Jacksonville rolls out first citywide food plan focused on access, waste and local growing

Jacksonville rolled out its first comprehensive food plan on Oct. 26, and city leaders say the effort is meant to do more than offer a short-term program. The plan was unveiled at Feeding Northeast Florida with Mayor Donna Deegan, local growers and community partners on hand.

The roadmap lays out 32 actions and 79 sub-actions across four areas: production, distribution, access and recovery. City officials say it was built with local farmers, food access advocates, academic institutions and partners including Feeding Northeast Florida, the UF/IFAS Duval Extension Office and Blue Zones Project Jacksonville.

The city says the work responds to a real need. Officials said nearly one in seven Jacksonville residents and one in five children are experiencing food insecurity, which is the problem the plan is designed to address.

Residents who want to follow the rollout can review the plan online now. Early implementation is already underway, including the Pathways to Urban Agriculture bill, which is moving through City Council, and an oyster-shell recycling pilot tied to the plan's environmental goals.