Title
To recognize and celebrate Mr. Te’Lario Watkins II on being selected as the May 2021 Local Food Action Plan Local Food Champion by the Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Board and the Franklin County Local Food Council.
Body
WHEREAS, The Local Food Champion's work embodies one or more of the goals outlined in the Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan Goals A, B, C, and D which include: enhancing the coordination and communication among existing food resources and agencies; improving access to and education about healthy food, affordable food and local food; increasing the role of food in economic development; and preventing food-related waste; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus and the Franklin County Local Food Board was established to oversee, prioritize and guide implementation activities of the Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Franklin County Local Food Council is an independent advisory council that brings together people from across the food system, from growers to eaters, with a particular interest in people and neighborhoods most affected by food system policies and programs; and
WHEREAS, The local Food Champion Award recognizes and celebrates grassroots community efforts that support the Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan’s vision of a fair and sustainable food system that benefits our local economy, the environment, and each of the residents in our community; and
WHEREAS, The City of Columbus & the Franklin County Local Food Board and the Franklin County Local Food Council recognized Mr. Te’Lario Watkins II as the winner of the May 2021 Local Food Champion Award as his work embodies the goals outlined in the Local Food Action Plan - Te’Lario is the founder of Tiger Mushroom Farms, a gardener, a farmers market vendor, an author, an accomplished public speaker and he recently became a Kids Advisory Board Member for Chop Chop Kids Magazine. For more than 2 years, Te’Lario has volunteered with Food Rescue US, an organization that partners with restaurants to donate their unsold food to local food banks/pantries. He has completed more than 50 food rescues keeping food from going to landfills and helping over 1000 families in need Columbus - these efforts exemplify the grassroots objectives of Goal B and Goal D of the Local Food Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, Te’Lario’s achievements were honored during the Local Food Action Plan 2020 Annual Report Virtual Public Hearing on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize and celebrate Mr. Te’Lario Watkins II on being selected as the May 2021 Local Food Action Plan Local Food Champion by the Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Board and the Franklin County Local Food Council.