May 1st Multnomah Food Summit
4/28/2010

“Local food” is regularly celebrated across the neighborhoods of our lovely city. Be it food carts, chic eateries, grocery cooperatives, buying clubs, CSAs, community gardens or the eccentric neighbor growing kohlrabi instead of tulips, Portland’s citizenry seeks organic, local and sustainably produced food. Like cycling, public parks and its “green” architecture, Portland has the opportunity to continue its role as a trendsetter in the national green fever.

For all its ingenuity though, Portland is but a mere city in a larger context. When it comes to the topic of ‘food systems,’ it is inevitable that we stretch our imagination beyond the boundaries of the city. Sure, we have bees, goats, chickens and urban farming, but we don’t have the capacity (yet) to feed the city’s populous the well-balanced diet it deserves. Thus, we consider with both sincerity and graciousness, the bounty of our county.

Enter the Multnomah County Food Initiative.

For those of you who did not know, the Multnomah County Food Initiative is “an innovative partnership between community organizations, businesses and local governments to promote a more sustainable, equitable and healthy local food system.” Since September 2009, community leaders, government officials, concerned citizens, and other food policy aficionados, have met monthly to engage the numerous issues at hand.

Fast forward 9 months. On May 1st, the Multnomah County Food Initiative will introduce its first-ever Food Summit. The goal “is to develop a shared community vision, collaborative food system goals, and a 15-year action plan to:

1.Increase viable local options in our food system
2.Make the healthy choice and easier choice for all
3.Build systemic justice, health, and food security
4.Promote a thriving local economy

The $20 registration fee enables anyone to participate in the event. Whether you produce, distribute, sell or consume food that is grown in the region, your voice and perspective is crucial for an event of this nature.

A true local food system necessitates community participation.

Though the benefits are vast, a sustainable local food system will requires shared knowledge and resources. Here is our opportunity to show other counties, let alone other major American cities, that local food systems are real opportunities to create and sustain vibrant local economies.

Written By: Jared Goodman

(Jared is an educator, activist and food writer here in Portland.  He is the creator of Good-Man-Eats, a blog about food - teaching it, critiquing it, and eating it.  For questions, comments or suggestions, contact Jared at jared@goodmaneats.com)

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