The Douglas County Food Policy Council has officially thrown its weight behind a series of statewide objectives aimed at improving food equity across Kansas. During a recent special meeting, the council voted unanimously to incorporate the priorities of the Kansas Food Action Network into its own upcoming legislative statement. These broad goals focus on essential pillars such as expanding universal school meals, bolstering local agricultural economies, and ensuring that food assistance remains dignified and affordable for all residents.
While the council is aligning itself with these wider trends, members insisted that specific local needs cannot be overlooked. Specifically, the group added a mandate that Indigenous food futures remain a primary priority for the county, regardless of whether they stay atop the state level’s shortlist. Council member Tyler Lindquist emphasized that protecting Indigenous foodways is uniquely important to their region, urging that these traditions be preserved even if larger statewide networks shift their focus toward other metrics.
This commitment comes as the county continues to develop its own Indigenous Food Systems Study and Action Plan. According to council member Christina Haswood, who identifies as Diné, this effort represents groundbreaking work within Kansas. By hosting community engagements and collaborating with city leaders, the county hopes to create a blueprint for integrating traditional knowledge into modern public health and economic development strategies, potentially inspiring other communities across the state to follow suit.
Beyond tradition and accessibility, the council is also keeping an eye on emerging threats to consumer fairness. As part of their adoption of state priorities, they expressed concern over surveillance pricing—a practice where corporate grocers use personal data algorithms to fluctuate prices for different shoppers. While there is currently no definitive proof that this occurs in local stores, the council believes proactive advocacy is necessary to prevent price discrimination and ensure transparency for every resident walking through a grocery store door.
