As we transition to a new season, I’m reminded that the work of building an equitable and resilient food system is both urgent and deeply rooted in personal connection. I have seen this first hand throughout the past few weeks as I have begun to fully plug into the local food systems by meeting with producers, food experts, and advocates across our region. I am so grateful for the wealth of knowledge and passion that our community holds and I am thrilled to get to work with the council to advance a resilient regional food system. Progress is powered by collaboration!

Cheers,

Rosa Baker

Manager, Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council

Reply to this email to reach Rosa, or for questions regarding membership, visit here or email membership@greenumbrella.org.

Last Mile Food Rescue is dedicated to ending food insecurity and waste by rescuing excess, desirable food for those who need it most. Volunteers, called Food Rescue Heroes, use a mobile app to pick up food donations and deliver it to partner agencies who get it to those in need.

Since 2020, over 15 million pounds of food have been rescued, providing over 12.5 million meals to our community and preventing 43 million pounds of CO2eq emissions at the landfills. Along with Green Umbrella and Hamilton County ReSource, Last Mile is co-hosting the Wasted Food Summit next month – see more details in the events section below.

Interested in becoming a Green Umbrella member and collaborating on future events? Learn more today.

I want to take a moment to recognize the powerful role storytelling plays in shaping our food systems. Edible Ohio Valley is celebrating 15 years of delicious storytelling, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the farmers, chefs, and communities who nourish our region. Every issue is a tribute to local flavor and the people who make the Ohio River Valley a thriving, edible landscape. Beyond thoughtful journalism, beautifully paired photographs, and mouth-watering recipes, Edible offers a community of their own by regularly featuring and hosting food-centric events. They have helped build awareness, spark dialogue, and drive meaningful change in how we think about food, equity, and sustainability across our region.

Looking for a local spot known for good eats? Check out their Dining Guide. Need delectable meal ideas for cooking at home? Try one of their recipes. There is no shortage of food inspiration to be found between the pages of the seasonal publication. We raise a glass to our friends at Edible Ohio Valley and congratulate them on 15 years of meaningful contributions to our regional food scene. Cheers!

ThriveTogether: A Sustainability Playbook for Greater Cincinnati is in development as part of the US EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program. The Sustainability Playbook is a recommended strategy to mitigate climate impacts, increase resilience, and improve the health and equity of 16 regional counties. As a part of the process, a group of experts and advocates across food systems and greenspaces came together on September 9, 2025 to discuss guided topics regarding climate-safe approaches to Agriculture and Carbon Removal in our region. The roundtable discussions provided community feedback which will help to shape updated measures and actions in the plan.

October is National Farm to School Month! It is a great time to advocate for schools to increase local food purchasing practices, boost nutritional education for students, and support school gardens. Whether you are in Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana, there are resources available to help you celebrate and spread the word. We will be sharing stories and resources all month long on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, and/or LinkedIn) and taking part in the great Apple Crunch, so be sure to follow along and help support the great work to connect students with nutritious, locally grown food.

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 9:00 am - 2:30 pm

Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Join us for the Wasted Food Summit, a powerful one-day gathering of changemakers, business leaders, chefs, advocates, and sustainability experts, all working to turn wasted food into opportunity. Whether you’re a business or institution interested in learning about food donation or an individual looking to be part of the solution, this event will equip you with tools, insights, and inspiration to take action.

Learn how food donation and rescue can reduce waste, feed people, and strengthen your bottom line—and how everyday advocates can help transform the food system.

Event Highlights:

Funding for the Wasted Food Summit is generously provided by Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE). The Summit is co-hosted by Green Umbrella, Hamilton County ReSource, and Last Mile Food Rescue.

Thursday, October 9, 2025 from 6:00 to 8:00pm | Webinar

We're excited to share that Green Umbrella and partners are hosting a 2025 Cincinnati Local Candidate Climate and Sustainability Forum! The forum will be virtual from 6:00-8:00 pm on October 9 and feature Cincinnati City Council and local School Board candidates. Participants can also submit their questions for candidates here. Food is an important consideration, especially as we face crucial funding cuts.

This is a great opportunity to engage with your local community candidates, learn their stances on pressing issues, and to let them know that local food access is important to you. If you'd like to revisit previous forums, follow these links to view the 2023 and 2021 events.

Hamilton County Public Health’s WeTHRIVE! Initiative and the Food Policy Council are collaborating to help organizations in the following neighborhoods implement healthy and sustainable food purchasing practices: Addyston, Cheviot, Elmwood Place, Golf Manor, Lincoln Heights, Lockland, Mount Healthy, North College Hill, and Woodlawn. As a part of the work, currently being funded through a federal grant aimed at chronic disease prevention, we are creating a guidebook to help organizations implement local purchasing practices. These practices can help your organization build ties to the community, act on sustainability commitments, and walk-the-walk of your values - all through food. If your organization is interested in receiving and possibly implementing good food purchasing practices, fill out this survey, and we will share the guide once it’s available. We would love to provide additional support throughout the process and get your feedback on implementation.

Reply to this email to reach the new Food Policy Council Manager, Rosa, or for questions regarding membership, visit here or email membership@greenumbrella.org.

Interested in sponsoring the Food Policy Council? Email Director of Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Charlie Gonzalez.