Release Date: August 11, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth Luna, Social Marketing and Media Liaison, Communities Putting Prevention to Work Initiative/207-5373
Metro Health Seeking San Antonio Food Policy Council members to Guide Community to Better Nutrition
SAFPC is part of obesity prevention initiative; 16 members needed
The Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) program of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is seeking to fill 16 openings on the newly created San Antonio Food Policy Council (SAFPC) to guide San Antonio to better nutrition. Applications will be accepted now through Wednesday, August 25, 2010.
SAFPC is a 25-member council with representatives of the food system already committed to serving. Additional members are being sought from the following areas or professions: food assistance program, higher education, dietitian, AgriLife Extension Agency, restaurants, Education Service Center or schools, health education, food distribution, local grocers, government agriculture agency, urban agriculture, community member, local agriculture producer, labor representative, and more.
The council seeks to develop holistic projects and policies to improve local access to healthy and affordable food as well as overall nutrition. It also aims to support local farmers and sustainable and equitable farming practices. The effort is part of Metro Health’s obesity prevention campaign.
“The mission of the San Antonio Food Policy Council is to establish an equitable and sustainable food system in the greater San Antonio area,” says Len Treviño, Metro Health, CPPW Leadership Team liaison. “This council will integrate the sometimes disconnected areas of community food issues and bring them into the mainstream - linking nutrition, anti-hunger, food safety, public health, sustainable farming and other issues together to improve the community’s overall health, local economy, and environment.”
SAFPC will promote coordination between the various sectors of the food system to provide a forum for local food issues; and foster local community food projects, build demand for locally and regionally produced foods, and improve local land use policies related to food production and distribution.
Individuals interested in serving on the council should contact Len Treviño at (210) 207-5374.
