When and why did Denver form a Sustainable Food Policy Council?
In October 2010, Mayor Hickenlooper formed Denver’s Sustainable Food Policy Council. The City submitted an application to the US Department of Agriculture through the Food and Nutrition Service’s Hunger-Free Communities program. The application criteria for this grant provided the impetus to form the Denver Sustainable Food Policy Council. Regardless of whether we receive funding through this program, we recognize that a need exists for a food policy council. The Council will act as an advisory entity to the City on matters of food policy and programs and will help raise awareness in the community about the issues and challenges with our food system. The SFPC is comprised of community leaders working across the food system from farmers to restaurant owners to food justice advocates (see below for a complete list of members).
Why should I be concerned about food?
Less than 1% of the food that is consumed in the metro-region is produced within Colorado. Annually, we do not capture the $5.7 billion in economic activity that a robust local food production sector could generate. We have a short growing season. Denver leaves $30-$40 million dollars in unclaimed food stamp benefits on the table (enough to support 2-3 grocery stores) each year, with that number growing annually. We are raising the first generation of children with a shorter life expectancy than their parents due to obesity and a lack of physical activity. These are just a few of the reasons why we need your help. It is time for Denver to actively grow our food system to be more resilient, economically viable and focused on nourishing all of our citizens.
What is the purpose of the Sustainable Food Policy Council?
The purpose of the Sustainable Food Policy Council is to:
1. Increase food production in the City & County of Denver.
2. Enhance the food security of all Denver residents.
3. Improve access to locally produced food.
4. Improve the economic viability of urban agriculture.
5. Recognize and enhance the role of the food and agriculture system in conserving and regenerating Denver’s
natural resources and environment.
6. Improve health for all Denver’s residents.
7. Build awareness about the community impacts of local, healthy food access and encourage participation in
Denver’s local food system.
When does the Sustainable Food Policy Council meet?
The Sustainable Food Policy Council meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
If I want to learn more about the Sustainable Food Policy Council, who should I contact?
To learn more about the Sustainable Food Policy Council, contact:
Katherine K. Cornwell, LEED-AP
Healthy Eating Active Living Program Manager
200 W. 14th Ave, Suite 210
Denver, CO 80204
katherine.cornwell@denvergov.org
Council Members:
• Michael Buchenau - Denver Urban Gardens, Executive Director
• Andy Grant - Grant Family Farms CSA, Farmer/Owner
• Eric Kornacki - Revision International, Executive Director
• Sundari Kraft - Heirloom Gardens/Sustainable Food Denver, Farmer/Owner (Co-Chair)
• John Leevers - Leevers Supermarkets, CEO
• Leo Lesh - Denver Public Schools Food & Nutrition Services, Executive Director of Enterprise Management
• Pete Marczyk - Marczyk Fine Foods, CEO
• Dana Miller - Transition Denver/Grow Local Colorado, Executive Director
• Aaron Miripol - Urban Land Conservancy Executive Director
• Chris Parr - Denver Housing Authority, Director of Real Estate Development
• Nigel Perrymond - Harvesting True Growth, Executive Director
• Ceyl Prinster - Colorado Enterprise Fund, President & CEO
• Teri Rippeto - Potager Restaurant & Wine Bar, Chef/Owner
• Lisa Rogers - Feed Denver, Executive Director
• Adam Schlegel – Snooze AM Eatery, Consiglieri
• Wade Shelton - Trust for Public Land, Project Manager
• Susan Shepherd - Queen City Urban Farms, Farmer/Owner
• Krista Roberts - Slow Food Denver, Executive Director
• Adam Tsai – University of Colorado Division of General Internal Medicine & Center for Human Nutrition, Physician (Co-Chair)
• Todd Stevenson - In Season Local Market, CEO
• Paul Tamburello – GrowHaus, Owner
• Lisa Walvoord - LiveWell Colorado, Vice President of Policy
• Alexis Weightman - Colorado Health Foundation, Senior Public Policy Officer
Ex-Officio Team:
• Tina Axelrad - Department of Community Planning & Development, Principal City Planner
• Devon Buckels – Department of Parks & Recreation, Senior City Planner
• Rachel Cleaves - Colorado Center for Community Development at UC-Denver, LiveWell Westwood Coordinator
• Katherine Cornwell - Department of Environmental Health, Healthy Eating Active Living Program Manager
• Michael Miera - Office of Economic Development, Community Development Specialist
• Susan Motika - Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Program), State Food Policy Coordinator
• Michelle Pyle – Department of Community Planning & Development, Associate City Planner
• Shannon Spurlock – Denver Urban Gardens, Community Initiatives Coordinator
• Jennifer Weiczoreck - Denver Public Health, Public Health Planner
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