AUSTIN, Texas — Leaders with the city of Austin and Travis County are moving forward with a massive food plan aimed at reducing food insecurity in the county.
On Tuesday, county commissioners expressed support for the food plan adopted by the city of Austin.
“We have food desserts in a Del Valle, Manor, parts of Pflugerville, and some parts of Austin,” said Travis County Precinct 1 Commissioner Jeff Travillion. “It’s important we understand where our pockets of food insecurity are.”
Officials said about 14% of people in the county currently face food insecurity. The number increases to 20% for children.
Officials said farmers will be a key resource, in not only trying to cover the food desert gap, but also to get more meals in the school system for kids.
“Incentives for farmers to produce locally, and how do we create incentives to make that sure that food goes into places like schools,” Edwin Marty, the Food Policy Manager for Austin’s Office of Sustainability, said. “We are talking 10’s of millions of dollars to try to support increasing food access.”
The plan also calls on nonprofits to get involved.
“We want to identify who is the most effective and what environment and how we can increase the number of people being served,” said Travillion.
There are a total of 61 strategies in the plan.
“We already have 10-20% of the strategies are moving forward,” said Marty.