On May 26, Governor Bill Ritter signed into law Senate Bill 106: Creation of Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council, which will convene key stakeholders to address improving access to healthy food within Colorado. The bill was initiated by LiveWell Colorado, a nonprofit organization committed to reducing obesity in Colorado by promoting healthy eating and active living, and sponsored by Senator Bob Bacon (D-Fort Collins) and Representative Marsha Looper (R-Calhan).
The bill establishes a state-endorsed 13-member council, which will work across diverse sectors, to develop food system recommendations that state and local governments, businesses, agriculture and consumers can use to improve healthy food access in Colorado.
“There isn’t one single place or single group that addresses the complexities of food systems and their impact on health,” said Lisa Malde, Director of LiveWell Chaffee County. “For the first time in Colorado, the Food Systems Advisory Council will convene stakeholders from the multiple sectors that impact food systems to recommend policies and programs that will increase access to healthy foods.”
LiveWell Chaffee County anticipates that the Council’s work will support and align with the programs and partnerships already in place in Chaffee County, which include:
- Raise awareness about environmental impacts on eating behaviors by enhancing programs such as the Boys & Girls Club’s “Healthy Habits” program
- Promote nutrition education in elementary and middle schools through programs such as the Salida Middle School’s student garden
- Work with local school districts to serve more locally grown foods
- Make the Farmers Market more affordable for low income families through a voucher program for SNAP recipients
- Coordinate with members of the local food economy to fund a food assessment to determine issues and opportunities within our food system
In addition, LiveWell Colorado anticipates that the Council’s work will address many of the recommendations outlined in the nonprofit’s recently released Food Policy Blueprint, which include (among others):
- Increase participation in federal food assistance programs. Colorado currently has one of the lowest participation rates of any state.
- Address food deserts by providing incentives to support the economic development of healthy food retailers, including full-service grocers, mobile vendors, corner stores, and farmers’ markets and stands.
- Introduce electronic benefits transfer (EBT) to farmer’s markets to make it easier for all Coloradans to purchase healthy foods.
- Address school food procurement regulations to make it easier for schools to purchase healthy local foods.
“The bill strengthens local and regional sustainable food systems and offers economic benefits to Colorado,” said Bacon. “In addition to combating obesity, the work of this council will promote economic development and support local agriculture.”
The council will convene later this year and include representatives from four agencies (Departments of Health and Human Services, Public Health and Environment, Agriculture and Education) and nine gubernatorial designees with experience in Nutrition and Health (2 members), Agricultural Production (3 members), Food Wholesalers/Retailers (2 members), Anti-Hunger and Food Assistance (1 member), and Economic Development (1 member).
“Once established, this multi-sector Council will look at issues and address barriers to getting underserved communities, particularly low income families and children, access to healthy, fresh food. There are far too many families in Colorado that struggle to put food on the table every day, and SB 106 will help address that problem and ensure our children are well nourished,” said Looper.
To read the full text of the bill, review LiveWell Colorado’s Food Policy Blueprint or learn more about the nonprofit’s public policy agenda, please visit www.livewellcolorado.org.
About LiveWell Colorado
LiveWell Colorado is a nonprofit organization committed to reducing obesity in Colorado by promoting healthy eating and active living. Leading a comprehensive approach, LiveWell Colorado inspires and advances policy, environmental and lifestyle changes that aim to provide every Coloradan with access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity in the places they live, work, learn and play. For more information about LiveWell Colorado, visit www.livewellcolorado.org.
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