address policies and systems impacting our local food system. “We do have emerging food deserts in our community,” she said. “A food desert occurs when urban neighborhoods or rural towns don’t have ready access to fresh, healthy and affordable food. In town this is sometimes measured as being within one mile of a grocery store or market that provides healthy food choices. Currently, we have ethnic markets in some of these areas to help fill this gap but there is still work to be done to build a sustaining infrastructure for healthy food options.” With the rise of urban agriculture, Lipetzky has worked with community volunteers and organizations on projects like the One Vegetable One Community promotion which works to unite the community around growing and preparing a single vegetable (beets in 2015) and begin conversations about our food. Other community events include community gardening workshops, grower/buyer networking meetings, and the One Million Square Feet of Gardens Challenge. Because diet and physical activity are closely linked with overall health, Lipeztky has worked with several partners to develop a fun initiative called the FM Walk This Way program. “Starting at the end of March and going through May 19, we encourage residents to get out and start moving as the weather turns nicer,” said Lipetzky. “We have a series of 13 walks at different locations throughout the community. The walks are free and anyone can attend.” [AWM]
TO LEARN MORE
about becoming involved with the Cass Clay Food Systems Initiative, participating in FM Walk This Way, or volunteering with other communitybased public health programs , visit
metroinmotion.org or contact Lipetzky at klipetzky@cityoffargo.com.
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