Healthy Eating Minnesota Community:

Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department

Project Description

As Minnesota’s largest local public health entity, Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department (HCHSPHD) is uniquely poised to improve access to healthy foods—including fresh fruits and vegetables.

Partnering with a diverse array of organizations including the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support, Bloomington Public Health Department, the Emergency FoodShelf Network, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Food Industry Center of the University of Minnesota, Gardening Matters, and others, they will work to improve the availability and quality of fresh produce in the county.

To help accomplish this goal a community food assessment is being done to identify gaps in the current food system. Following the assessment, strategies to close these gaps will be determined. Potential strategies may include developing a network of community-based food organizations to coordinate healthy eating efforts, establishing a small grocer’s food cooperative to enhance buying power for small quantities of fruits and vegetables, or improving connections between urban/small farmers in Hennepin County and small retail grocers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Links

Contact person

 

All HEM Communities

Dakota County Public Health Department - "Smart Choices"

Farmers Legal Action Group (FLAG)

Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department

Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy (IATP)

Land Stewardship Project - "Big Stone Lake Area Foods Group"

NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center - "Northside Healthy Eating Project"

University of Minnesota - Morris - "Morris Healthy Eating"

Twin Cities Medical Society