Food Deserts
What GKCFPC is doing
We will work to increase access to healthy foods in at least three communities: Douglas Sumner in Kansas City, Kan. and Ivanhoe and Marlborough in Kansas City, Mo.
How to increase access to fresh, healthy, affordable and locally-grown food? - This is accomplished through a variety of short, intermediate, and long-term strategies, all of which the GKCFPC will work to enable through removal of policy barriers and the structuring of policy supports.
Examples of policy initiatives may include, but will not be limited to:
- Changing public transportation policies regarding bag limits
- Addressing water access issues for urban food production
- Requesting resolutions stating a city’s commitment to increasing access in area food deserts and directing city staff and departments to take specific actions in compiling information, partnering with community groups, and directing resources to that cause.
We will seek additional partners in public, private, and governmental bodies who may facilitate or improve the success of the short, intermediate and long-term strategies.
Where to search to build and maintain partnerships? - GKCFP works with city, county, and state staff and elected officials to address Land Trust/Land Bank policies, as such lots are potential food production sites. Continue cooperation with Building a Healthier Heartland and other organizations currently working to address food desert problems. These strategies are outlined in the Healthy Eating in Our Communities BHH work plan, and will be developed and revised as needed.
Current progress
In 2010 the GKCFPC helped lead the effort to update and revise Kansas City, Mo.’s ordinances governing urban agricultural activity. This effort included participating in developing a proposed ordinance, training activists on effective advocacy, helping coordinate testimony on the ordinance, and working with members of the City Council to negotiate a compromise proposal which was successfully passed on June 10th, 2010.
Beginning in spring 2011, the GKCFPC worked with the Jackson County Land Trust and the Kansas City, Mo. Neighborhood and Community Services staff to help the Land Trust board adopt a resolution allowing the transfer of vacant properties to neighborhood and community based nonprofits, with the goal of decreasing blight, increasing urban food production and access, and reducing the cost of property maintenance to Kansas City. The GKCFPC also worked to coordinate better access to information regarding vacant properties currently held in trust that are available for transfer to neighborhood and community nonprofits for food production
Assisted KC Healthy Kids and LISC of Greater Kansas City in the development and promotion of Kansas Senate Resolution 1805, promoting Livable Streets planning. Sr 1805 was adopted on February 23rd, 2012.
In the Fall of the 2011, the GKCFPC worked with partners in its Food Deserts Initiative, as well as with elected officials in Kansas City, Mo. to develop a resolution aimed at underscoring local food desert problems and establishing a partnership between the City of Kansas City and the GKCFPC to address the problem through a variety of short and long-term strategies. Resolution 120046 was adopted on January 19, 2012.
Ongoing efforts
- Supporting the adoption and implementation of Complete Streets and Livable Streets initiatives in municipalities throughout the metro area.
- Participating in the H2O to Grow effort in Wyandotte County; a broad coalition advocating for improving water access and affordability for urban agricultural activities.
- In 2012, The GKCFPC continues to support LISC of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City and Jackson County as they cooperate on state legislation aimed at expediting and reforming the land transfer process.
- HB1659 was introduced by Rep. Noel Torpey in January 2012 and is now making its way through the legislature.
- Coordination with Kansas City, Mo. resulting from Resolution 120046 is ongoing and includes strategies on:
- Water access
- Public transportation
- Urban gardening and farming
- Farmers' market development and promotion
- Grocery store attraction and development
- Complete and livable streets
- Many additional access and affordability challenges
How you can get involved
- Volunteer to assist in community garden and farmer’s market development in food desert communities.
- Volunteer to assist in cooking demonstrations at farmer's markets.
- Volunteer to assist in collecting data about food insecurity and food access in the metro.
- Join the Food Deserts Initiative work group if:
- You are an organization or business working to increase access to, affordability of, or consumption of healthy foods in under-served communities.
- You are a consumer interested in advocating for better access and affordability of healthy foods in under-served communities.
- You are an elected official or government staff person working to address healthy food access challenges.
