Homegrown Minneapolis Goes Public

For the past couple months I have been involved (and Robin has been very very involved) in working on one of the most interesting and exciting (and potentially controversial) initiatives happening in City Hall. It's called Homegrown Minneapolis and the group working on it will be going public with some its recommendations in May.

The basic concept is to find more ways to get fresh, locally grown food sold, distributed and eaten in Minneapolis.

For the past few months a group staff, residents and others have been working on ways we can do a better job getting good, fresh, locally produced food to the people who live and eat in Minneapolis. Food grown locally is good for your health and promotes a stronger local economy and protection of our environment.

Homegrown Minneapolis recommendations are expected to include:

1. Using public and private land for community gardens and food production,


2. Increasing access to farmers’ markets or mobile food delivery services,


3. Encouraging restaurants, schools, and other organizations to use locally grown food on their menus, and


4. Supporting entrepreneurs who want to create small businesses focused on local food production.

Here is the timeline for what is a critical month for people to focus on this issue if it is to be successful:

• Recommendations will be posted May 1 and residents can offer feedback at the public meetings or in writing through May 31. Online public comment period opens May 1st.



• May 12th, Stakeholder Group Meeting, 9am at Currie Conference Center



• 6:30pm Public Meeting – North Minneapolis at the North Commons Park recreation center, 1801 James Ave. N
  


• May 18th, 6:30pm Public Meeting – South Minneapolis at the Martin Luther King Park recreation center (4055 Nicollet Ave. S)
  


• May 20th, 3pm Presentation of Draft Recommendations to Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee at City Hall
  


• May 21st, 4:30pm Presentation of Draft Recommendations to Capital Long range Imrovement Committee at City Hall – tentative
  


• May 26th, 6pm Presentation of Draft Recommendations to Public Health Advisory Committee , location TBD
  


• May 28th, 9am Steering Committee Meeting at the Minneapolis Department of Health & Family Support
  


• May 31st online public comment period closes
  


• June 15th, 1:30pm Presentation of Final Recommendations to Health, Energy, and Environment Committee , at City Hall – tentative

Questions about the initiative or the community meetings can be directed to Kristen Klingler at (612) 673-2910 or kristen.klingler@ci.minneapolis.mn.us. These meeting sites are wheelchair accessible. Disability related accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter or materials in alternative format may be requested by calling Kristin Klingler by May 5.