Thoughtful policymaking at the local and state level can strengthen local and regional food systems, while also contributing to local economies, improved environments, food security, and public health. The Local Food Policy Resource Hub is a website developed by CAFS to provide a place explore how states and municipalities across the United States are shaping laws and policies to support locally grown food. It is meant to serve a wide-ranging audience, including policymakers, practitioners, government officials and representatives, researchers, educators, and community leaders.
The resource hub brings together three key resources: 1.) a policy database with more than 1,400 state and local policies addressing topics such as food access, agricultural production, urban agriculture, institutional procurement, markets and distribution, land access, food waste, and more; 2.) a resource library that includes guides, reports, toolkits, and legal and policy resources from CAFS and other organizations working in local food policy; and 3.) the Policy Technical Assistance Lab, where government, nonprofit, or community organizations can connect with CAFS for consultation on their local food policy questions.
