Date: Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Mayor's Conference Room
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Mayor Paul Soglin will kick off the celebration of Food Day by highlighting community activities and the launch of the City of Madison Food Policy Council. Mayor Soglin said, "With the issues of poverty and poor food access in our underserved neighborhoods, establishing a food policy council to make critical decisions in regards to our food system is an exciting and necessary step forward."

Food Day is a nationwide celebration with the stated goal of moving toward more healthy, sustainable, and accessible food. Food Day takes place annually on October 24 to address varied issues across the food system, ranging from food access and healthy living to sustainable agriculture and beyond. The ultimate goal of Food Day is to promote and strengthen the food movement in order to improve our nation's food policies.

Food policy councils bring together diverse stakeholders to examine how the local food system is operating and develop recommendations on how to improve upon it. Food policy councils have been successful at educating elected officials and the public, shaping public policy, improving coordination, starting new programs and setting city-wide benchmarks. Examples include mapping local food resources; creating new bus routes to connect underserved areas with grocery stores; persuading large institutions to purchase from local farmers; and setting new guidelines for locating fast-food outlets.

Madison will launch its first Food Policy Council meeting to coincide with Food Day on Wednesday, October 24th at 4:30 p.m. in room 354 of the City-County Building. Mayor Soglin will address the Food Policy Council to welcome members as they begin their work Wednesday. Members of the public are invited to attend.