City hires consultant for $150,000 to create food system plan

KINGSTON, NY >> The city has hired a consultant to develop a food system plan expected to guide Kingston to strengthen its “local food system with a focus on improving food security and equitable access to nutritious foods,” according to Mayor Steve Noble.

According to the city, Food Systems Foresight has been hired for $150,000 to develop the food system plan. Half of the project is being paid with federal money from the American Rescue Plan Act with the other half from the NoVo Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Peter Buffett and his wife, Jennifer, said Summer Smith, director of communications and community engagement the city.

A draft of the plan is expected to be completed in the summer, Noble’s office said. Food Systems Foresight is a Hudson Valley-based, women-led business, the announcement said.

“A food system is the complex web of actions and people that gets food from the farm to your plate—and then hopefully into the compost,” Noble said in a statement. Noble said that the city’s Health & Wellness Department will oversee the project.

“A strong local food system supports our local growers and economy, reduces food waste, supports the environment through biodiversity and reduced transportation emissions, reduces food insecurity, increases availability of nutritious foods, and improves the overall health of a community,” Noble added.

Angela R. Hansen, chief executive officer of Food Systems Foresight, said the basic idea is to create a local food system.

“Our global experience shaping food systems shows that interconnected and engaged local systems are key to resilient food futures,” said Hansen in a statement.

Project Manager Kristin Kessler said nutritious food should be available to all.

“As a registered dietitian, I believe that access to nutritious food should be a right, not a privilege,” Jessler said in a statement. “The first step in ensuring equitable access to nutritious food is making sure that we have a strong, resilient food system.”

Kessler said the team expects to “ensure that the City of Kingston has a thoughtful, inclusive, and forward-thinking plan for our own local food system that supports and uplifts the rich assets and strengths we already possess, while identifying and strategizing how to connect the gaps.”

The public will have opportunities to participate in community engagement at various stages of the project throughout late winter and into spring, Noble said.

More information is available at www. engagekingston.com/ food-system-plan.