If you’ve talked to me or have gone through my website, you may have heard me say that a Municipal Food Plan is part of my platform. I’ve received many questions asking me to go into further detail about what this plan is all about. Simply put, it is about providing access to healthy, fresh, local food to all citizens of Windsor and to help the city become a healthier community all while supporting the local economy.

I’ve spoken with many individuals throughout the region who believe now is the time to implement something like my “Let’s Help Windsor Grow” Municipal Food Plan.

“Our region is so agriculturally rich there is absolutely no reason that anyone should not have access to fresh, healthy food” says Izabela Muzzin of County Connect. “A food policy would definitely be the starting point and catalyst for an efficient change.”

One of the key parts of the plan would be to provide access to fresh, healthy food for low income families. According to the 2009 Well-Being Report recently released by the United Way, 16% of children in Windsor-Essex are now living in poverty.

“Poverty is not just affecting the stereotypical low income families” states Izabela. “Those who have recently lost their jobs are also struggling to survive. It’s unacceptable” she says. “We need to start taking care of our community first.”

The ultimate goal is to help Windsor become a healthier community, all while supporting our local economy.

Below is a quick look at the key components of my “Let’s Help Windsor Grow” Municipal Food Plan:

Re-establishing Municipal Community Gardens

One aspect of the “Let’s Help Windsor Grow” Plan is to reintroduce municipal community gardens throughout the city.

Community gardens have many benefits including but not limited to:

• A sense of community and camaraderie
• Access to fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables, particularly for those who might not otherwise have access
• Promotion of physical and mental health
• Multi-generational and multicultural project
• Green space in our neighbourhood contributing to beautification
• Waste management through composting
• A greater sense of food security
• A higher quality of life for neighbourhood residents

Supporting the Downtown Windsor Farmers Market

We need to allow the opportunity for growth and investment in the Downtown Windsor Farmers Market by provided the group with a long term lease. The lack of commitment to the market has factually turned investment away.

While I support the initiatives of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra and the arts groups involved with the re-use of the old Armouries, I feel that a vibrant market space can help be part of the “Cultural Hub” lure. The plan of converting the current market space into a parking lot is not forward thinking, especially when directly across the street from this space is an underused municipal parking garage.

By providing some stability through a long-term lease, you give the Downtown Windsor Farmers Market an opportunity to secure funding and further investment.

Local, Fresh, Healthy Food Served In Community Centres

I have seen firsthand that children participating in community programs are provided with hot lunches from unhealthy, fast food establishments. My goal is to establish an ‘All Local, All Healthy” mandate when it comes to food in our community centres.

Programs at these facilities are to encourage physical activity and a healthier lifestyle for the children and adults participating. Offering those unhealthy options flies in the face of that.

The “All Local, All Healthy” mandate would ensure that community centres throughout the city only offer healthy, local food choices and support the initiative of a healthier Windsor.

Using the municipal government’s purchasing power for “All Local, All Healthy” mandate helps support the local economy, promote the regions agriculture and reduce the environmental impact of where the food came from.

Local Food Procurement Policies for Municipally Funded Events

Create a partnership together with the Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island and the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association that all festivals and events which receive funding would be encouraged to institute their own local food procurement policies.

Community Centres as “Fresh Food Bases”

Every ward in Windsor will have a neighbourhood Fresh Food Base. Using community centres as these bases will provide information and workshops on where and how to acquire healthy and fresh food, offer tips on community growing, and give information on food resources in the area and across the city. Each community centre will have a community garden set up on site and the FFB’s will also offer courses within the gardens to teach individuals how to grow their own fresh, healthy food.

The City will help residents access and create food resources in their community, by hosting online interactive maps of resources (Fresh Food Bases, food banks, community gardens, etc.).

Low Income Neighbourhoods Given Priority

Windsor neighbourhoods with more instances of poverty will be given priority in the reintroduction of the municipal community gardens.

One of the goals of the “Let’s Help Windsor Grow” Plan is to create a healthier, more active Windsor. Recent studies have begun showing links between poverty and obesity. Researchers are stating that a lack of income combined with a higher cost for healthy food leaves those struggling with poverty no choice but to make unhealthy decisions for their meals.

The plan would place municipal community gardens in areas deemed to be of low income to provide access to fresh, local and healthy foods at minimal cost to all citizens of Windsor regardless of income.