City Releases Rochester Community Food System Plan

The City today released the Rochester Community Food System Plan, a community-driven roadmap to improve food access, strengthen the local food economy, and build a more connected, equitable, and resilient food system. 

"This plan provides a roadmap for government, community organizations, businesses, growers, institutions, and residents to work together to expand access to healthy food, strengthen our local food economy, and help create a food system that serves everyone,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “I appreciate the hard work of our Neighborhood and Business Development team and the local community members who helped create this important guiding document."  

Developed over the past two and a half years of community driven research, the Rochester Community Food System Plan reflects significant data analysis and mapping, as well as input from residents, advocates, growers, businesses, institutions, and community organizations. It outlines a shared vision for improving food access, supporting community gardens, growing the local food economy, and building a more connected, equitable, and resilient food system. 

To complement the Plan and serve as a resource for the community, the City has created a new Food System Data Hub and Mapping Tool. This interactive online tool makes the data used to develop the plan publicly available, allowing residents, researchers, nonprofit organizations, businesses and community partners to explore food system trends, identify areas of need, and use the information to help guide programs, investments and decision-making. 

The tool fulfills one of the plan’s recommended “early win” actions and will be updated annually to keep the information current and useful to the community. 

The plan and Food System Data Hub and Mapping Tool are available at www.cityofrochester.gov/FoodPlan.