Community Food Security & Nutrition Policy

The Community Food Security Program at UCCE Alameda works with community-based organizations, government agencies, and local residents to build strong and sustainable regional food systems that create neighborhood food environments throughout Alameda County that promote increased access to, and consumption of, affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food among residents.

The Community Food Security Program provides technical assistance to Alameda County initiatives concerning food and nutrition policy, including the following:

• County-wide nutrition policy, in partnership with the Alameda County Public Health Department and Board of Supervisors;
• Wellness Policy development and implementation in County school districts, with special attention paid to fiscal impact of changes to school meals programs, in compliance with the 2004 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act;
• Oakland Inner-city Farmers’ Markets

Mandela Farmers’ Market – Mandela Parkway @ 7th St., near West Oakland BART, Saturdays 10a-4p

East Oakland Senior Center Farmers’ Market – 9255 Edes Ave., Wednesdays 10.30a-2.30p

Faith Deliverance Farmers’ Market – 73rd Ave. and International Blvd., Fridays, 10a-1p (May through November);

• Promotion of Farm-to-School and Farm-to-Cafeteria efforts, with special attention paid to facilitating contacts with local farmers;
• Promotion of direct-to-consumer produce delivery programs, with special attention paid to helping community-based organizations act as 3rd-party intermediaries between producers and consumers;
• Agencies responsible for operating the Food Stamp Program and other federal nutrition programs such as the Child Nutrition and WIC programs.