Food Policy Coalition Steering Committee Appointed

Contact:
Karen Siebert

KANSAS CITY, MO. - The Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition announced today the appointment of a Steering Committee to guide the organization's efforts to improve the regional food system.

According to Beth Low, director of the Food Policy Coalition, the Steering Committee will develop policy priorities for the organization.

"The policies and actions affecting our food system are very complex. We need to focus our efforts on the initiatives that make the most sense for our community," Low said. "We will look at systems changes that can improve the nutritional quality, sustainability and accessibility of the food we consume here in Greater Kansas City."

Greater Kansas City's food system is affected every day by decisions and policies that determine how and where food is grown, how it is processed, distributed, prepared, protected and purchased, and how it is served in homes, schools and restaurants.

"We will be looking carefully at how local, regional and national policy decisions directly or indirectly affect the quality and access to food for all members of our community," Low said.

The Food Policy Coalition was formed in 2009 and is an alliance of individuals, organizations, businesses and government representatives representing critical components of the local food system, including health care, agriculture, education, social services, food distribution, government, private business, nonprofit agencies and others.

The members of the Food Policy Coalition Steering Committee are:

Bill Barkley - Children's Mercy Hospital
Adrienne Baxter - University of Kansas Medical Center
Renee Bryant Jonson - County Health Department
Kuda Chimanya - Healthy Schools Partnership
Becki DeRusseau - Bridging the Gap
Linda Hezel - Prairie Birthday Farm, LLC
John Hornbeck - Episcopal Community Services
Dean Katerndahl - Mid-America Regional Council
Katherine Kelly - Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture
Rebecca Miller - Eat Right Foods and The Midwest Cooking School
Katie Nixon Lincoln - University Extension
Patty Noll - City of Kansas City, Mo.
Lisa Ousley - Society of St. Andrews
Adriana Pecina - Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Becky Pepper - Kansas Department of Transportation
Karen Siebert - Harvesters- The Community Food Network
Otavio Silva - Good Natured Family Farms
Jane Zieha - Blue Bird Bistro

About the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition
The Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition is a group of individuals, organizations, businesses and government representatives committed to ensuring that there is a healthy, sustainable, accessible and affordable food system for Greater Kansas City. The coalition promotes food policies that positively impact the nutritional, economic, social and environmental health of Greater Kansas City. More information is available at www.kcfoodpolicy.org.