Public policy can be a frightening topic that conjures up visions of red tape and bureaucracy. Not here at ISA. On December 1^st ISA’s Grassroots Policy Advisory Committee (GPAC) held our 2^nd annual state-wide meeting, and it included a lively discussion about how public policy reform can remove barriers and encourage local food system growth with an emphasis on food safety regulations and land use policies. A diversity of farmers, entrepreneurs, farmers market managers, consumers and food system advocates discussed their needs and identified key priorities for supporting the continued growth of local food systems. As a result of the meeting GPAC amended the list of priorities determined at last year’s annual GPAC meeting to include food safety regulatory concerns and land use policy. The full list of priorities are:

• Developing tiered regulations to eliminate legal and regulatory barriers burdening the local food and farm economy.
• Developing local food and farm infrastructure through technical assistance, funding streams, and regulatory reform.
• Leveraging support of citizens, legislators, organizations, and other farmers through education about policy ramifications and engagement in the policy making process.
• Increasing access to local food for low-income and underserved populations through the support of Illinois Fresh Food Fund, support programs and policies to provide SNAP/EBT Infrastructure at Farmers' Markets and other farm-direct enterprises
• Supporting appropriate food safety rules and regulations through engagement with regulatory agencies and support for appropriate legislative reforms.
• Increasing access to land and farmland preservation by supporting and developing progressive reforms in land use policy.

GPAC will be holding our first conference call of 2012 on January 19^th at 10:00 a.m. If you are interested in getting more involved with GPAC and ISA’s policy advocacy efforts please contact Wes King.