Latest from Food Politics: Weekend reading: Food Policy Councils

Nessa Richman.   Food Policy Councils: Building Civic Engagement and Community Well-Being.   Routledge, 2026. This one was sent to me for a blurb, which I was happy to do: Food Policy Councils is essential reading for anyone who wants to effectively ...

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By Marion Nestle November 13 2026 Weekend reading: Food Policy Councils Nessa Richman.  Food Policy Councils: Building Civic Engagement and Community Well-Being.  Routledge, 2026. This one was sent to me for a blurb, which I was happy to do: Food Policy Councils is essential reading for anyone who wants to effectively advocate for food systems change.  It explains how food council advocacy can help build community while working toward needed changes.  Best, it takes readers step-by-step through everything required to set goals, recruit allies, and conduct successful campaigns.  It’s a treasure! Nessa Richman is the executive director of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council.  She knows the drill. From the Introduction: Food Policy Councils (FPCs) are a critical part of the solution.  They provide a venue for people from different walks of life—farmers, fishers, grocers, food access workers, food justice advocates, and others—to come together to find common ground and collaborate to make a positive difference in local food systems.  FPCs take the long view, and work through democratic means to secure essential gains that, over time, can produce major changes…Civic engagement helps people work cross sometimes profound differences, and to recognize shared values and build community….[It] ensures governments are aware of and responsive to citizen input when forming the policies that impact their residents’ security, prosperity, and well being. From the chapter on building a network: Start with a Check-In Question. The question does not have to be profound, but it should help the people in the room connect on a personal level. “What is one word to describe how you are feeling as you come into our meeting today?” or “What is one thing you did over the weekend that brought you joy?” or “What is the most recent locally grown or made food you ate?” can help set a personal tone that disarms some tendencies to treat other people at the table as potential adversaries. Even in completely friendly groups, a Check-In Question helps level-set and reduce stress levels. Food policy councils are a great way to start getting food systems improvements into local areas.  Go for it! The post Weekend reading: Food Policy Councils appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle      Related Posts An assessment of MAHA’s conflicted interests: Robyn O’Brien’s The Signal Weekend reading: Christopher Gardner’s Food Sense Weekend reading: Science Politics   Now Available: What to Eat Now My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out! It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously. For more information and to order, click here. You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.com, where you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs. Visit the Site » ​​​​​​​ Marion Nestle Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita © Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe. Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy

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