Strengthening Regional Food System Infrastructure to Address Food Access, Access to Healthy Food, and a Growing Food System Workforce
Adopted at the 93rd Annual Meeting in 2025
WHEREAS, according to the National Institute of Health, communities face challenges including loss of land for agricultural production, shortages in food processing and distribution infrastructure exists; and limited access to healthy food options; and
WHEREAS, regional planning that bridges food system sectors can coordinate infrastructure development, strengthen the local food supply chain, improve physical infrastructure needs, and enhance access to nutritious food for all Americans; and
WHEREAS, investment in regional food system solutions is vital to enhancing community resilience, stimulating local economies, and bolstering national security; and
WHEREAS, comprehensive strategies that span food production, processing, distribution, retail, and waste mitigation can foster job creation elevate food security and create jobs and enhance infrastructure across the food system, from production to processing to distribution to waste mitigation resulting in higher rates of food security and improved access to healthy food; and
WHEREAS, national examples such as the Central Texas Regional Food System Council, an emerging initiative led by the Central Texas Food Bank and area Cities and Counties exemplify a collaborative, public-private partnership model that brings together local food system councils, agricultural producers, food processors, distributors, and retailers to build a more robust regional food economy; and
WHEREAS, the Central Texas Regional Food System Council works to align food system goals and strategies of individual cities and counties across the Central Texas region to maximize the impact of investment in food system infrastructure investments and economic development opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the Central Texas Regional Food System Council will focus on regional solutions to local food system challenges, enabling communities across the regional food bank's service area to increase food access and access healthy food and participate in a growing food system workforce;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors supports the regional approach to food access and access to healthy food and a growing food system workforce through the development and participation in regional food system councils, such as the Central Texas Regional Food System Council; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that regional food system collaborations such as councils can serve as a model for community-based and regional food production, food system job creation within the food system, and improved access to healthy, local food for all Americans.