California Cities Lead the Way in Foodshed Planning

Writing in the online edition of the January issue of Planning, Bobbie Peyton explores what can be learned from the pioneering Foodshed Planning efforts of San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego.

1 minute read

January 16, 2012, 8:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


In all three cities, policy recommendations were produced by a cross-disciplinary efforts of farmers, food producers, consumers, business owners, environmental activists, and health advocates aimed at building a healthy and economically thriving food system for all local resident.

According to Peyton, the need for such integrated planning is emerging throughout the country: "The timing is right. Rural economies are in desperate need of support from urban markets, and planners are beginning to break through the barriers between urban and rural communities, caused in part by expanding urban development that threatens farmland and the natural resources that support foodsheds."

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