The Knoxville-Knox County Food Policy Council will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 8:30 a.m. at Beardsley Community Farm, located at 1719 Reynolds Street. Formed in 1982, the KKCFPC is the oldest municipal food policy council in the United States. 

A program at 9 a.m. will include remarks and proclamations from City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs’ office, and state officials. 

The inaugural Wilson Awards, given in honor of the late Robert Wilson, will also be presented. Wilson, who died earlier this year, was a University of Tennessee Graduate School of Planning professor who mobilized students and the community around the idea of incorporating food access into community plans in the early 1980s.

The Council serves as a forum for local stakeholders to develop and assess public policy strategies and make recommendations that promote a healthy, fair, and sustainable local food system. 

During the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council mobilized to form a food access committee to ensure emergency food supplies for vulnerable populations.

Members and supporters of the Council include: Knoxville Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC), Second Harvest of East Tennessee, University of Tennessee, United Way of Greater Knoxville, Boys and Girls Club, Knox County Schools, Salvation Army, Real Good Kitchen, Nourish Knoxville, Centro Hispano, Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, Wesley House, Knox County Development Corporation, City of Knoxville and Knox County governments, and additional nonprofits, area farmers, food manufacturers and distributors, and restaurants.

For information about the Knoxville-Knox County Food Policy Council, visit https://www.knoxfood.org.