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Fresno Planners Consider Food Access
October 16, 2007
A senior planner for the city of Fresno, Roots of Change 2007 Planning Fellow Sophia Pagoulatous is making news by incorperating local food systems into city planning efforts.

From The Fresno Bee 10/14/07
Farm fresh
What is a farmers market exactly? That was among questions posed last week at a Community Hunger and Nutrition Forum in Fresno where panelists discussed barriers to neighborhood farmers markets.

Fresno is seeking to do a better job of defining markets and tweaking ordinances to allow the markets in more locations.

"Part of the problem is that farmers markets aren't defined in the zoning code," said Sophia Pagoulatos, supervising planner with the city's Planning and Development Department.

"When something doesn't specifically 'exist,' it's harder to figure what to do with it."

Ali Shabazz talked of setbacks in trying to put the Golden Westside Farmers Market at St. Alphonsus Church, despite diocese approval, because it would violate zoning rules.

Patty Scrivner, part owner of the Tower Farmers Market, is seeking to bring some nonproduce vendors to that site to stir greater interest.

And Blong Lee, program coordinator for Refugee Services with the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission, said efforts are on track with the city to put a farmers market on the Fulton Mall near the free-speech area, near offices for the Women, Infants and Children program. He said that would help assure more use of WIC coupons that are made available but often go unused.

"We don't want to be a barrier to farmers markets, but a catalyst or at least a partner," said Pagoulatos. Others at the meeting, including Yolanda Randles with the West Fresno Health Care Coalition, said the markets can also be gathering spots for other outreach services, cooking instruction and other activities.
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