community centres,

        - Encouragement  of  increased  use  of  community  gardens,  urban
          gardens and rooftop gardens,

        - Public promotion  and education  of communities to  support local
          neighbourhood grocery stores to ensure increased accessability of
          food for pedestrians, the elderly, etc.,

        - Sustainability  of  the  new  Eastside  Farmers  Market  and  the
          development of other Farmers Markets around town.


     CONCLUSION

     In  summary,   the  Vancouver   Food  Policy  Coalition   through  its
     discussions and conferencing is working towards the implementa-tion of
     a Food Policy for  the City of Vancouver.  it is important for Council
     to be aware of this  process as they will  be called upon during  this
     consultative process.



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                                   APPENDICES



            A - Food Policy Discussion Paper (Draft)       10 pages  

            B - Vancouver's Food Future... A Vision         4 pages  

            C - Position of BCDNA on Use of Local Foods     3 pages  

            D - Food Policy Conference 1995                 2 pages