FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Fort Bragg and Cumberland County Food Policy Council announce the members and officers appointed by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners.
The FPC will have a maximum of 15 appointed members for three-year terms. The council will be co-chaired by a military member from Fort Bragg and a civilian from Cumberland County. It will include two members involved in local farming and agriculture; three members representing local education; three members who work in healthcare public health, food insecurity or food access, or child and adult care; and two members from local government.
Lt. Col. Tathetra Joseph serves as the co-chair of the council and the military chair from Fort Bragg. Sandy Ammons serves as the co-chair and civilian chair from Cumberland County. Other appointed members are listed on the Food Policy Council Member’s page.
The FPC has established three ad-hoc committees focusing on the priorities of the council which are:
- Creating a plan to expand transportation to healthy food sources.
- Improving communication of food resources to citizens, volunteers, and food providers.
- Explore expanding the use of WIC/EBT to farmer’s markets and other food markets.
In June 2020, the Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge awarded the Cumberland County Department of Public Health a $100,000 grant to address food insecurity and healthy food access. The goals of the HCCC grant were to first to conduct a food environment assessment of Cumberland County and Fort Bragg, second to start a local food policy council, and third was for the council to implement two food policy recommendations.
In June of 2021, Cumberland County and Fort Bragg established the first county-military food policy council in the nation to address food insecurity and healthy food access through community engagement among Cumberland County and Fort Bragg residents. The mission of the council is to advance health equity and quality of life by creating a healthy food environment where all members of the Fort Bragg and Cumberland County community can thrive.
Community members who are interested in serving on an ad-hoc committee for the Food Policy Council should contact Lt. Col. Tathetra Joseph tathetra.m.joseph.mil@mail.mil or Sandy Ammons ammonss@faytechcc.edu.
To apply for a position on the Food Policy Council, visit cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/commissioners-group/commissioners/appointed-boards/board-application.
Visit cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/public-health-group/public-health/community-services/food-policy-council for more information about the Food Policy Council.
Visit cumberlandcountync.gov/publichealth for more about Cumberland County Department of Health programs.