After a year of planning, a new effort to build a local food economy that promotes access to healthy and nutritious food and creates jobs for Indianapolis residents is set to launch. The Indy Food Council will unveil its vision and a call for community support on Thursday, April 25, from 5-7 p.m. at the Platform in the west wing of the Indianapolis City Market. The public is invited to learn more about the Indy Food Council and how to get involved.
“Ensuring access to nutritious food such as fresh fruits and vegetables is critical to good health,” said Dr. Virginia Caine, director of the Marion County Public Health Department. “A healthy food system will help us address issues such as the continued rise of obesity and diabetes in Marion County.”
The Indy Food Council is a collaboration of several community groups and universities that want to connect food system stakeholders and advance ideas and initiatives that will grow a healthier, more sustainable food system in Indianapolis. To move forward, the Indy Food Council Organizing Committee is seeking involvement from anyone with ideas for strengthening the local food economy and creating healthy communities.
The organizing event on April 25 will include a brief presentation on the four core elements of the Indy Food Council—economy, ecology, social justice and health—and will outline how to become involved in building the Indy Food Council. Afterward, participants will be invited to enjoy local foods provided by Indianapolis vendors and learn more about the Indy Food Council’s first two initiatives: the Indy Food Fund and the Indy Food Fellows.
“The Indy Food Council is a necessary piece of healthy food infrastructure that will allow Indianapolis to improve quality of life for all citizens,” said Jeremy Efroymson, whose pioneering support of the local food system through the Efroymson Family Fund has been critical in laying the ground work for this effort. “We want to get members of the community actively involved. The Council will only be successful with broad community support and consensus.”
The Indy Food Council Organizing Committee includes the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Butler University’s Center for Urban Ecology, Marion County Public Health Department, Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Growing Places Indy, Indy Grown, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, Indiana Recycling Coalition, Indy Hunger Network, and the City of Indianapolis/Office of Sustainability.