We invite you be become a Central Louisiana local food leader!  

The Central Louisiana Food Policy Council (FPC) consists of individuals from throughout the region who meet regularly to drive long-term changes to create a healthier community and economy through a vibrant local foods system throughout Central Louisiana.

If you are interested in becoming a local food leader, please complete the member application. You will be contacted by a Central Louisiana FPC representative shortly after the submission of your application.

Are you up for the task?

The Food Policy Council is seeking leaders who offer energy, creativity and leadership in working together to find ways to increase access to, production of, and consumption of locally grown foods in Central Louisiana. The FPC meets monthly, generally on the second Monday of each month. For more information regarding member requirements, please view the Central Louisiana Food Policy Council's Bylaws. 

What do we do?

The working group is a primary component of Fresh Central, a community effort that aims to strengthen Central Louisiana’s local foods economy while increasing access to fresh foods for all residents of the region. 

Members play a key role in determining the direction of the region’s local food movement. They take on leadership roles in the group ’s two taskforces: the Central Louisiana Farm-to-School Taskforce and the Central Louisiana Farmers Market Development Taskforce. They also serve as a resource for the region’s Eat Local groups, parish groups that are starting farmers markets and community tables, and are laying promising groundwork in the local food movement.

Since first convening in June 2013, the Central Louisiana Food Policy Council has is accomplishing:

• Designed portions of Fresh Central: Grown in the Heart of Louisiana local foods branding initiative
• Co-facilitate Foodapalooza annually, a celebration of Central Louisiana's local food leaders and farmers
• Working with local businesses implementing local food purchasing polices, such as those outlined in Promoting Local Food in the Workplace: Guidlenes for Buseinses guide   
• Engaging local government to implement policies and guidelines that drive local food and community resiliance
• Providing high quality technical assistance to Central's Louisiana farmers markets
• And much more! 

Contact John Cotton Dean at jdean@cenla.org or call (318) 441-3424 for more information. And of course, click here to apply!