Planning for Regional Food Equity

Problem, research strategy, and findings Scholars in planning public health have increasingly called attention to inequities the food system. To evaluate address these challenges, local regional governments developed implemented a variety of plans over last 2 decades. The role planning, however, remains understudied. Most assessments plans, vis-à-vis systems, fall short gauging how structural problems that lead poor access food. We used 130 indicators conduct comparative plan evaluation adopted (n = 47) key dimensions equity United States from 2008 2018. Specifically, we quantitatively qualitatively investigate nutritional adequacy food; affordability cultural preferences for all people; social equity, spatial people’s agency Findings show relative lack Across different types sustainability focused on greatest extent. Within language about was lacking particular sections, namely vision, goals, objectives; factual basis plans; sections pertaining monitoring progress toward equity.Takeaway practice uncover opportunities planners promote through strategies such as improving healthy supporting system improved governance; incorporating into objectives leveraging advance equity; strengthening empirical evidence varied proposed actions outcomes.