Barbara Emanuel, Manager

Toronto Food StrategyToronto Public Health

April 17, 2013

The Toronto Food Strategy: Integrating Food into Local

Government

Toronto Food Strategy

Spearheaded by Toronto Public Health to: Promote a healthy & sustainable food system Identify collaborative actions that the City can

take

A POWERFUL TOOL FOR BUILDING

HEALTHY VIBRANT CITIES

A POWERFUL TOOL FOR BUILDING

HEALTHY VIBRANT CITIES

City of Toronto’s Existing Food Connections

FOOD (& Gov’t) in SilosFOOD (& Gov’t) in SilosA

GR

ICU

LTU

RE

EC

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FOO

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But Common Barriers across Cities

What Bureaucracies Can Be Good At

Regulations

Good Ideas

Toronto Star – Sept 19, 2010

Toronto Food Strategy Approach

Action oriented

Top down & bottom up

Prioritizing networks & partnerships

Leveraging resources

Research & evaluation

Toronto Food Strategy:Examples in ActionToronto Food Strategy:Examples in Action

Inadequate access to public transit

High Density of “Fast Food”

Low Household Income

Low Density of Community Food Programs/ Food Banks

Lack of Healthy Food Sources

Understanding layers of neighbourhood disadvantages

Broadening discussion on food security among City &community stakeholders

Modified Retail Food Environment Index

1km radius - street network

1km aerial radius(doesn’t reflect on the ground experience)

“Healthier food retail”

All food retail

X 100

Source: Modified Retail Food Environment Index

Mapping highlights legacies of not integrating food access into City building over time

Examples of apt tower communities in GermanySource: ERA Architects (2010). Tower Neighbourhood Renewal in the Greater Golden Horseshoe

Mobile Good Food Market

Multiple Goals: Making healthy food

more accessible

Evaluating mobile model

Engaging community

Building links w other City depts to create moreenabling regulations

Exploring social enterprise opportunities

Leveraging City Transit Assets

New Mobile Good Food Market Vehicle(Summer 2013?)

Policies on Access to Land & Infrastructure

MANY OF THESE VEGGIES CAN BE GROWN HERE

Locally Grown World Crops

Food Skills & Employability Training

Integrating food safety, nutrition & employment training skills

Healthier Corner Stores

Conducting on-site food store surveys & owner interviews

Working with Ec Dev, retailers, community & other jurisdictions to identify what might work in Toronto

Lessons Learned So Far

Build partnerships focused on action, even small projects that allow City staff & NGO partners to see food connections can create many benefits

Be opportunistic, find where momentum is

Learning to communicate our message effectively to diverse audiences is critical

Lessons Learned So Far

Local gov’ts can play strong role in food system renewal, but need to embrace both top-down & bottom-up approaches

Working w community, local gov’t can often pilot innovative food solutions “on the cheap” by leveraging diverse resources

Barbara Emanuel, ManagerToronto Food Strategy Toronto Public Health416-392-7464bemanuel@toronto.ca