A group of highly engaged, cross-sector entities with a shared vision for a localized food system that increases access to healthy, affordable, culturally appropriate, sustainably produced food. A thriving and equitable food system must:
• Be community-centered (built by the community for the benefit of the community)
• Embrace diverse cultures and perspectives
• Foster a sense of belonging and celebration
• Provide sufficient food for all people while minimizing waste
• Create local job opportunities in cultivation, production, and distribution
• Be inclusive, dignified, and recognize nutritious food as a basic human right
• Value the people and places where food is grown and made
• Be sustainable in that it protects and advances the health of the local natural environment and area residents
