GOAL 7:

ALL DALLAS’ COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD

Targets

50%, 75%, 100% OF THE POPULATION HAS ACCESS TO HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE FOOD BY 2030, 2040, AND 2050.*

INCREASE BY 20%, 50%, 75% THE ACREAGE OF URBAN GARDENS PRODUCING FOOD BY 2030, 2040, AND 2050.**

INCREASE BY 10%, 25%, 50% OR MORE RESTAURANTS, FARM STANDS, OR MARKETS SOURCING FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS BY 2030, 2040, AND 2050.

Q4 Progress

Reported October 2025

Access to healthy food for vulnerable communities in southern and western Dallas is a significant challenge. It has been documented that over 36 percent of Dallas’ residents live in census tracts that meet the USDA definition for food deserts. Additionally, the food supply chain is heavily dependent upon food suppliers outside of Texas and the United States. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and more frequent droughts may result in losses to crops and livestock, and could lead to supply chain issues and increased food insecurity. This is also an area with significant community concern. In FY 24-25, 11 actions from this sector, with 19 milestones will be initiated. Implementation of these new milestones will involve collaboration with the following City departments:

Convention & Event Services
Economic Development
Environmental Quality & Sustainability
Procurement Services

Note: Actions marked as ongoing span multiple fiscal years, meaning efforts will be carried out continuously and therefore will not be marked complete until the end of this fiscal year.

Year Five Work Plan

COMPLETE: 15 Milestones

FA1: Increase access to information on sustainable agriculture, best practices, and the benefits of healthy and local foods.

Continue "Grow With Us - Field Edition" to encourage greater communication and volunteer support for local farm enterprises
Implement actions to increase both access to local healthy food and local production
Convene Dallas Innercity Growers' Summit
Participate in the North Texas Food Policy Alliance

FA2: Create a Food Advisory Council.

Formalize and maintain a Urban Agriculture Advisory Council/UAPEN that represents a range of UA stakeholders in the City of Dallas

FA3: Develop a Dallas Comprehensive Food and Urban Agriculture Plan.

Develop annual Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Implementation Work Plan
Implement FY24 Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Implementation Work Plan

FA4: Facilitate partnerships between schools and nonprofits to develop neighborhood-based growing initiatives and kitchen gardens in neighborhoods with low food access.

Continue to support Healthy Food Dallas Initiative

FA5: Support nonprofits solving food justice issues in Dallas with grant writing and developing creative financing options.

Complete the Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program that provides community farm assistance to community gardens in historically disadvantaged communities

FA6: Partner with transportation organizations to identify creative transportation solutions to access healthy food retailers in neighborhoods with low food access.

Support existing programs related to transportation and food access

FA7: Partner with supermarkets, food retailers and other supporting organizations to bring mobile grocery stores to neighborhoods with low food access.

Evaluate feasibility of incorporating mobile grocery stores into the Healthy Food Dallas Initiative

FA8: Support the creation of food related green jobs in production, processing, storage, distribution, and waste management.

Support OEI's Growers Education & Workforce Development Grant Program as needed

FA14: Adopt a special events ordinance that encourages procurement of locally sourced food, recycling of waste generated, and compost bins at special events.

Include education and separate waste collection streams as part of pilot
Implement a pilot for responsible waste management at special events
Continue partnership with OEQS' Zero Waste program for the continued implementation of the pilot recycling program and incorporate language within Ordinance 42-A to encourage the participation in the program once established

GOAL 7: ALL DALLAS’ COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD

Targets

Convention & Event Services

Economic Development

Environmental Quality & Sustainability

Procurement Services

Note: Actions marked as ongoing span multiple fiscal years, meaning efforts will be carried out continuously and therefore will not be marked complete until the end of this fiscal year.

Year Five Work Plan

COMPLETE: 15 Milestones

FA1: Increase access to information on sustainable agriculture, best practices, and the benefits of healthy and local foods.

Continue "Grow With Us - Field Edition" to encourage greater communication and volunteer support for local farm enterprises

Implement actions to increase both access to local healthy food and local production

Convene Dallas Innercity Growers' Summit

Participate in the North Texas Food Policy Alliance

​

FA2: Create a Food Advisory Council.

Formalize and maintain a Urban Agriculture Advisory Council/UAPEN that represents a range of UA stakeholders in the City of Dallas

​

FA3: Develop a Dallas Comprehensive Food and Urban Agriculture Plan.

Develop annual Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Implementation Work Plan

Implement FY24 Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Implementation Work Plan

​​

FA4: Facilitate partnerships between schools and nonprofits to develop neighborhood-based growing initiatives and kitchen gardens in neighborhoods with low food access.

Continue to support Healthy Food Dallas Initiative

​​

FA5: Support nonprofits solving food justice issues in Dallas with grant writing and developing creative financing options.

Complete the Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program that provides community farm assistance to community gardens in historically disadvantaged communities

​

FA6: Partner with transportation organizations to identify creative transportation solutions to access healthy food retailers in neighborhoods with low food access.

Support existing programs related to transportation and food access

​

FA7: Partner with supermarkets, food retailers and other supporting organizations to bring mobile grocery stores to neighborhoods with low food access.

Evaluate feasibility of incorporating mobile grocery stores into the Healthy Food Dallas Initiative

​​

FA8: Support the creation of food related green jobs in production, processing, storage, distribution, and waste management.

Support OEI's Growers Education & Workforce Development Grant Program as needed

​

FA14: Adopt a special events ordinance that encourages procurement of locally sourced food, recycling of waste generated, and compost bins at special events.

Include education and separate waste collection streams as part of pilot

Implement a pilot for responsible waste management at special events

​Continue partnership with OEQS' Zero Waste program for the continued implementation of the pilot recycling program and incorporate language within Ordinance 42-A to encourage the participation in the program once established

GOAL 7:

ALL DALLAS’ COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD

Continue partnership with OEQS' Zero Waste program for the continued implementation of the pilot recycling program and incorporate language within Ordinance 42-A to encourage the participation in the program once established