Implementation Efforts
The Implementation Task Force has developed a comprehensive workplan based on recommendations from the first phase of Homegrown Minneapolis. The workplan identifies short-, mid-, and long-term priorities and assigns specific recommendations to City Departments which will be responsible for moving them forward.
Workgroups
To assist the Task Force, workgroups have been established to focus on implementation efforts related to individual recommendations or groups of related recommendations. Formal and informal workgroups will be added over the life of the Task Force as need and capacity arises. To learn more about a particular workgroup, please contact the appropriate convener. The following workgroups have been established:
Regulatory Review/Business Models workgroup
- Scope: This workgroup will identify, clarify, and revise problematic regulations related to the operation and start up of local food-related enterprises.
Conveners: Tim Jenkins ( Tim.Jenkins@minneapolismn.gov), Robin Garwood ( Robin.Garwood@minneapolismn.gov), Jenny Breen
Community Garden Program workgroup
- Scope: This workgroup will develop guidelines related to community gardens on City land, as well as clarify and streamline processes for obtaining water, compost, soil testing, and other resources.
Conveners: Elizabeth Glidden ( Elizabeth.Glidden@minneapolismn.gov), Karin Berkholtz ( Karin.Berkholtz@minneapolismn.gov), Kirsten Saylor
Long-Term Food Policy Advisory Group workgroup
- Scope: This workgroup will explore the need for and structure of a long-term food policy advisory entity which will help guide the City’s local foods efforts.
Conveners: June Mathiowetz, Cam Gordon ( Cam.Gordon@minneapolismn.gov), Julie Ristau
Local Food Sustainability Indicator workgroup
- Scope: This workgroup will develop targets for the City’s new Local Food Sustainability Indicator, which will help measure progress on local food-related goals.
Conveners: June Mathiowetz, Valerie Martinez
Food Access workgroup
- Scope: This workgroup will address food access issues, specifically the development of a community kitchen inventory, food distribution pilot projects, farmers’ market promotion in diverse communities, and the creation of a city-wide EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) system for farmers’ markets.
Conveners: Alison Moore ( Alison.Moore@minneapolismn.gov), Rose Brewer
Municipal Farmers’ Market workgroup
- Scope: This workgroup will address the main Minneapolis farmers’ market with the goal of developing a market that showcases local food, local growers, and embodies the principles of the Homegrown Minneapolis initiative.
Conveners: Greg Goeke ( Greg.Goeke@minneapolismn.gov), Erica Prosser ( Erica.Prosser@minneapolismn.gov)
Urban Agriculture Policy Plan Steering Committee
- Scope: This committee will advise on the development of an Urban Agriculture Policy Plan - a city-wide planning document focused on land use and development issues related to urban agriculture.
Conveners: Amanda Arnold ( Amanda.Arnold@minneapolismn.gov)
Local Food Purchasing workgroup
- Scope: This workgroup will advise on the desirability of establishing a policy at the City of Minneapolis that gives preference to local food purchases and make recommendations on the content of such a policy.
Conveners: Kelly Wilder ( Kelly.Wilder@minneapolismn.gov), Cam Gordon ( Cam.Gordon@minneapolismn.gov)
Additional Projects
- In addition to forming workgroups to tackle specific recommendations or groups of related recommendations, the Task Force is also working with City staff and community partners to make progress on other recommendations. Current examples include:
- Developing an inventory of community/commercial kitchens in Minneapolis. The goal of this inventory is to identify existing facilities that are suitable for various uses such as cooking classes, canning and food preservation, and value-added food processing. This inventory will be made available to Minneapolis residents and entrepreneurs in order to facilitate connections between residents and existing community resources. For more information, please contact project lead, Kelly Wilder, at the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support ( Kelly.Wilder@minneapolismn.gov).
- Developing an inventory of small business financing and training opportunities available from the City of Minneapolis and from external organizations. The goal of this inventory is to identify existing resources and determine any gaps or barriers to starting a local food-related business. This inventory will be made available to Minneapolis entrepreneurs and small business owners in order to connect them with helpful resources and services. For more information, please contact project lead, Kelly Wilder, at the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support ( Kelly.Wilder@minneapolismn.gov).
- Supporting the development of a community-based infrastructure for food preservation (facilitating connections that lead to educational opportunities, access to space and resources, etc) so that residents can learn how to preserve healthy, locally grown foods from farmers markets and community or home gardens. For more information, please contact Lara Tiede at the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support ( Lara.Tiede@minneapolismn.gov).
- Researching and piloting options for using farmers markets as a launching pad for other methods of food distribution in order to stimulate economic development for farmers and increase access to healthy produce for underserved communities. For more information, please contact Lara Tiede at the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support ( Lara.Tiede@minneapolismn.gov).
Last updated Apr. 4, 2012