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OUR INITIATIVES

Get Informed. Get Involved

In response to specific areas of need in the city, the Food Policy Council of San Antonio (FPCSA) has created work groups. Each Work Group brings together experts and passionate individuals in a forum to establish policy, generate new ideas, develop solutions, build partnerships, and have a voice in the community on important issues related to food and the community’s overall health and wellness.

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Our Work Groups

  • Healthy Corner Stores

  • Farm to School

  • Farmers Markets

  • Food Waste​

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*See Below for Full Descriptions

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HEALTHY CORNER STORES

This program enhances access to healthy food in neighborhoods with limited nutritious options. It helps convenience stores that are already embedded within communities to buy and sell more produce. The Food Policy Council proposed this program to the city of San Antonio. Following a successful pilot of the Healthy Corner Store Initiative in City Council District 3, the program has been expanded to a total of 30 stores throughout the city. According to Metro Health’s SA Forward plans, the goals for Healthy Corner Stores include adding 12 in this fiscal year (2022) and having at least 50 member stores by 2026.

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The program offers display options, such as shelving and refrigeration, to stores, reduces their wholesale costs of produce from distributors, and markets the program to potential customers. Through these strategies, a sustainable sales model for affordable produce emerges in long-standing food deserts. The program has already provided nearly a million pounds of produce to participating convenience stores, with much more on the horizon.

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Collaborative Program

San Antonio Metro Health now operates the bulk of the program, with advisory roles for other partners, such as the Food Policy Council. Our nonprofit provides assistance through occasional grants, such as Humana’s Bold Goal program, which enabled us to create room-temperature basket display options for participating stores. In the pilot, the program was operated by multiple partners who brought together their resources to increase access to healthy, affordable food.

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  • District 3 obtained $50,000 in City funding to purchase produce, as store owners learn to stock and customers learn to look for healthy fruits and vegetables at their neighborhood convenience store. D3 staff also helps oversee the program.

  • University of the Incarnate Word’s School of Osteopathic Medicine administers payments and incorporates engagement with medical students and surrounding neighborhoods.

  • Happi Foodi, a frozen food company, donated $25,000 to purchase refrigerators for stores that needed additional capacity.

  • Metro Health’s Community Health Workers helped recruit stores and spread the word to neighborhood residents.

  • River City Produce and now Big State Produce deliver produce and training in produce handling, and report on quantities delivered.

  • The Compost Queens collected unsold produce for use in urban farm soils and reported on what was removed.

  • The San Antonio Food Bank provided nutrition, health, and wellness education through culinary demos featuring the seasonal produce available in the stores.

  • The Food Policy Council of San Antonio helped coordinate the partnerships and advocated for new locations.

  • Several City Council members have extended he program to other districts.

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Our Original Proposal to City Council

SA Healthy Corner Store Proposal

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Metro Health Flyers

FY22 HCS Flyer with Map (English)

FY22 HCS Flyer with Map (Spanish)

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Resources for Corner Store Owners

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FARM TO SCHOOL

ABOUT

Farm to School connects students with fresh, local food through:

  • Sourcing local ingredients for school meals

  • Garden-based learning

  • Nutrition and food education in the classroom

The program empowers families to make informed food choices, supports local farmers, and enhances STEM learning.

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OUR GOALS

Increase access to local foods in schools, and expand garden and nutrition-based education across Bexar County.

 

CURRENT PROJECTS

Create a resource guide for starting Farm to School programs

  • Map existing school gardens and programs in the region

  • Spotlight local Farm to School Champions inspiring others

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IN THE NEWS

FOOD WASTE

ABOUT

Food waste is a serious problem impacting our communities and our environment. A few ingredients going bad here or there doesn’t seem significant, but within the United States, 30-40% of the food supply ends up wasted.

 

This not only wastes money and promotes food insecurity, but the impacts on the environment are disastrous: seafood waste returns to the ocean and wreaks havoc on marine life, animal ecosystems become unbalanced, and food that rots in landfills generate greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change.

 

As evidenced by the EPA graphic, there are several beneficial uses for food waste before letting it end up in a landfill (brown bin). The most effective way to start tackling the problem of food waste is to address it at the source—buy or prepare only what’s needed. 

FARMER'S MARKETS

ABOUT

This workgroup promotes the use of benefits (SNAP, WIC, FMNP, etc) at farmers markets,  supports the creation and sustainability of farmers markets in San Antonio, and advocates for sound policies and fair fee structures for producers and market managers.

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GOALS

  1. Increase community awareness of farmers markets that accept benefits (SNAP, WIC, FMNP, etc.)

  2. Create a network of farmers, urban farmers, farmers markets, local restaurants, and small food markets to support the production, sales, and purchasing of locally grown produce in San Antonio

  3. Develop a map of farmers markets in San Antonio that includes information on bus routes and which farmers markets do or do not take benefits

Couple Buying Asparagus
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