Building Resilient Food Systems in Lake County

Opening the presentation, Rebecca Harper recognized Supervisor Sabatier for the key role he played in creating and developing the LCFPC and his ongoing commitment to strengthening food resilience for both local producers and consumers in Lake County. Supervisor Sabatier highlighted the LCFPC’s partnerships with North Coast Opportunities (NCO), Mendo Lake Food Hub and the Lake County Community Co-op (LCCC) to advance local food efforts. He explained, “Food was the most important focus for us. We’ve seen a decrease in production and an aging workforce. The more we can position ourselves to be self-sustaining, the stronger we will all be together.”

Harper clarified that the LCFPC is often mistaken for the Agricultural Advisory Committee, which addresses immediate agricultural concerns. In contrast, the LCFPC takes a proactive, holistic approach to strengthening Lake County’s food system by prioritizing the following:

1. Addressing food insecurity.

2. Improving public health.

3. Supporting local agriculture.

4. Expanding education.

5. Aligning infrastructure, policy and zoning tools.

Harper noted that Lake County’s geographic isolation increases food access risks during emergencies such as wildfires, but emphasized “Lake County’s abundant natural resources present a unique opportunity to build a resilient, self-sustaining food system.”

To turn LCFPC’s vision into action, Harper detailed the strategic priorities. The LCFPC aims to do the following:

1. Develop local food production and processing facilities.

2. Grow market channels.

3. Support growers and farm workers.

4. Expand school-based food production.

5. Expand food systems education opportunities.

6. Strengthen partnerships and networks.

7. Strengthen food access infrastructure and policy.

8. Use zoning and planning tools to support local food system development.

9. Foster collaboration to achieve strategic goals.

10. Ensure long-term support for the Food Policy Council.

11. Track progress and impact through evaluation.

12. Keep the community and decision makers informed.

Expanding on the theme of collaboration, Greg Damron shared that the Blue Zones Project has served as the Council’s lead support agency since September 2023. He expressed gratitude for a $100,000 technical assistance grant from Adventist Health and acknowledged key partners such as Angela Frazier of Adventist Health and Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures Katherine VanDerWall. Damron emphasized the Council’s focus on building a lasting structure grounded in sustainability, planning and teamwork, all of which are critical elements in responding to an evolving environment.

Recognizing the importance of inclusive representation, Supervisor Sabatier closed the presentation by highlighting efforts to engage tribal communities. He stressed the need to support food tribal sovereignty and rebuild relationships with local tribes. Public commenters echoed this sentiment. Kyle Bill, representing the Lake County General Plan Advisory Board, emphasized the essential role of tribal engagement, particularly on land and resource issues like mining. In response, Supervisor Sabatier announced plans to reopen the Council’s tribal seat to strengthen these critical connections.

To watch the presentation, click here.

To read about the Lake County Food Policy Strategic Plan, click here.