All (Food) Politics is Local: Increasing Food Access Through Local Government Action

Healthy Eating Policy Strategies in Community Health Improvement Plans: A Cross-Sectional Survey of US Local Health Departments

“…Diet can be improved through a range of strategies, but policy strategies are powerful tools to improve population health and address health disparities. 5 Although much food policy is controlled at the federal and state levels, recommendations for local government action recognize the value and constraints of crafting and implementing tailored policies to respond to the unique needs of local food environments, which can interact with and be preempted by state and federal policies. 5 , 6 Policy strategies enacted by local jurisdictions, the loci of government action under federal and state levels (eg, municipalities or counties), to improve the food environment are categorized by their potential to increase the availability or identification of healthy foods, reduce access to unhealthy foods, or improve school food environments.…”

“… 5 Although much food policy is controlled at the federal and state levels, recommendations for local government action recognize the value and constraints of crafting and implementing tailored policies to respond to the unique needs of local food environments, which can interact with and be preempted by state and federal policies. 5 , 6 Policy strategies enacted by local jurisdictions, the loci of government action under federal and state levels (eg, municipalities or counties), to improve the food environment are categorized by their potential to increase the availability or identification of healthy foods, reduce access to unhealthy foods, or improve school food environments. 6 – 9 Examples of strategies to increase healthy food choices include the Institute of Medicine's recommendation that local governments regulate menu labeling while other experts highlight municipal and local government actions that provide fresh produce incentives to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries or zoning ordinances permitting land use for farmers' markets and healthy food retail outlets.…”

“…6 – 9 Examples of strategies to increase healthy food choices include the Institute of Medicine's recommendation that local governments regulate menu labeling while other experts highlight municipal and local government actions that provide fresh produce incentives to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries or zoning ordinances permitting land use for farmers' markets and healthy food retail outlets. 5 , 8 – 15 A lack of access to healthy foods often coincides with a glut of unhealthy food sources, and the Institute of Medicine and the National Prevention Strategy suggest that local governments adopt policies regulating fast-food restaurants and unhealthy food advertising to limit unhealthy food options and influence weight status. 9 , 11 , 13 , 15 , 16 Local regulations and taxes on unhealthy dietary components such as sugar-sweetened beverages, sodium, and trans fats are contemporary approaches supported by the National Association of County & City Health Officials.…”

Healthy Food Incentive Impacts on Direct-to-Consumer Sales: A Michigan Example

“…At the intersection of the economic development and local food systems literature, the question has been raised about the potential impacts of incentive and benefits programs on sales at farmers markets (Bertmann, Ohri-Vachaspati, Buman, & Wharton, 2012;Broad Leib, 2013;Horst & Gaolach, 2015;Palma, Morgan, Woods, & McCoy, 2013;Sadler, 2016;Young, Karpyn, Uy, Wich, & Glyn, 2011). 1 This issue is relevant to policymakers focused on expanding local and regional food systems, as SNAP benefit program recipients may represent new customers for regional and local food products (Oberholtzer, Dimitri, & Schumacher, 2012;Sadler, 2016).…”

Policies Supporting Local Food in the United States

“…In recent years, Chicago, Cleveland, Madison, and San Diego, among others, have liberalized their zoning rules to allow urban land to be used for a range of agricultural activities [33]. A variety of cities and counties including San Francisco, CA; Albany County, NY; Cabarrus County, NC; Cleveland, OH; Los Angeles, CA; and Woodbury and Linn Counties, IA, have also passed resolutions supporting regional and/or sustainable procurement [29].…”