Foodvocate LLC helps communities and organizations explore and identify policy options and design strategies to support their food systems goals:

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Policy Drafting 

Foodvocate LLC offers expertise in working with policy groups to develop model policy language. Similarly, Foodvocate LLC can work with government attorneys and legislative bodies to develop finalized policy language that supports community-driven initatives. 

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Consulting for Local Public Health and Other Local Government Teams

Across the country, public health departments, planners, other government staff, and policy makers are recognizing the need for improved policy to support food systems that better nourish their communities and foster local food economies. Foodvocate LLC draws on years of experience to help state, county and city governments understand current policy barriers to food access and better food systems and to identify policy solutions to support community led efforts. Foodvocate LLC can provide one-on-one or small group consultation sessions, followed by a summary of research, recommendations, and findings. 

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Consulting for Food Policy Organizations

Food policy councils and similar community-based groups have tremendous power to influence systems change within the jurisdictions where they focus. Foodvocate LLC can help these organizations by supporting staff to help the group navigate organizational challenges, divergent group-member priorities, and other road blocks to help navigate clear pathways forward for meaningful food systems change through policy work. Service areas include:

• bi-law creation and structural re-organization,

• strategic planning and S.W.O.T. analyses,

• food policy audits and food systems assessments (see below),

• model policy development,

• policy capacity-building,

• and policy research.

See also "Public Health and Government Consulting," above, which includes additional offerings that may be adapted for food policy councils and other groups. 

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Food Policy Training

Are you part of a city, county or other local government team, food policy council, PAC, nonprofit coalition, or other group and looking to increase general knowledge of your team members about the various policy tools and strategies that can be used to increase food access, improve local food economies, encourage land stewardship, support workers' rights, or promote equity in your local food systems? Foodvocate LLC can provide private training for your team in-person or virtually.

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Food Policy Audits 

These inventories can help policy makers, coalitions, food policy councils and other groups understand the current policy landscape in their communities and opportunities to adjust and add policy levers to improve food systems. They can be a logical next step, or complement to a food systems assessment. Foodvocate LLC has the depth of knowledge and experience navigating and analyzing local and state food policy options needed to take on this work and provide you with the information you need to move forward with your food policy goals. 

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Nutrition Affairs for "Good Food" Organizations 

Advocates and government affairs experts working for organizations that are committed to equitable food systems that support people and the planet can rely on Foodvocate LLCs policy nutrition affairs research and analysis skills to inform next steps and possibilities for proactive action. Services include:

• policy analysis,

• model legislation drafting,

• preparation of customized updates,

• drafting federal administrative filings,

• developing policy databases/indexes,

• and ghost-writing for journal and periodical articles, presentations, and white papers.

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Local Government Affairs 

Zoning, licensing, health code and other city and county laws can create barriers to success for food entrepreneurs and nonprofits looking to use innovative food business and sharing models in their communities. Sometimes variances, use permits or even amendments to existing laws are needed to better support this type of good food work, including for organizations that are BIPOC and women-led. Foodvocate LLC understands local government processes and can help your team navigate next steps.  

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Local, State and Federal Food Policy Research and Support for Nonprofits & Coalitions

Nonprofit organizations and coalitions often lead policy change at national, local and state levels. Foodvocate LLC offers a range of technical assistance to support their policy goals, including 50-state reviews and comparative policy analyses, nutrition affairs, local government affairs, and advisory committee convening.

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Academic Research

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Resource Development

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Advisory Committee Services Food Security and Related Efforts

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Customized State and Federal Policy Newsfeed and Update Services

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Youth Coalition Food Policy Training 

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Public Speaking

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Content Development for Culinary Projects and Publications

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Customized Consulting

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