CFAC's mission is to develop and strengthen Missoula County's food system: promoting sustainable agriculture, building regional self-reliance; and assuring all citizens equal access to healthy, affordable, and culturally-appropriate food.  CFAC facilitates dialogue, education, and collaboration within the community, encouraging creative problem-solving and proactive policy advocacy.

To increase understanding of our local food system - including food production, processing, distribution, and consumption - a community food assessment (CFA) for Missoula County was conducted, with results released in late 2004.  A steering committee representing 15 local organizations with a variety of interests guided the research carried out by University of Montana faculty and students from the Environmental Studies Program and the Department of Social Work.  The community food assessment still provides a wealth of knowledge that guides our strategies to bolstering food security.  We encourage you to check it out.

A major recommendation coming out of the food assement process was that a "food policy council" be formed in Missoula County. Although there are many excellent organizations working on various facets of our local food system, no existing entity takes an integrated approach, considering the whole system from farm to fork.  Many cities, counties, and state governments have established food policy councils or coalitions that develop and implement solutions to local food problems.  Such councils include people who represent a wide range of perspectives because this tends to lead to new, innovative solutions to identified concerns.

Often local governments sanction the work of food policy councils.  Here, Missoula City Council and the Board of Missoula County Commissioners passed a resolution (PDF) to support the work of the CFAC and to include a representative from their respective bodies.  Our aim is to work with the City and County to implement a comprehensive food policy for Missoula County.

Learn more about CFAC by reading up on our accomplishments, Board of Directors, and staff.  Please feel free to contact us to see how you might participate in building a local food system.