Food Systems Collaborative

?? Policy Chaos Got You Feeling Overwhelmed? ?? Yeah, same. The food policy world is a lot right now—Farm Bill uncertainty, threats to SNAP, wage debates, and, somehow, Costco’s hot dog making headlines (??). If it all feels like a never-ending rollercoaster of stress, don’t worry—we’re here to break it down for you. This month’s Food Policy Debrief includes: ?? The good, the bad, and the Costco hot dog—because why not? ?? Yet another Farm Bill update (Spoiler: still no plan in sight). ?? A juice company is putting health equity front and center for Black History Month. ?? Big moves in the food world—Starbucks, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, and a highlight of Our Own ?? PLUS: A powerful guest column from Food Recovery Network's Regina Harmon on how to take action, even when everything feels like a mess. It’s a lot, but we’ve got you. Subscribe now to get the full scoop, minus the headache. (And if you’re already subscribed, tell a friend—don’t let them miss out on the best policy rundown in town ??) ?? Subscribe now: https://lnkd.in/gmbm4NRW #newsletter #policynews #foodpolicy #foodsystems #foodindustrynews #advocacy

?? Get ready for this month’s issue of Food Policy Debrief! ?? We’re serving up a feast of standout food stories just in time for the holidays. And look out for a bonus treat in this month’s edition—our team’s must-have seasonal dishes! Here’s a sneak peek: ?? Michael Pollan on RFK Jr.: Why the famed food author won’t endorse RFK JR.—but does see some surprising common ground. ?? The grocery desert dilemma: The Atlantic dives into how the very structure of our grocery industry fuels areas with low food access. ?? Unionizing at Whole Foods: Workers make a bold move—the first since Amazon stepped in. ?? From soup to… touchdowns? Campbell’s CEO trades ladles for playbooks as he joins the Washington Commanders. (Yes, this is real.) ?? Big Food vs. Ozempic: What GLP-1 drugs mean for the future of our diets. ?? Good news: New Jersey is expanding free school meals to all kids! Stay tuned—this is one newsletter you won’t want to miss. See you on Wednesday! ?? p.s. It’s not too late to sign up ?? https://lnkd.in/ecVSJxvw #AgPolicy #Newsletter #FoodPolicy #SocialImpact #FoodSecurity #freeschoolmeals #foodnews #stayinformed

Need some not depressing news? We got you!? Here’s a glimpse of the top (exciting) food stories you won't want to miss this month, from today's edition of the Food Policy Debrief: ?? Wholesome alert: DC Central Kitchen baked 7,000 carrot muffins and shared them with kids at the White House's Hallo-READ event. A sweet treat with a purpose! ?? Rallying for change: Food stakeholders (including Food Systems Collaborative!) organized an event to inspire Congressional members to join the Congressional Food Recovery Caucus. ?? Community resilience: After Hurricane Helene, Western North Carolina sprang into action, showcasing the power of community support in times of need. ?? ??? Looking to the future of food safety and nutrition: The FDA’s newly reorganized food division is setting the stage with fresh priorities for the next fiscal year (via Helena Bottemiller Evich)? ??? Sign up now to receive our newsletter and read more about these exciting developments in the food industry. ?https://lnkd.in/eWxMR5kJ #AgPolicy #Newsletter #FoodPolicy #SocialImpact #FoodSecurity #CommunityResilience #foodsafety P.S. Shoutout to our writers Will Thomas, Lucy Shanker, and Niyeti Shah!

ICYMI! ?? In our October issue of the Food Policy Debrief we spotlighted Too Good To Go, a company that continues to lead the way in making food recovery accessible! They just led a major win for food waste awareness by helping push for the U.S. to officially recognize September 29th as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. ??? As of October 1, a resolution has officially been introduced by Reps. Lawler, Pingree, Chavez-DeRemer, and Fitzpatrick to mark the occasion! ?? Congratulations to Zach Shaben for leading this effort! Why this matters? The U.S. Government now officially recognizes the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste! This is a HUGE step in meeting the goal to cut U.S. food loss and waste by 50% by 2030. ?? Let’s keep the excitement rolling and take action to make a lasting impact! ???? ?? Read the latest Food Policy Debrief for more standout food stories and updates: https://lnkd.in/eh3t6cqZ ?? And never miss the latest updates and analysis by signing up for our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eHgEuZPJ #FoodWaste #TooGoodToGo #Sustainability #FoodRecovery #Impact #IDAFLW #SocialImpact?

Today on Capitol Hill, FRN's Executive Director Regina Harmon joined stakeholders across the food system to encourage members of the House to join the Bipartisan Congressional Food Recovery Caucus. The room was filled with people committed to helping promote food recovery efforts that support farmers, alleviate hunger, and reduce harmful methane emissions! ?? The Progress Through Partnership: Bipartisan Solutions to Hunger & Food Waste event was a collaborative effort, hosted by The Farmlink Project, Food Recovery Network, Food Systems Collaborative, and Shipt. ????

???Food recovery is a bipartisan issue that demands Congressional leadership?? Earlier this week, Food Systems Collaborative was thrilled to co-host "Progress through Partnership: Bipartisan Solutions to Hunger and Food Waste,” a briefing held in conjunction with bipartisan Food Recovery Caucus chairs, Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) . This Congressional briefing brought together government agencies, farmers, nonprofits, and industry leaders in an effort to prioritize food recovery in the upcoming months. With this diverse coalition leading the way, it’s time for Congress to join us in creating innovative and lasting solutions. When 40% of food in the U.S. goes to waste and 48 million Americans experience food insecurity each year, it’s clear we need to unite across party lines to prioritize administrative and legislative solutions that address the unique, ever-evolving needs of food recovery in the U.S. That’s why we asked Congress to be a part of our efforts by joining the bipartisan Congressional Food Recovery Caucus. We’re so excited to say that the event was attended by 85+ staffers from across the aisle, proving food recovery can unite us across sectors and party lines. This event would not have been possible without the incredible team at Shipt, as well as the partnership of Sophia Adelle & The Farmlink Project, Regina Harmon & Food Recovery Network, and Will Thomas & Patelana Group ?? Huge thank you to our panelists and experts for their invaluable insights: Jean Buzby (USDA), Kim Watt (Timber Ridge Fruit Farm), Carlos Rodriguez (City Harvest), Erin Morris (USDA AMS), Laura Abshire (National Restaurant Association), and Eva Goulbourne (Littlefoot Ventures). Together, we are driving change! ???? We’re excited to see the momentum from this gathering transform into bipartisan action for food recovery. Want to get involved? Whether you're a staffer or a constituent, ask your Representative to join the Caucus. For more information, please contact [email protected] #FoodRecovery #BipartisanAction #FoodWasteSolutions #Sustainability #BipartisanLeadership #SustainableFuture #CongressionalAction #FoodRecoveryCaucus

There's an entire congressional caucus dedicated to food rescue! This week, City Harvest's Chief Policy and Operations Officer Carlos Rodriguez spoke on a panel in Washington, D.C., hosted by the bipartisan group, to brief more than 85 congressional staffers on how food rescue can increase food security and reduce carbon emissions. Food rescue is at the heart of City Harvest's mission. This year, we will rescue more than 81 million pounds of high-quality, nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it for free so that New Yorkers have the food they need to thrive. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our insights on Capitol Hill and to encourage food security for all of our neighbors. Learn more about our food rescue efforts: https://lnkd.in/dY8NQjui #WeAreCityHarvest

Food Recovery Network ?? ButcherBox ?? Food Systems Collaborative Talk about a dream team!

ICYMI: In this month's edition of the Food Policy Debrief, we unpack how Albertsons Companies tapped into the expertise of its frontline workers to expedite food donation efforts ?? ?? Check out our Q&A with John Bernardo, Manager for Food Donation and Food Waste here ?? https://shorturl.at/JGoCj

Who is ready for Wednesday?! ? Don't miss the sneak peak of what's to come below: