Food Security Report
IPHI, Prince George’s County Food Security Task Force, and Prince George’s County Food Equity Council (FEC) completed a report to address the county’s food-security challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report recommends 11 solutions (four foundational and seven general strategies) for the Prince George’s County Council, Office of the County Executive, and County agencies to adopt.
Foundational Recommendations
- Create and fund a Prince George’s County Food Security Office.
- Gather, analyze, and use data to inform and drive County agency food security decisions.
- Increase resident participation in federal nutrition assistance programs.
- Develop a master communication strategy for food security, resilience, and emergency preparedness.
Food Security Policies and Programs Recommendations
- Plan for future food security disruptions by developing an emergency food security plan that integrates food system experts into existing emergency management operations.
- Increase access to bulk food purchasing, infrastructure, and resources for food assistance providers.
- Co-locate food security and social safety net services to create closed-loop referral systems.
- Improve transportation options for residents to access healthy food retailers and providers.
- Leverage state and regional partners for cross-jurisdictional food systems planning, coordinated communication, and infrastructure development.
- Provide land access, infrastructure, and resources to help agriculture flourish.
- Continue to provide and expand market incentives to support healthy food retailers of multiple sizes in target communities.