Food Policy Council Programs
The Food Policy Council was involved in several community partnerships and programs. They collaborated with community organizations and the Salt Lake City Sustainability Department on several projects with the hope of improving multiple different facets of our food system in the process. Their work spanned from 2011-2021.
Current Programs
Backyard Garden Share: A program run by Waste Less Solutions where locals can donate their excess garden produce to drop sites that will distribute the food to those in need.
Food Rescue-SLC Chapter: A program run by Waste Less Solutions where volunteers rescue surplus food from events, grocery stores, venues and more and deliver it to those in need.
Past Programs
Green City Growers: In 2012, the Green City Growers program was created to significantly expanded community garden opportunities for city residents by making city-owned/managed land available for community development. In partnership with Wasatch Community Gardens, eight gardens were developed.
Local Food Microgrant Fund: In July 2016, $85,000 was allocated to administer grant fund to assist local farmers grow more diversified and sustainable produce. The Sustainability Department has contracted with Urban Food Connections of Utah to administer the grant. Three grant cycles were completed with a total of $45,000 awarded to local farmers to grow more diversified and ecologically sustainable produce. This is a different program from the current SLC Food Microgrant Program.
Pesticide Free SLC: Launched as part of the Healthy Babies, Bright Futures Initiative, the Pesticide Free SLC program aimed to educate residents on how to reduce their use and exposure to chemical pesticides in and outside of the home.
SLC Fruit Share: A program from 2012-2024 where residents registered their fruit trees and SLC contracted with Green Urban Lunchbox to harvest the fruit. That surplus fruit was then donated to residents experiencing food insecurity.
Urban Greens Mobile Market: Launched in the summer of 2016, the Urban Greens Mobile Market operated in four locations throughout the Glendale and Poplar Grove neighborhoods during the growing season to provide local and organic produce to residents that live in low access areas. It was in partnership with Green Urban Lunchbox, Utahns Against Hunger and Utah Community Action Program’s Real Food Rising.
Urban Farming Program: Started in 2015, the SLC Urban Farming program identified underutilized city parcels that could be used for farming. The program contracts with farmers to grow organic fruit and vegetables using drip irrigation in an effort to increase the amount of ecologically sustainable produce grown in the city’s foodshed.