the tompkins county food policy council

Following in the footsteps of hundreds of communities across the U.S. and around the world, the Food Policy Council (FPC) of Tompkins County came together in 2016 to identify opportunities for strengthening the local food system. The FPC is a volunteer citizen group advocating for a healthier local food system. In 2020, the FPC launched the development of the community food system planning process. The Tompkins County Food System Plan: A Roadmap for our Future, accepted unanimously by the Tompkins County Legislature on July 19th, 2022, is a voluntary framework for collaboration intended to support implementation of the plan recommendations. The FPC advises, educates and supports local governments, institutions, organizations, businesses and individuals in their efforts to create a food system that is more locally- and regionally-based, and more resilient, equitable, and healthy for all residents.

steering committee members

Don Barber

Sarah DeFrank

Silas Conroy

Ritza Francois

Annika Rowland

Michelle Seneca

Graham Savio

Liza Gabriel

Sayre Paradiso

working group leads

Joey Diana Gates

Aly Trombitas

Jay Smith

Allison Usavage

Regi Teasley

Special thanks to all the past members TFF whose vision, service and time over the past several years helped lay the groundwork for a stronger local food system.

the vision of the tompkins county food policy council is to create a food system that:

Sustains people on the front line of our food system: producers, entrepreneurs, and food sector workers and volunteers

Ensures equity across the food system including: access to nutritious food, access to land and resources for growing food, access to opportunities within the food system

Sustains and improves the foundations of our food system: soil, land, water, climate

Reduces food waste

Ensures access to nutritious, healthy, affordable food that supports human health

Provides education on food, nutrition, cooking/preserving, and growing

The Food System Planning Team consists of Food Policy Council Members and volunteer stakeholders and collaborators committed to completing and distributing a comprehensive food system plan by mid-2022. The FSPT is a collaborative team which shares individual experiences, listens, and learns from each other’s ideas and invites engagement of community members to collectively address food system challenges. Members of the team represent organizations and interests across the food system including farming and growing, food security, food waste, health and equity, education, and beyond.

Tompkins Food Future is based at the Food Bank of the Southern Tier and this local food council work is made possible through their generous support.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for providing equal program and employment opportunities in accordance with applicable laws.