ProGov21 Policy Library

This roadmap provides a step-by-step guide for implementing SNAP redemption programs at local farmers markets which includes assessment, funding, marketing, and technological recommendations. It also features case studies of funding, marketing, and partnership strategies, successful...

Farmers' markets have grown popular in recent years, attracting millions of consumers annually, generating incomes for small and medium-sized farmers and diversification and revitalization of communities. This report provides recommendations for increasing local farmers' access to...

This report examines opportunities for cities to invest in innovative business models and approaches to address local food systems challenges. It suggests investing in supply-side infrastructure in rural areas, focusing on value addition from regional farms and technology development...

For millions of Americans, accessing healthy food is no easy matter. In low-income communities, liquor stores and gas stations proliferate, while farmers' markets are hard to find. Nationally, 11.5 million low-income people live in low-income areas where the nearest supermarket is...

The Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative (FFFI) is a statewide financing program designed to attract supermarkets and grocery stores to underserved urban and rural communities (i.e. food deserts). This brief outlines FFFI's, financing structure, results, and special initiatives,...

Racial and ethnic disparities in agriculture and the food system experienced by farmers of color (FoC) in the United States stem from an exploitative and racialized agricultural system. Sustainable agriculture with a strong orientation toward racial justice can serve as a policy tool...

Soil erosion is a continuing problem in Wisconsin, with erosion rates at double the national standard and rising. Among other environmental concerns, this erosion impairs cropland productivity and pollutes waterways. Wisconsin’s Farmland Preservation (FP) program is the state’s largest...

Coordinated messaging from industry lobbyists and state legislators who support preemption is similar or identical across issues and states. This document lays out a number of predictable pro-preemption statements or messages, followed by accurate messages you can use to refute them,...

This policy outlines how zoning laws can be used to facilitate urban agriculture in order to promote public health, environmental sustainability, and economic prosperity. It explains where urban farming should be located, how it can be legally approved, and the standards that should...

Within cities, residents face stark disparities in their access to fresh, healthy produce, with low-income communities often the most affected by this limited access. Inequitable access to food perpetuates poor health outcomes among low-income populations and undermines efforts to...

Passing a local resolution is one way for communities to promote obesity prevention policies. This report outlines NPLAN's model obesity prevention resolution, explaining how it works and the specific policies it promotes. It focuses on ten areas of improvement: (1) the built environment,...

This guide focuses on the role that regional food hubs play in addressing the distribution challenges faced by producers and increasing access to larger markets. The guide addresses frequently asked questions about regional food hubs, including their definition, impacts, barriers...

Bringing a grocery store into an underserved neighborhood not only makes fresh produce and other healthy food more accessible, it can provide livingwage jobs, raise the value of surrounding property, and anchor and attract additional businesses to the neighborhood. A wide range of...

Many policies that help make healthier foods available to families start locally. But what if your state lawmakers suddenly passed legislation that took away the ability of community members, city councils, school districts, and counties to help prevent heart disease, stroke, and...

This ordinance updates the City's land use code governing urban agriculture uses, including: allowing urban farms and community gardens in all zones; allowing all residents to be able to sell food grown on their property; allowing farmers' markets in more areas; allowing dedicated...