The County of Simcoe funds the position of the Food Coordinator of the Simcoe County Food Council through the Social and Community Investment Fund (SCIF). The Food Coordinator supports the community efforts of the Food Council.
The
community-based Simcoe County Food Council (Food Council) will further coordination and collaboration of efforts, programs, and initiatives, to enhance community food security and decrease household food insecurity in Simcoe County. The Food Council will use the Simcoe County Food Security Framework (Framework) as a guide and menu of proposed actions items to support and advance.
Background
In 2017, the County of Simcoe approved funding to support the development of a Simcoe County Food Security Framework. A Food Security Framework Advisory Committee was developed, comprised of community members and County staff. The firm of Eco-Ethonomics Inc. was contracted to undertake broad community consultation to develop the Framework.
Recommendations from the Simcoe County Food Security Framework included the development of a Simcoe County Food Council and the engagement of a community agency to host a related Community Coordinator position. The Food Council, led by the Community Coordinator, supports coordination and collaboration of food security efforts, programs, and initiatives, and leverages existing networks to better connect partners across Simcoe County.
Vision
The Food Council envisions a sustainable, equitable, and secure local food system in Simcoe County that recognizes food as a human right. It is an inter-connected food system where safe, sufficient, nutritious, culturally appropriate food is financially and physically accessible to everyone through dignified means, and where the people are actively working toward realizing a more food secure Simcoe County.
Simcoe County Food Security Framework Goals
The Simcoe County Food Security Framework is a blueprint of proposed action items to achieve the Food Council's goal for a food secure and sustainable Simcoe County. Goals focus on the following areas:
1. Household food insecurity in Simcoe County
2. Support income and housing solutions
3. Increase physical access to sufficient nutritious food for all
4. Improve community food literacy
5. Support the local agri-food sector
6. Foster Simcoe County's food traditions and Indigenous food knowledge and culture
7. Collaboration toward a food secure Simcoe County
Household Food Insecurity and Community Food Security
Two important but distinct concepts that impact the Food Council's ability to be a food secure community. Both of these measures need to be addressed in the work the Food Council is doing.
Household Food Insecurity:
Household food insecurity is experienced when an individual or household lacks the financial resources to access food. Addressing household food insecurity requires specific income-related interventions.
Learn more about reducing household food insecurity:
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
No Money for Food is Cent$less
Community Food Security:
Community food security is a condition in which all community residents have access to a safe, culturally appropriate, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social justice.
Key Documents
Simcoe County Food and Agriculture Charter
Simcoe County Food Security Framework (CCW 2019-086)
SCFC Infographic
For more information about the Simcoe County Food Council and how it supports the community, contact:
foodcouncilcoordinator@gmail.com
The Food Council website can be found here:
https://www.scfoodcouncil.com/
