Denver Releases Food Vision 2030 Progress Report

Published on November 25, 2024

DENVER– As families in our community prepare to gather around the table to celebrate the holidays, the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) is reflecting on the progress made toward ensuring all residents have access to healthy food and a resilient and equitable food system.

Through the Denver Food Vision 2030, a community-driven initiative launched in 2017, the city has invested more than $67 million to tackle food insecurity, expand access to healthy food, and strengthen local food production. Halfway through the plan timeline, a new progress report shows 95% of the proposed strategies outlined in the Food Vision are underway and more than half are near completion. As DDPHE prepares to move the plan forward through the next five years, the department is seeking community feedback to prioritize policy and funding decisions.

“We know that for many families in Denver, budgets for healthy food are stretched thin, and our work to provide access to nutritious and affordable food is more important than ever,” said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. “I am proud of the work from city agencies to lay the foundation for a more equitable food system that creates a healthier, more vibrant Denver.”

Denver has made significant strides in advancing its Food Vision goals by implementing internal and external programming. Through the Healthy Food for Denver’s Kids (HFDK) initiative, the city has allocated over $66 million to more than 90 nonprofits and schools. Funded through 2029, this sales tax initiative supports healthy meals, gardening programs, and nutrition education for thousands of children in underserved communities.

A cornerstone of the Denver Food Vision, the Food in Communities initiative is expanding equitable food access across neighborhoods in Denver. Food in Communities is a regional collaborative that engages communities to build on their strengths to address food insecurity and increase access to healthy, affordable, and culturally important foods. From community listening sessions to providing technical assistance to funding, this program has reached significant milestones, including supporting food access projects in 69% of the recommended locations within the East, East Central and West Area Neighborhood Plans. Most recently, Food in Communities has partnered with 11 neighborhoods to develop Complete Food Environments, community-designed systems that ensure all residents have access to sufficient food resources, such as grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and school gardens. 

Through the Food Vision’s metrics for urban agriculture, Denver Public Schools now manages 125 school gardens, while residential food production has surged with 74 new permits for fresh produce sales and over 1,000 permits for food-producing animals issued. These efforts provide Denver neighborhoods with resources to build sustainable, self-reliant, and culturally appropriate food environments.

Denver’s Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP), another priority under the Denver Food Vision, encourages public institutions to adopt responsible food purchasing practices, focusing on sourcing food locally, fair labor practices, and environmental sustainability. Recent assessments of participating institutions show Denver excelling in local food procurement and nutritious and culturally relevant meals.

For example, the Denver Sheriff’s Department (DSD) achieved a GFPP action plan goal by purchasing Colorado pinto beans grown by a Boulder County farmer and delivered through the East Denver Food Hub, a cooperative effort where state jails buy in volume at lower costs. Additionally, DSD supports environmental sustainability by donating food scraps to a local hog farmer, helping to feed livestock and reduce waste. Through GFPP, these efforts bring Denver closer to its Food Vision goal of a resilient and sustainable food supply.

Food Insecurity in Denver

While Denver makes strides toward a thriving and equitable food system, a recent food insecurity report from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment shows 15% of all Denver residents are experiencing food insecurity. Food insecurity is influenced by several factors such as income, employment, race/ethnicity, and disability. In Denver, many of these populations are experiencing even higher rates of food insecurity, with the highest rates among those whose income is less than $24,000 per year, are unemployed or ages 18-24. More than half of those surveyed indicated that high cost of healthy foods at their local grocery store as a problem in their food system. Among the food pantry clients surveyed who utilize Women, Infants and Children (WIC) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), more than 80% of indicated that these programs do not cover all of their household food needs.

Looking Forward

The recent food insecurity study results show that despite great strides in the last several years, Denver residents still face challenges accessing affordable, nutritious, and culturally relevant food, underscoring the need for the continued efforts outlined in the Denver Food Vision. Building on these results, Denver will develop a targeted action plan to chart a path forward for the remaining five years of the Vision.

DDPHE will kick off community engagement efforts in early 2025 to receive feedback on the progress report and begin gathering input for an Action Plan for the Denver Food Vision’s next steps. Community members and groups will have the opportunity to engage in planning for the future of Denver’s food system and reconsider goals and strategies given current community needs.