Policy Guide on Community and Regional Food Planning

Publisher: American Planning Association

Author(s): American Planning Association

Published Date: 2007

Document Type: Guide

Format: Electronic

Free of Cost: Yes


This policy guide provides an overview of the connections between traditional planning and the field of community and regional food planning. The guide offers two overarching goals for planners and presents seven general policies, each divided into several specific policies. For each specific policy, a number of roles planners can play are suggested. The seven general policy areas include: comprehensive food planning at the community and regional levels; strengthening local and regional economies; improving public health; ecological sustainability; justice and equity; preserving and sustaining diverse traditional food cultures of Native American and other ethnic minority communities; developing state and federal legislation to facilitate community and regional food planning.


Growing Food Connections Topic(s): community food connections, community food production, community food security

Main Food Topics: agriculture, agriculture preservation, food access, food availability, food distribution, food marketing, food production, food retail, food security, food system

Sub Food Topics: Affordability, agricultural practices, buy local, community garden, community supported agriculture, culturally appropriate foods, farm, farmers market, fast-food, low-income, produce, supermarket, underserved population(s), value-added, vegetables

Public Policy Topics: Non-binding policies, Physical projects, Plans, Programs, Public investment, Regulations/laws

Geographic Scale: County, Exurban, Municipality, Nation, Neighborhood, Region, Rural, State/province, Suburban, Urban

Addresses food security needs of underserved populations: Yes