Building Local Health and Equity through Federal Food and Agriculture Policy

Using examples from the Farm Bill and Child Nutrition Reauthorization, this workshop will discuss the important role of public health and food justice partners and coalitions in advancing federal policies that bolster local food systems and that reach underserved communities, all with the goal of improving community health and fostering equity.   Specifically, the workshop will discuss the vital role the Getting Our Act Together (GOAT) Coalition played during the 2013/4 Farm Bill reauthorization in moving forward key provisions from the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act.  Additionally, the workshop will discuss the legislation created in 2010 to establish funding for a Farm to School Grant Program targeted to serve the schools in the US with the highest percentages of students receiving free and reduced-price lunches.  Overall, the presentation will focus on coalition work among public health, farm to institution, and agriculture advocates around federal farm and food policies and how these groups are realizing equity concerns for all involved.