What is a Food Policy Council and Why Does Linn County Want One?

Linn County is a step closer to creating a food policy council, but what does that even mean?

First, Linn County Supervisor Brent Oleson said it is absolutely not designed to tell Linn County residents what they can or cannot eat. 

He said he’s had lots of comments on that one.

"I'm trying to stress that, it is not telling people you can't eat these kind of food," he said. "It is not government out of control."

It actually involves working through the Linn County planning department to promote and coordinate locally grown food in Linn County.

This would entail finding local farmers and food providers that may be interested in marketing and selling their food to Linn County residents, instead of simply selling their food wholesale.

In a Gazette story, Linn County Supervisor Linda Langston put it simply.

"It’s more about connections and facilitation," she said.

Oleson further said that this program is federally funded and will not cost Linn County taxpayers any money at all. 

The supervisors agreed to advance the proposal on Monday, with a final vote to approve the proposal on March 28.

After that, volunteers can be placed on the council.