Minnesota Food Charter: Designing Food Systems Change, Mobilizing Leadership for Healthy Food Access

Complex issues in food, health, agriculture and economics inspired the Minnesota Food Charter, to address the cost and impact of obesity and diet-related diseases on the state’s residents. A community engagement process involving thousands of stakeholders produced the Food Charter, a shared roadmap to guide food policy and planning at local, regional, and state levels toward greater access to healthy, affordable, and safe food. Intended to reduce the risk and cost of diet-related diseases, these policy and systems changes conserve state resources and boost economic prosperity. Elements included background research, public engagement, community organizing, document drafting, and strategic communications. Communities most marginalized within the food system and facing the greatest health disparities were explicitly pursued for input and leadership roles. This multi-stage initiative identified healthy food access barriers and strategies, emphasizing five institutional settings (schools, health care, community, child care and workplaces). A structured, 9-month popular education process systematically analyzed public feedback (including 150 events, 400 online questionnaires, nearly 100 interviews and listening sessions, and a 10-week online townhall forum) to determine civic priorities. Stakeholders identified policy and systems barriers and strategies associated with healthy food skills, healthy food environments, healthy food infrastructure, and related cultural, social, and structural issues. A Steering Committee, Drafting Committee, and peer reviewers guided 11 rounds of document drafting; barriers and strategies were based on evidence and best/promising practices. Launched in October 2014 for diverse leaders across sectors and scales, the Food Charter mobilizes a vast healthy food advocacy network now positioned to implement these changes.