Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council Announces New Members

Thursday, March 5, 2026 – Green Umbrella has announced the members of the 2026 Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council. The Food Policy Council, a program of Green Umbrella, is a cross-sector collaborative of food system experts and advocates working together to advance an environmentally, socially, and economically resilient regional food system through policy and systems-level work. 

The Food Policy Council works to bring about policy-driven change. Council members bring their experiences and expertise to collaborate on advocacy and educational campaigns, reducing food waste, strengthening and preserving farmland, increasing local food procurement, and informing decision-makers. “This group has a very diverse understanding of the food industry, with expertise all across the food system,” says Rosa Baker, Green Umbrella’s Food Policy Council Manager. “I’m really excited for what we’ll accomplish this year.”

In previous years, the Food Policy Council advocated for and was a driving force in the updated standardized zoning codes in Cincinnati that allowed for the expansion of local urban gardens in 2019; provided education, advocacy, and technical support to Cincinnati Public Schools in their adoption and expansion of the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP); advised on the Green Cincinnati Plan and the Regional Sustainability Playbook; and advocated for a strong federal Farm Bill that supports food producers across the country.

The first convening of the new Food Policy Council met on March 2, where they focused on building an updated Food Policy Network regional map. The 2026 members are: 

• Rosie Allen, Educator (Returning)
• Gary Beatty, Inland Shrimp Company (Returning)
• Jared Beckman, Chef
• Sable Bender, WESTIL
• Dominic Bley, Garden of Joy
• Nick Bliven, FUEL NKU
• Polly Campbell, Writer (Returning)
• Rosa Christophel, HomeBase Cincinnati
• Nicole Gunderman, Hamilton County Conservation District
• Nate Hale, Agricultural Professional
• Fran Knox-Kazimierczuk, Advocate (Returning)
• Joy Kostansek, Ohio CDC Association (Returning)
• Kimberly Jacobs, East Walnut Hills Farmers’ Market (Returning)
• Michelle Merrett, Hamilton Urban Garden Systems (Returning)
• Mark Mitchell, Xavier University (Returning)
• Taylor Newman, Advocate
• Rachel Powers, CORV Local Food Guide
• Emalee Richman, Rich Life Farm (Returning)
• Tony Staubach, Hamilton County ReSource (Returning)
• Jacob “Possum” Strous, Community Garden Steward
• R. Alan Wight, Educator (Returning)
• Adrienne Wiley, Healing Center
• Tracy Wilking, Advocate (Returning)

For the full bios of Food Policy Council members, visit the link here.