What is a Food Charter?
A food charter is a document created to help guide a community in providing safe, healthy, and accessible foods to everyone. A food charter addresses a community’s policy toward food-related topics, such as agriculture, food distribution, access to food, sustainability, and the overall health of citizens.
In early 2010, Jefferson County convened a Food Security Task Force to help draft a food charter. The Task Force was comprised of various community sectors: farmers, gardeners, faith community leaders, residents, and many other organizations and individuals interested in improving our local food system.
After carefully studying food charters adopted by other cities, and discussing the unique benefits and challenges of Jefferson County, the Task Force drafted the Jefferson County Food Charter.
The principles of the Jefferson County Food Charter are the guiding force in the formation of the new Birmingham-Jefferson Food Policy Council.
We invite you to view a copy of the Jefferson County Food Charter.