Food Systems Advocacy Project

This Food Systems Advocacy Project involved a comprehensive food systems assessment of Petaluma and Sonoma County, an analysis of California’s agricultural and climate systems, a review of local–state–federal political structures, and the execution of an evidence-based advocacy action aligned with my professional interests as a future Registered Dietitian.

The project combined community health evaluation, agriculture/environmental research, policy landscape mapping, and formal advocacy to a federal legislator to promote equitable access to medically necessary nutrition therapies.

Petaluma & Sonoma County Health Snapshot

My research identified key community health challenges, including:

high prevalence of overweight/obesity
rising rates of diabetes
significant alcohol use
persistent affordability barriers despite geographic food access

Food insecurity affects ~46,000 residents in Sonoma County, driven largely by the high cost of living. Local programs such as Petaluma Bounty Bags, CalFresh, WIC, and Market Match help, but cannot fully bridge the affordability gap.

California Agriculture & Environmental Systems

California remains the nation’s top agricultural producer—with major commodities such as almonds, dairy, and grapes. However, the state’s agricultural system is deeply vulnerable to:

declining Sierra Nevada snowpack
drought and extreme heat
reduced chill hours
wildfire smoke impacts on crops and labor

These factors directly influence food availability, pricing, labor safety, and long-term food system resilience.

Local Food System & Workforce

Sonoma County exemplifies a vibrant, sustainability-focused local food system. Farms like Full Belly Farm, Riverdog Farm, and Tierra Vegetables support regenerative practices. Processors such as Straus and Cowgirl Creamery add economic and cultural value.

Yet, the local agricultural workforce faces:

low wages
limited protections
high exposure to environmental hazards

This contrast between flourishing consumer-facing food culture and the inequities in the labor system was one of the most meaningful insights from my project.

Political Landscape & Policy Mapping

I analyzed the political system across three levels:

Federal

U.S. President and Vice President
U.S. Senators: Alex Padilla, Adam Schiff
House Representatives: Jared Huffman, Mike Thompson
Focus areas: climate, healthcare affordability, agriculture, food access.

State

Governor Gavin Newsom
Focus: climate resilience, food access, healthcare.

Local

Mayor Kevin McDonnell, City of Petaluma
Focus: Blue Zones initiatives, local food access, community health.

This mapping helped determine where specific advocacy actions would be most effective.

Advocacy Opportunities & My Action Step

For my advocacy action, I wrote to Representative Morgan McGarvey in support of the Supporting Premature Infant Nutrition Act of 2025 (H.R. 4569).
This bill ensures access to donor human-milk derived fortifiers for premature and medically fragile infants—an evidence-based, life-saving therapy.

Because his office did not accept my ZIP code electronically, I mailed a physical letter explaining:

the clinical importance of donor-milk HMF
the significant reduction in necrotizing enterocolitis risk
inequities created when products are not covered

This action aligned with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Code of Ethics and my career interests in maternal & infant nutrition.

Key Takeaways & Reflection

I ended this project with three major insights:

Nutrition advocacy is deeply connected across local, state, and federal systems.
Nutrition access is policy-driven—from WIC eligibility to NICU feeding protocols.
Funding and political barriers shape real-world access more than clinical knowledge alone.

This project strengthened my identity as a future evidence-based advocate.
I plan to continue advocating in areas such as:

maternal and infant nutrition
food insecurity
chronic disease prevention and management
equitable access to medical nutrition therapies

References

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•Arslanoglu, S., Corpeleijn, W., Moro, G., Braegger, C., & van Goudoever, J. B. (2019). Donor human milk for preterm infants: Current evidence and research directions. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 68(4), 508–512.

•Association of Pediatric Organizations. (2018). Optimizing nutrition in the NICU. Journal of Perinatology, 38, 151–158.

•Banerjee, S., Davis, W. S., Khubchandani, J., & Dunn, P. (2025). Interaction effect of food insecurity and stroke on the risk of all-cause mortality. Foods, 14(13), 2281. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14132281

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•Catalyst Sonoma Valley. (2023, February 2). Sonoma Valley food security assessment: Executive summary presentation. https://static1.squarespace.com

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•Joint Hearing Assembly Health Committee and Senate Health Committee. (2025). H.R. 1 impacts on California healthcare system. (Hearing recording summary).

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•Medellín-Azuara, J., MacEwan, D., Howitt, R., et al. (2024). Cultivating climate resilience in California agriculture. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(30), e2310079121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2310079121

•North Carolina State University. (2024). California strawberry industry overview. https://strawberries.ces.ncsu.edu

•Perrin, M. T., Fogleman, A., & Newburg, D. S. (2023). Human milk, donor milk, and infant health: Current research and clinical recommendations. Current Pediatrics Reports, 11(2), 67–79.

•Petaluma Bounty. (2025). Food access programs. https://petalumabounty.org

•Pica, A., & Underwood, M. A. (2019). Human milk oligosaccharides and necrotizing enterocolitis. Seminars in Perinatology, 43(7), 151–162.

•Representative Mike Thompson. (n.d.). Issues and committees. https://mikethompson.house.gov

•Riverdog Farm. (n.d.). Farm overview. https://riverdogfarm.com

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•Senator Alex Padilla. (n.d.). Senate committees & legislation. https://www.padilla.senate.gov

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•Sumner, D. A., & Rosen-Molina, J. (2021). California dairy industry resilience report. UC Giannini Foundation.

•U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). QuickFacts: Petaluma city, California. https://www.census.gov

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•U.S. Climate Hubs. (2024). Climate risks to California crops. https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov

•U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman. (n.d.). Committees and issues. https://huffman.house.gov

•U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (2025). State agricultural trade data. https://www.ers.usda.gov

•U.S. Geological Survey. (2008). Hydrologic responses in Sierra Nevada snowpack. https://pubs.usgs.gov

•U.S. House of Representatives. (2025). Keep SNAP & WIC Funded Act. https://www.congress.gov

•U.S. House of Representatives. (2025). Supporting Premature Infant Nutrition Act (H.R. 4569). https://www.congress.gov

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•Walker, A., Martin, C. R., & Miller, J. (2023). Nutrition support for preterm infants and the role of donor human milk. Advances in Neonatal Care, 23(1), 29–40.

•World Health Organization. (2023). Breastfeeding and donor human milk guidelines for vulnerable infants. https://www.who.int