I'm sure by now you've heard the news- Columbia City Council unanimously approved the resolution to form a food policy committee!

Thank you for answering the call to action and for showing up to express your support for South Carolina's first municipal food policy committee.  Food Access Task Force members attended the City Council meeting last month to make it clear the community supported the adoption of the proposal. 

John Newman (Midlands Food Alliance), Lauren Harper (Columbia Mayor's Office), Katie Welborn (Carolina Farm Stewardship), Carrie Draper (SC Food Policy Council), Susan Carson Lambert (Midlands Food Alliance) 

Our local governments play a critical role in the fight to increase food access for our neighbors. Fortunately, Columbia reminds us with their commitment to a food policy committee that progress is possible. 

I hope you'll be able to join us at the Food Access Summit in October, where we plan to take a closer look at ways to encourage and implement municipal food policy groups, among other things. In fact, this op ed makes a great case for a food policy council in Spartanburg.  Let's continue to support Columbia's efforts while working to ensure they are the first municipal food policy committee in SC, but certainly not the last.