The Local Food Policy Inventory:
Process and Product
Jill K. Clark, Ohio State University
Funding:
USDA/NIFA/AFRI
Food System Program
Food Policy Audit
• Type of food system assessment
– A systematical collection and dissemination of information on selected
community characteristics so that community leaders and agencies
may devise appropriate strategies to improve their localities
• Assesses the policy environment
– Translates the vision of the group doing the audit
– Identifies strengths and gaps in the policy environment to
achieve that vision
– Results in a scan of the environment, likened to a score card
– Piloted in Virginia (O’Brien and Deckla Cobb, 2012)
• Refined in central Ohio (Marquis and Clark, forthcoming)
The Audit Process
Vision
Assessment
Tool
Document
Scan
Interviews/
Conversations
ID Gaps and
Strengths
Recommendations
FCLFC and mission and priorities
MISSION
FCLFC seeks to expand,
strengthen and maintain a
resilient and local food system
in Franklin County and the
surrounding area.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
• Community and Regional
Prosperity and Resilience
• Equitable Access to
Healthful Food
• Health-centered Food
System
• Sustainable Agricultural
Practices
• Social Justice and Equity
• Systems Approach to
Franklin County Local Food
• Measurable Strategies
FCLFC Audit Process
• Created audit tool
– 100 points divided into four broad categories and 18
subcategories.
• Promoting Local Food, Sustainability, and Community Food
Security
• Fostering Social Equity
• Strengthening Zoning and Land Use
• Addressing Public Health and Food Access
• Document scan
– comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances,
plans/strategies/programs, stand-alone ordinances,
regional or state guidelines, school
programming/wellness policies
FCLFC Audit Process
• Interviewed 15 stakeholders, including
–
–
–
–
–
–
Franklin County Economic Development and Planning
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Local Matters
Ohio State University Extension
Mid-Ohio Foodbank
Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland
Security
– Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
• Score of 51
• FCLFC discussed strengths and gaps
– which were translated in to recommendations
• Prioritized recommendations results into the final
document
Responsible Agency, Department
or Organization
Policy Item
Resource(s)
Notes
Yes/No
The Product
Other “products”:
• Policy environment outlined by audit
• An agenda
• Bench-marking for future evaluation
Other products of the process
• Translates mission to policy environment
• Illustrates the roles of members, local officials
and local government staff
– Increases technical knowledge
• Builds coalitions
Limitations
• Any assessment is dated once it is complete
– For the audit document to live on, it must be revisited on a
regular basis, perhaps during an annual evaluation that
both checks progress and reprioritizes issues to develop a
current platform
• As the coalition grows, new members will need to be
indoctrinated into the audit process of translating
beliefs to strategies
• The audit format of “yes” or “no” answers only
illustrate what policies do and do not exist
– Does not assess the potential impact of policies, weigh
alternatives, or consider policies that may be in the
development stage.
Vote with your vote.
Food System
Sustainable
Healthy
Socially equitable
Resources
• Getting Food on the Table: An Action Guide to
Local Food Policy
– http://www.lasemillafoodcenter.org/uploads/8/4/
6/8/8468672/gettingfoodonthetable.pdf
• Franklin County Local Food Policy Audit
– http://static.squarespace.com/static/53068bfee4b
0b4d1ce2e0bcf/t/5306a8dce4b04d9d2fa96cbd/1
392945372437/FCFPA%20Report%20Final%20w%
20pics.pdf
Thank you.
Jill Clark
clark.1099@osu.edu
www.growingfoodconnections.org
Funding:
USDA/NIFA/AFRI
Food System Program