The Food Policy Council was established by the County Commission in 2010, and formed as a joint Lawrence-County advisory body with the City of Lawrence in 2013.
Mission
The Food Policy Council (FPC) seeks to identify the benefits, challenges and opportunities for a successful, sustainable local food system in Douglas County, Kansas.
Purpose
To this end, the purpose of the FPC is:
- To advise elected officials on food-system related policy issues and
- To provide a community forum for local food system development.
Bylaws
Read our bylaws to learn more about our purpose and structure.
Goals
The FPC works to help advance community progress towards the following goals, which form the structure for the Douglas County Food System Plan (adopted summer 2017).
- Goal 1: Agricultural producers, food entrepreneurs, and food sector workers thrive in our regional economy
- Goal 2: As our cities grow, we prioritize natural resource conservation and maintain working lands to promote soil health
- Goal 3: We build and design our communities to ensure food access, foster health, and eliminate food deserts
- Goal 4: Our community fosters an equitable food system
- Goal 5: Our community eliminates waste in our local food system
Food Systems Internship
Passionate about Food Systems, Policy, or Indigenous Foodways?
Apply now for the Food Systems Internship with the Douglas County Sustainability Office!
Position Title: Food Systems Intern
Start Date: August 25, 2025
End Date: January 30, 2026
Hours: 5 - 15 hours per week
Hourly Pay: $15.35
The Food System Intern will work directly with the Douglas County Food Policy Council and the Indigenous Food Systems working group to support the development of the Indigenous Food Systems Study and Action Plan.
Intern Roles and Responsibilities
The Intern scope of work includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Attend check-ins with Douglas County Food Systems Specialist to plan monthly tasks, discuss opportunities to enhance internship experience and troubleshoot challenges.
- Attend DCFPC planning meetings with leadership and the DCFPC Indigenous Food System Study and Action Plan working group (virtual or in person).
- Attend Douglas County Food Policy Council meetings on the third Monday of each month from 6:30-8:30pm (virtual or in person).
- Engage in the planning process, learning activities, and opportunities for the Indigenous Food System Study and Action Plan. Included but not limited to additional work mutually agreed upon such as research, planning meetings with Food Systems Specialists, and community engagement.
Application Due: August 15, 2025
How to Get Involved
Attend a Meeting
The easiest way to get involved in the Food Policy Council is by attending the meetings which occur every third Monday of the month from 6:30-8:30pm at various locations in Douglas County. At these meetings, you can connect with community stakeholders who all have the same goal in mind: a successful, sustainable local food system in Douglas County, Kansas.
Apply for Council Appointment
If you live, work, or own a business in Douglas County, and you have personal passion and experience, or professional expertise related to our community food system, you can apply to serve on the Food Policy Council. Applications will be reviewed and members are appointed by both the Douglas County and City of Lawrence Commissioners with consideration for diversity of perspectives from across all sectors of the food system. Members are appointed for 3-year terms that start in January, with the option to serve a second term. Applications are also accepted on a rolling basis and held for future consideration.
Join a Working Group
Our working groups are open to the public and do not require a formal appointment. They are a great way for residents to engage in ongoing collaboration to help advance community priorities and policy change with the FPC. Our working groups are organized around the five goals of the Food System Plan and County initiatives. Our working groups are:
- Food & Farm: Building the local food economy and ensuring we maintain needed natural resources for continued local agricultural production.
- Forward: Eliminating food waste through reduction, recovery, and diversion (including composting).
- Economic Development: Building an equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Indigenous Food Systems: Serving as the steering committee for the Indigenous Food System Study and Action Plan 2024-2025.
- Douglas County Health Plan – Food Security: Partner liaison working group with the Douglas County Health Department focused on developing the Food Security section for the 2024 Douglas County Health Plan (CHP).
To learn more and find out about monthly meeting dates/times (they vary) contact dcfpc@dgcoks.gov.
Meetings
The Food Policy Council (FPC) meets regularly every third Monday of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at various locations around our Douglas County food system. All meetings are open to the public. See below for information on upcoming meetings, including location and agenda. Past meeting minutes are also posted.
Upcoming Full Council Meetings
Past Meetings
Working Group Meetings
Our working group are where the real work of the Food Policy Council occurs. All working meetings* are open to the public and interested community members are welcome to join these groups. Our working groups are organized around the five goals of the Food System Plan. If you are interested in receiving more information or joining a working group, please contact dcfpc@dgcoks.gov.
*Working group meeting times vary
- Food & Farm: Building the local food economy and ensuring we maintain needed natural resources for continued local agricultural production.
- F.O.R.W.A.R.D: Eliminating food waste through reduction, recovery, and diversion (including composting).
- Economic Development: Building an equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Indigenous Food System Study and Action Plan: 2024-2025 Ad Hoc working group.
- Water: Prioritizing natural resource conservation (Food System Plan, Goal2, Objective 2 and 3)
- Douglas County Health Plan – Food Security: Partner liaison working group with the Douglas County Health Department focused on developing the Food Security section for the 2024 Douglas County Health Plan (CHP).
Members
As a joint advisory body appointed by Douglas County and the City of Lawrence. The DCFPC is composed of a diverse group of stakeholders, including agricultural producers, public health professionals, researchers, and other representatives engaged in the local food system.
Below is the official roster of Council members, including their Working Group participation and any additional leadership roles within DCFPC. Pursuant to Council bylaws, membership consists of five City of Lawrence-appointed members and eight Douglas County-appointed members.
County Commission Appointees
| Appointee | DCFPC Working Group |
|---|---|
| Ben Sikes | |
| Suzy Mooney | Food and Farm |
| Natalya Lowther | Food and Farm |
| Shelby Ostrom | Douglas County Health Improvement Plan - Food Security |
| Mackie Moore | Indigenous Food Systems |
| Aundrea Walker | Douglas County Health Improvement Plan - Food Security |
| -VACANT- | |
| -VACANT- |
City of Lawrence Appointees
| Appointee | DCFPC Working Group |
|---|---|
| Quinlan Carttar | Economic Development |
| Dietrich Earnhart | F.O.R.W.A.R.D, Chair |
| Christina Haswood | Indigenous Food Systems |
| Emily Lysen | Food and Farm, Chair |
| Tyler Lindquist | Economic Developemnt, Chair | DCFPC, Chair |
Documents
New Hampshire Office
1006 New Hampshire Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
United States
