Item 4. Regional Food System Council for Food Policy Board - Nov 2025 — original pdf

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Central Texas Regional Food System Council: Updates and Opportunities Prepared for: ATCFPB By: Dr. Tracy Ayrhart, Vice President of Research + Strategic Partnerships Monday, November 17, 2025 CTFB | Roadmap Roadmap • Context and Council Development • Regional Food System Council • Mission and Vision • High-Level Structure • Timeline • Opportunities Council Development CTFB | Council Development Central Texas Food Bank’s Approach We believe every Central Texan should have immediate and equitable access to nutritious food. This can be done one of two ways: • Providing direct access to nutritious food. • Providing the resources necessary for all Central Texans to access nutritious food on their own. CTFB | Members Council Development Group Members Expansion and Assessment County Food System Business Backbone Organization Central Texas Food Bank Sukanya Romyanon, Director of Food System Planning Bastrop County Bastrop County Cares – Economic Stability Coalition Norma Mercado, Executive Director Supply chain logistics, large-scale retail Amazon Josh Hirschland, Principal Product Manager Funder Episcopal Health Foundation C. J. Hager, VP Grants Bell County Helping Hands Belton - Bell County Hunger Coalition Alicia Jallah, Executive Director Agricultural landscape Texas Farmers Market Laura McDonald, Executive Director Hunger Free Community Coalition development Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty Katie Nye, Director of Hunger Free Community Coalitions Data and Assessment University of Texas at Austin – Dept. of Nutrition Sciences Natalie Poulos, Assistant Professor Government Local government Texas Association of Regional Councils Ginny Lewis Ford, Executive Director Hays County Hays County Health Department Healthy Hays Coalition Matthew Gonzales Director McLennan County Prosper Waco – McLennan County Hunger Free Community Coalition Jeremy Rhodes, Senior Director of Data & Research Travis County Travis County Health and Human Services Leslie Gaines, Family Support Services Division Director Williamson County United Way for Greater Austin – Food at Every Table Initiative Dorothy Light, Community Health Connect Director Community Member Candace Rhodes, Community Representative Subject Matter Expertise (On-Call As Needed) Small-scale retail and distribution Greater Austin Merchants Cooperative Association (GAMA) Shane Walker, COO Additional Staff Support: Tracy Ayrhart, VP of Research + Strategic Partnerships Mia Burger, Research Manager, Central Texas Food Bank CTFB | Council Development Council Development Timeline Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Clarifying Intentions Developing Charter Transitioning to Council Relationship building and establishing shared understanding and expectations Establishing charter/structure for Regional Food System Council Recruit council members and work through remaining charter needs Council Official Launch: October 24 About the Central Texas Regional Food System Council CTFB | Central Texas Regional Food System Council Central Texas Regional Food System Council Mission Our mission is to address broad challenges across the Central Texas food system by fostering the coordination of data, resources, education, policy, and advocacy, to advance innovative solutions in our communities. Vision We envision a thriving, sustainable, and resilient Central Texas food system that supports access to fresh and nutritious food for all, local production, a robust supply chain, and economic stability. Values • Collaboration • Innovation • Sustainability • Respect • • Shared Opportunity Integrity Roles • Advocacy & Education • Collaboration, Coordination, & Convening • Resource Mobilization • Research Prioritization • Lead Regional Initiatives www.centraltxfoodsystem.org/rfsc CTFB | RFSC Structure High-Level Structure • Three body collaborative structure to facilitate inclusive partnership, strategic alignment, and effective action across the region Steering Committee Permanent Workgroups Special Initiative Task Forces • Provide strategic direction • Set regional priorities • Bring necessary partners to the table • Meets quarterly • Subsidiary bodies for ongoing advisement • Ad hoc, for efforts that are time-bound and issue-specific • Starting with two workgroups: • Local Coalition Collaborative • Data and Research Advisory Group CTFB provides backbone staffing support CTFB | Introductions RFSC Steering Committee Community Member Community Representative Heather Frazier Data and Research University of Texas at Austin – Dept. of Nutrition Sciences Natalie Poulos, Assistant Professor County-Level Food Coalitions Agriculture Bell County Hunger Coalition Alicia Jallah, Executive Director, Helping Hands Ministry of Belton Healthy Hays Coalition Isabella Vigil, Behavioral Health Coordinator, Hays County Health Department Rancher Kimberly Ratcliff, Owner, Ratcliff Premium Meats Farmers Market Laura McDonald, Executive Director, Texas Farmers Market Funder St. David's Foundation Susana Morales, Senior Learning and Evaluation Officer Backbone Organization Central Texas Food Bank Tracy Ayrhart , VP of Research + Strategic Partnerships Local Government Councils of Government Dorthy Jackson, Community & Economic Development Manager Heart of Texas Council of Government County-Level Official Louie Minor, Bell County Commissioner Precinct 4 Food Industry Supply Chain Logistics, Large-Scale Retail Karen Christensen, North America Lead, Amazon Fresh/Amazon Go Local Produce Distributor Frank Gomez, Jr., Assistant General Manager, Segovia Produce, Ltd. Additional Staff Support: Central Texas Food Bank Mia Burger, Research Manager CTFB | RFSC Structure Data and Research Advisory Group CTFB | RFSC Structure Local Coalition Collaborative CTFB | RFSC Timeline RFSC Timeline and Looking Ahead Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Launch Understand Context Identify Priorities Establish Early Wins Build relationships, establish clarity in expectations Understand current food system-related data and context Establish initial priorities and begin action steps Establish quick wins and continue to form longer term priorities CTFB | Opportunities and Discussion Opportunities and Discussion Opportunities: • Local Coalition Collaborative • Formalize implementation of Strategy 9.2 of ATC Food Plan • Elevate Land Presentation/Access priority to regional level • Special Initiatives Task Force Contacts Dr. Tracy Ayrhart VP of Research + Strategic Partnerships tayrhart@centraltexasfoodbank.org Mia Burger Research Manager mburger@centraltexasfoodbank.org www.centraltexasfoodbank.org (official website) www.centraltxfoodsystem.org (CTX Food System Dashboard)