Toledo Development News

Toledo City Council Reviews Food Policy Audit, Recommends Relaunching Food Policy Council and Investing in Local Food Economy

The Toledo City Council's Housing and Community Development Committee met to discuss an update on the city's food policy, focusing on the findings of a CARET (Community and Agricultural Resilience Audit Tool) audit. The audit, completed with community partner input, revealed strengths in urban agriculture zoning and regional assets like the Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (NOC), but identified gaps in active food policy councils, farmer financing, food hub infrastructure, and a lack of a formal emergency food plan. Recommendations include relaunching the Food Policy Council, investing in farmers, building local food economy infrastructure, implementing existing policies, protecting programs from funding cuts, developing an emergency food plan, creating a coordinated food systems workforce pipeline, and signing onto the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact. Progress has been made in areas like high tunnel permitting, microgrants for farmers, and exploring funding for a food hub and regional farmer directory. The council also discussed ongoing efforts in food rescue, workforce training, and advocating for state legislation. Public comment highlighted concerns about community garden maintenance, the quality of school food, and the need for more fruit trees in the city. The importance of a hybrid food council model, supported by both city government and external advocacy, was emphasized.