Stitching Food Into The Urban Fabric

Food systems discourse has traditionally been absent from city planning. However, the growing links between the city and the food system make it impossible for the planning field to continue to omit food systems in their practice and study. Food systems have proving to affect the health, sustainability and economic development potential of a city. The following study examines the planning and policy framework of communities with existing and proposed localized food system clusters. Localized food system clusters are an even more nascent concept. These clusters seek to leverage the concept of industry clusters with food system core components. The following study uses an evaluation of city plans, ordinances and municipal websites in order to establish the policy and planning framework of communities that foster and sustain localized food system clusters. Considerable variations exist in the way in which municipalities address food systems in their planning documents. Though vastly different in their content, all six of the evaluated communities had at least one institutional plan that addressed food system objectives. Policy wise, five of the six communities evaluated had a form of city affiliated or city supported food policy group or food systems planning group. Based on my findings, a set of recommendations was compiled for the proposed localized food system cluster in Raleigh, NC. The study ultimately establishes that local government and planners are integral to the formation and existence of localized food system clusters.Master of City and Regional Plannin