The eighth annual Johnson County Food Policy Council public forum will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, online via Zoom.

This year’s forum, “Farm to Institution Purchasing: How Do We Increase Sales?” explores how farm to institution sales can lead to a more equitable, resilient and community-based food system. Community institutions in Johnson County include universities, schools, nursing homes and hospitals.

The forum will feature a panel of guest speakers who will discuss topics such as local infrastructure needed to facilitate farm to institution sales, how various disruptions have impacted farm to institution sales, and the complexities of wholesale pricing. There will also be opportunities for attendees to engage in break-out discussions with panelists.

The goal of the forum is to increase community understanding of the benefits of institutional local food purchases as well as the barriers and potential solutions to increasing these sales. Additionally, the council hopes to gather input on how our community can address barriers through policies, community investment and strategic partnerships.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Registration information and additional details are available on the Facebook event page at fb.me/e/2GixzXJOT and www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/localfoods.

The Johnson County Food Policy Council was created in 2012 by the Board of Supervisors to provide guidance on food and agriculture issues. The council is charged to provide annual recommendations on how to improve our local food system, hold public forums to obtain feedback on food system issues and to educate County residents on the value of supporting a strong community-based food system.