Food Policy Council Resources

NJ Food Democracy Collaborative believes strongly in the power of bringing people together with diverse experiences, knowledge, skills, concerns, and resources to collaboratively problem-solve food system challenges of their communities through civic engagement.

The NJFDC is a food policy council (FPC) and an advocacy coalition.

FPCs are multi-stakeholder groups at the city, county, or regional level, collaborating to identify and advance policy goals to address food system challenges.

No two policy councils are exactly alike. What most have in common is shared beliefs, participation from multiple sectors of the food system, and a focus on policy and systems change to improve the food and farming systems of the communities where they are organized.

A FPC can go by many names, and may not even include the words “policy” or “councils” in their names!

FPCs can be created by the government or be entirely grassroots, or somewhere in between. No matter what, to successfully change the food environment, or build community food systems, the group/coalition/council must include and value participation from those with on-the-ground knowledge and first-hand experience of the issues and include participation from people in decision-making positions.

Learn more about FPCs

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