Alison Babb, the manager of Homegrown Minneapolis, recently attended the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) Global Forum in Milan, where over 500 delegates from various cities shared strategies on developing sustainable food systems. Babb expressed it was "incredibly inspiring to learn from talented colleagues working to improve urban food systems all across the world," according to Homegrown News. Highlights from the event included presentations on food policies related to climate change, participation in a special session on the new 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission Report, and the celebration of colleagues from three U.S. cities who received honors at the Milan Pact Awards.
The Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council meetings are also underway, with a focus on supporting an environmentally sustainable and socially just food system. The December 10th in-person event will finalize discussions from the previous month about the council's success metrics and will leverage these outcomes to inform future planning. Comfort foods will be shared, a symbolic gesture of warmth and community in the heart of winter. In the City of Minneapolis announcement, attendees are "invite you to bring any foods that bring you comfort and warmth to share with others".
In the city, preparations are in place for various events and initiatives designed to foster a vibrant food culture and support local food entrepreneurs. Upcoming opportunities include vendor information sessions for Minneapolis Farmers Markets and Cottage Foods Training with the University of Minnesota. With winter upon us, Minneapolitans can also look forward to the Winter Farmers Markets, which offer access to fresh, locally-sourced products despite the chill.
Concerning recent legal actions, Attorney General Keith Ellison joined forces with other attorneys general in suing to block what they consider unlawful SNAP eligibility guidance from the USDA. This guidance, they argue, wrongly classifies several groups of legal immigrants, including asylees and refugees, as ineligible for food assistance. According to the City of Minneapolis bulletin, Ellison stated that the guidance "contradicts federal law" and could lead to financial penalties for states. Meanwhile, although the federal government has reopened, Minnesota leaders are shedding light on the ongoing need for food aid, citing the disruption and confusion caused by the historic 43-day federal shutdown earlier this month.
