DATE: June 21, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: LIVE WELL SAN DIEGO FOOD SYSTEM INITIATIVE AND
NUTRITION STANDARDS (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Overview
The food system plays a critical role in creating healthy,
accessible and affordable choices. Our regional food system involves
many sectors with each influencing the cost, availability and quality
of the product before it arrives on our plates. Each sector has its
unique set of challenges and assets that can be improved to bolster
our health and environment.
To help define our role and identify ways where the County can positively influence this system, Chairman Ron Roberts announced this past February in his State of the County Address that he and Supervisor Cox would initiate the development of a “County Nutrition Standards” policy to guide food and beverage-related procurement to create healthier choices while benefiting the food system. It also presents an opportunity for the County to work with stakeholders to develop and formalize our participation in a sustainable food system.
Some of this work is already underway. In May 2014, the Live Well San Diego Food System Working Group (Working Group) was formed to integrate food system efforts across County departments. The Working Group is part of a larger regional food system alliance dedicated to developing and maintaining an equitable, sustainable, and healthy food system in San Diego county. Together, they have developed a series of proposed, collaborative projects that would define the County’s role in advancing a safe, healthy, and robust food system.
As the regional leader for health, the County of San Diego is well-positioned to be a model of stewardship for the food system by creating an internal environment that supports healthy food choices for our employees and the people we serve.
In alignment with the County’s Live Well San Diego vision of a
region that is building better health, living safely and thriving,
today’s item builds on the initial work established by the Working
Group and directs the Chief Administrative Officer to develop a
Food System Initiative that addresses inequities, barriers
and waste in the food system while working to increase agricultural
sustainability and access to healthy foods. Today’s actions also
direct the Chief Administrative Officer to develop nutrition standards
in order to expand healthy, sustainable food and beverage
options.
Recommendation(s)
CHAIRMAN RON ROBERTS AND SUPERVISOR GREG COX
1) Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to develop and launch the “Live Well San Diego Food System Initiative,” allowing the County to take on a greater role in the advancement of a safe, healthy, and robust food system.
2) Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to develop nutrition standards for food and beverages purchased and offered at County facilities and through County-sponsored programs to expand healthy and sustainable options.
3) Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to return to the Board
within 180 days with a framework for the Food System
Initiative, including proposed food nutrition standards and an
implementation plan.
Fiscal Impact
N/A
Business Impact Statement
N/A
Advisory Board Statement
N/A
Background
The Building Better Health Strategy of Live Well San Diego is
predicated on three numbers, 3-4-50. These numbers represent the fact
that “3” unhealthy behaviors (poor nutrition, smoking and lack of
exercise) can lead to “4” chronic diseases (cancer, heart
disease, type 2 diabetes and lung disease) accounting for more
than 50 percent of the deaths in San Diego county. Working with
community partners, the County has helped local residents modify these
behaviors by supporting positive choices and creating healthy
environments to make the easy choice the healthy choice.
The food system plays a critical role in creating healthy, accessible and affordable choices. Local food systems are networks of food production and consumption that aim to be geographically and economically accessible. Our regional food system involves many sectors (producers, distributors, growers, packagers, retailers and disposers) with each influencing the cost, availability and quality of the food product before it arrives on our plates. Each sector has its unique set of challenges and assets that can be improved to bolster our health and environment.
To help define our role and identify ways where the County can
positively influence this system, Chairman Ron Roberts announced this
past February in his State of the County Address that he and
Supervisor Cox would initiate the development of a “County Nutrition
Standards” policy to guide food and beverage-related procurement to
create healthier choices that also benefit the food system. It also
presents an opportunity for the County to work with stakeholders to
develop and formalize our participation in a sustainable food system
effort.
Some of this work is already underway. In May 2014, the
Live Well San Diego Food System Working Group (Working Group) was
formed to integrate food system efforts across County departments.
They are also part of a larger regional food system alliance dedicated
to developing and maintaining an equitable, sustainable, and healthy
food system in San Diego County. Together, they have developed a
series of proposed, collaborative projects that would define the
County’s role in advancing a safe, healthy, and robust food system.
Over the past few years, we have also been successful in acquiring multiple federal grants to improve access to nutritious food. We worked with community partners to launch the Fresh Fund program at farmers markets that incentivized CalFresh, WIC and SSI beneficiaries to purchase healthy produce and also developed a Farm-to-School Lunch Program, bringing schools and local farmers together resulting in exponential growth of local produce in school meals. These are just a few of many partnerships we have created to support healthier choices.
As the regional leader for health, the County of San Diego is well-positioned to be a model of stewardship of the food system by creating an internal environment that supports healthy food choices for our employees and the people we serve. This will involve revisiting our Healthy Vending Machine Policy (K-14), developing nutritious food standards for County-hosted events and meetings, incentivizing vendors to buy local produce, and reduce food waste by prioritizing certain materials in paper-product consumption and food-related items we purchase.
In alignment with the County’s Live Well San Diego vision of a
region that is building better health, living safely and thriving,
today’s item builds on the initial work established by the Working
Group and directs the Chief Administrative Officer to develop a
Food System Initiative that addresses inequities, barriers
and waste in the food system while working to increase agricultural
sustainability and access to healthy foods. Today’s actions also
direct the Chief Administrative Officer to develop nutrition standards
in order to expand healthy, sustainable food and beverage
options.
Linkage to the County of San Diego Strategic Plan
N/A
Respectfully submitted,
RON ROBERTS GREG COX
Supervisor,
Fourth District Supervisor, First District
ATTACHMENT(S)
N/A
AGENDA ITEM INFORMATION SHEET
REQUIRES FOUR VOTES: [ ] Yes [X] No
WRITTEN DISCLOSURE PER COUNTY CHARTER SECTION 1000.1 REQUIRED
[ ] Yes [X] No
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOARD ACTIONS:
N/A
BOARD POLICIES APPLICABLE:
Healthy Vending Machine Policy (K-14)
BOARD POLICY STATEMENTS:
N/A
MANDATORY COMPLIANCE:
N/A
ORACLE AWARD NUMBER(S) AND CONTRACT AND/OR REQUISITION NUMBER(S):
N/A
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: Chairman Ron Roberts and Supervisor Greg Cox
OTHER CONCURRENCES(S): N/A
CONTACT PERSON(S):
Stephanie Gioia
619-531-5544
stephanie.gioia@sdcounty.ca.gov
Danny Melgoza
619-531-5511
danny.melgoza@sdcounty.ca.gov
