The Prince George’s County Council established the Prince George’s County Food Security Task Force, with adoption of Council Resolution CR-62-2020 and its report submission was extended by CR-70-2021, to address issues related to the demand and supply of healthy food, food health connections, school meals, and overall food security in Prince George’s County.  The goal was to identify challenges and opportunities and provide recommendations for creating a healthy, equitable, and sustainable food system that ensures every Prince Georgian has access to nutritious, affordable, sustainably grown, safe and culturally appropriate food.  Such issues have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Prince George’s County’s residents, institutions and businesses.

The Prince George's County Food Security Task Force built upon the work of the Food System Study initiated by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). Two research projects were inspired by the study; the “2015 Healthy Food for All Prince Georgians” project assessment and the “2018 Healthy Food Policy Project” published by "Prince George's County Food Equity Council: Taking on Food Swamps through Policy Change".

The Prince George’s County Food Security Task Force was composed of following twenty-one (21) stakeholders representing governmental, not-for-profit, faith-based, food providers, the university & health community, and the private sector:

• Chair: Hon. Todd M. Turner, County Council, District 4
• Aimee Olivo, Chief of Staff, Councilmember Dannielle Glaros, District 3, Prince George’s County Council
• Alexandra Harris, Community Developer III, Department of Homeland Security, Prince George’s County Office of Emergency Management
• Bridget Warren, Legislative Liaison for Health, Human Services and Education, Office of the County Executive
• Chris Keany, Keany’s Produce (Aggregate Supplier) 
• Dr. Darlene Saunders, Special Projects Manager, Prince George’s County Health Department
• Deborah Archer, Project Leader/Nutrition Educator, University of Maryland Extension, Maryland SNAP-Ed 
• Dennis Lewis, Manager, Program Development & Community Relations, Prince George’s County Department of Social Services
• Elana Belon-Butler, Director, Prince George’s County Department of Family Services
• Gail Livingstone, Deep Roots Farm (Farmer) 
• Joan Shorter, Director of Food & Nutrition Services, Prince George’s County Public Schools 
• Jon Wogman, Chief Program Officer, Prince George’s County Food Recovery Network
• Kim Rush Lynch, Urban Agriculture Conservation Planner, Prince George’s County Soil Conservation District 
• Leslie Jefferson, Nutritionist, Healthy Living Sector, Giant Food (Grocer)
• Lindsay Smith, Regional Food Systems Value Chain Coordinator, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
• Maria Martin, Master Planner, Maryland National Capital Park, and Planning Commission
• Nicole U. Hall, Business Development Specialist, Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation
• Renee Carroll, Director, Housing Counseling & Supportive Housing, United Communities Against Poverty (Nonprofit)
• Roberto Melara, Director, MD Region, Capital Area Food Bank
• Stacey Little, Vice President of Women’s and Infants’ Services and Community and Population Health at University of Maryland Medical System 
• Rev. William M. Campbell, Senior Pastor, Union Bethel AME Church (Faith-Based Organization)  

The Food Security Task Force held monthly in virtual meetings beginning in October 2020, heard presentations, and discussed best practices with representatives from surrounding jurisdictions, community and governmental partners and experts in the field.  

The Task Force identified the following seven (7) values and principles that guided the consideration and formation of its recommendations: Equity, Collaboration, Cultural Competence and Humility, Accountability, Sustainability, Stewardship and Evidence-Informed Decision-Making.  These guiding principles are universally applicable to any initiative, government agency, or contributing organization.

The Food Security Task Force completed its Final Report and Recommendations in December 2021 and submitted it to the County Council in January 2022.    The Food Security Task Force offered eleven (11) primary recommendations - four (4) Foundational ones and seven (7) General ones identified in the Final Report.  The Task Force believes each of these recommendations are important and integral to both the short and long-term strategies for establishing a better system to address the County’s food ecosystem.

View and download the Final Report & Recommendations 
View Master Appendix (Only)

View and download the Task Force PowerPoint presentation to the County Council. 

View and download the Council video of the Council briefing on January 20, 2022.