Description
To address the challenges associated with food deserts and swamps and their impacts on vulnerable populations in the community, the city must understand where food deserts and swamps exist and why and then offer support to retailers, markets, food banks and farmers markets to increase healthy food availability in these areas. At the same time, the city can provide free meeting rooms to organizations like the health departments to provide free educational opportunities to community members about diet, nutrition as well as how to prepare and grow fresh food.
Components
- Conduct an inventory of food retailers, markets and food banks to determine food desert and swamp areas in Westminster through a city-wide mapping analysis of walksheds and other barriers to access.
- Review development codes in areas that meet the criteria of food deserts and/or swamps to reduce barriers and increase opportunities for healthy food sales and distribution.
- Develop an incentive structure to encourage food retailers to support designated areas.
- Coordinate with and consider incentivizing community supported agriculture (CSA), farmers markets and food banks to expand service to designated areas.
- Develop policies and incentives to support Double Up Food Bucks Colorado to ensure better access to healthy foods at food retailers, markets and CSAs.