The 10th annual Johnson County Food Policy Council public forum is rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at the Iowa Conservatory, 123 N Linn St, Iowa City. The forum will be from 9 to 11 a.m., with doors opening to the public at 8:30 a.m. 

This year’s forum, “From Policy to Plate: Unpacking the LFPA in Johnson County,” explores how state-level investments in local food can lead to a more equitable, resilient, and community-based food system. The forum will begin with an explanation of the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) at the federal and state levels, followed by a discussion from a panel of guest speakers on how the LFPA has impacted their work in Johnson County. There will also be opportunities for attendees to engage in break-out discussions with panelists.

The goal of the forum is to build support for the LFPA and motivate advocacy around local, state, and federal food policy. Additionally, the council hopes to gather input on community needs for advocacy training and updated information on food policy. 

The event is free and open to the public. Kindred Coffee will provide breakfast and coffee to attendees. Registration information and additional details are available on the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/share/12JuzAGsXYG/ and Johnson County’s website at www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/localfoods. 

The Johnson County Food Policy Council was created in 2012 by the Board of Supervisors to provide guidance on food and agriculture issues. The council is charged with providing annual recommendations on how to improve our local food system, holding public forums to obtain feedback on food system issues, and educating County residents on the value of supporting a strong community-based food system.