The Cook County Food System Network held a public meeting on November 20, 2024, to introduce what it is calling a “county-level Food Access Council.” This new program aims to increase community access to affordable, healthy food.
The meeting’s purpose was to develop a shared vision for the council, create a visual map of food resources, tell a cohesive story about access to healthy food, and decide the council’s future agenda.
The Cook County Food System Network is a partnership with the Northwoods Food Project, Cook County University of Minnesota Extension, Cook County Public Health and Human Services (CCPHHS), and the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership “SHIP.”
The Northwoods Food Project was established in 2008 as a non-profit organization by a group of volunteers in Grand Marais, MN. Its mission is to support local food producers and consumers in Cook County. It sponsors the Grand Marais Farmers Market, held in season at the Community Center.
Cook County Extension is an outreach arm of the University of Minnesota. It provides research-based educational outreach in urban, suburban, and rural communities in all 87 Minnesota counties.
CCPHHS is a department of the Cook County Government. With 34 employees, it serves a wide range of public health services.
SHIP is a program of the Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis County Community Health Board (CHB).
It supports community-driven solutions to expand opportunities for active living, healthy eating, commercial tobacco-free living, and well-being.
CHB began under a Joint Powers Agreement in 1977 and was established after the passage of the 1976 Community Health Services Act. Its board has nine members, three from St. Louis County and two from Carlton, Cook, and Lake counties. Each county has at least one county commissioner member in its delegation. The other representative is typically a local county public health advisory member. The CHB meets approximately bi-monthly with its administrative offices in Duluth.
Food insecurity is a public health threat. The State Health Assessment released by the Minnesota Department of Health in April of this year says that food insecurity occurs when access to nutritionally adequate and safe food is limited or uncertain. It can be temporary or persist over time. Income and life circumstances can make it difficult for people to choose healthy foods, especially when such foods are not readily available or affordable.
The report continues to point out that 5.5 million people visited food shelves in Minnesota in 2022, up from 3.4 million in 2017. This is likely due to rising food costs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation impacting the supply chain.
Kristina Campbell Mattson, State Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) Coordinator at Cook County, was contacted for this story, but as of the deadline, we are still waiting to hear back. If you’re interested in contributing to this important initiative or want further information. you may email her at kristina.mattson@co.cook.mn.us or call her at 218-302-1342.
