Erie Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC)

What Erie Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC) does

The Erie Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC) is a non-profit community coalition operating under the Erie County Farmers Markets umbrella in Erie County, Pennsylvania. It convenes a cross-sector network of stakeholders — including government agencies (e.g., Erie County Department of Health), schools (Erie School District, PennWest Edinboro), universities (Mercyhurst University, Penn State Extension), healthcare and nutrition organizations (Adagio Health), food retailers (Erie Food Co-op, Edinboro Market), emergency food providers (Second Harvest Food Bank, Meals on Wheels Erie), local farmers, and community advocates — to identify gaps and recommend improvements in the local food system.

FPAC's core programmatic offerings include the Pay What You Can Farm Stands (operating at Parade Street and Edinboro), the 4th Street Community Farm at 310 E 4th St Erie (an urban farm revitalizing vacant lots with monthly Work and Learn sessions), the Erie Urban Agriculture Toolkit (a PDF resource covering zoning, site selection, and ordinances), a countywide Food Asset Map, and a 2023 Food Action Plan produced from a Food System Summit attended by 81 representatives. FPAC also runs an ongoing Food Policy Audit research collaboration with Mercyhurst University covering transportation to food, land access, migrant farm worker protection, emergency food, and school lunches. The underlying "technology" is non-technical — community organizing, policy advocacy, stakeholder convening, and on-the-ground urban agriculture infrastructure — supported by a basic website, Slack member communication, Instagram, Facebook, and a monthly newsletter.

The organization operates on a non-revenue basis: services and produce are delivered on a pay-what-you-can or no-cost model, programs are funded through grants and donations (a $20,000 grant from Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day was received on 2025-04-08), and the staffed headcount is 1-10. The entity is private, non-traded, and serves as a coordinating body rather than a commercial enterprise.

Name

Erie Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC)

Legal name

Erie County Farmers Markets

Website

https://eriefarmersmarkets.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Erie Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC) is a non-profit coalition in Erie County, Pennsylvania, convening cross-sector stakeholders to improve local food access through policy advocacy, urban farming, pay-what-you-can farm stands, and food system research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Food Policy Advisory Services

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

Keywords

• Food policy advocacy
• Community nutrition programs
• Urban agriculture support
• Farmers market coordination
• Food access initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Erie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FPAC is a community advisory council that convenes Erie County food system stakeholders and coordinates programs including pay-what-you-can farm stands, an urban community farm, food policy research with Mercyhurst University, and an Urban Agriculture Toolkit to improve food access and inform local food policy. It operates under the Erie County Farmers Markets organization and is funded/sustained as a nonprofit providing community programs at no cost or on a pay-what-you-can basis.

Product overview

The Erie Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC) is a community organization rather than a technology product company. It operates as a network of stakeholders working to improve Erie County's local food system through advocacy, education, and policy initiatives. The organization offers programs including Pay What You Can Farm Stands that provide affordable fresh produce access, the 4th Street Community Farm for urban agriculture, and various resources like the Erie Urban Agriculture Toolkit and a Food Asset Map. FPAC also conducts food policy research through audits in partnership with Mercyhurst University and publishes strategic documents like the 2023 Food Action Plan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC) A council that brings together entrepreneurs, educators, local policy makers, and community members to identify areas of growth in Erie's local food system through policy, community advocacy, and education.
• Pay What You Can Farm Stands Farm stands operating on a pay-what-you-can model that provide fresh produce access to communities with limited food access while keeping it affordable; currently operates at Parade Street and Edinboro locations.
• 4th Street Community Farm An urban community farm located at 310 E 4th St Erie that revitalizes vacant lots, provides local farmers a place to grow and share food, and hosts monthly Work and Learn sessions and free community classes.
• Food Asset Map A regional food asset map hosted on Google My Maps covering restaurants, corner stores, markets, grocery stores, and emergency food resources throughout Erie County.

Quantifiable outcome

• Established pay-what-you-can farm stands in multiple locations including Parade Street and Edinboro
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Erie County Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in food policy initiatives and public health advocacy for Erie County.
• Mercyhurst UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on food policy audit project where public health students research food policy areas affecting Erie community and interview stakeholders. Topics include transportation to food, access to land, migrant worker protection, emergency food, and school lunches.
• Penn State ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization where FPAC founding member Kim works as nutrition education advisor, providing programs on budget shopping, SNAP/WIC usage, and movement integration.
• Adagio HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPAC member Madi Santella works with Adagio Health Power Up program focusing on policy, systems, and environmental coordination for SNAP-eligible nutrition education in Western PA.
• Metz CulinaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides all school meals for Erie School District, serving over 10,000 students. FPAC discusses barriers and advocates for policy support including extension of Covid-19 waivers.
• Erie School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict working with Metz Culinary on school lunch programs. FPAC supports at policy level and discusses school lunch barriers and nutrition standards.
• Erie Food Co-opminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPAC member Kendrick Tate is marketing/outreach specialist. Downtown branch will accept EBT and include programs for lower-income membership.
• Equity Coalition of ErieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Kendrick Tate in 2020, ensures safe space for community voices and learning opportunities.
• Meals on Wheels ErieminorOthersVolunteer opportunities for FPAC members to support homebound individuals accessing food. Program serves hundreds but often has waitlists.
• Second Harvest Food BankminorOthersVolunteer opportunities mentioned for FPAC members to support food bank operations and food distribution.
• Edinboro MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal market collaborating with FPAC member Steph Ciner on educational videos about produce like kale, herbs, and tomatoes.
• Local farmers, community groups, and volunteers (4th Street Community Farm)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop urban community farm at 310 E 4th St Erie, revitalizing vacant lots and providing space for local farmers to grow, teach, and connect with community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WhyHunger: National food justice and anti-hunger nonprofit that supports grassroots food access organizations and food policy advocacy — relevant as a peer and potential support network for FPAC.
• The Food Project: Boston-area nonprofit that grows food on urban and suburban farms, sells through farmers markets, runs youth programs, and addresses food access — mirrors FPAC's 4th Street Community Farm plus market model.
• Fair Food Network: Ann Arbor-based nonprofit running the Double Up Food Bucks program, farmers market initiatives, and food system policy work — highly comparable to FPAC's food access + market + policy trinity.
• Food Trust: Philadelphia-based nonprofit operating farmers markets, nutrition incentive programs (Philly Food Bucks), and food policy advocacy — a near-perfect operational analog to FPAC, just at a larger scale and in a different metro.
• FRESHFARM: Washington, D.C. area food policy and farmers market organization that runs markets, food access programs (including SNAP/EBT and "Fresh Match"), and policy advocacy — closely mirroring FPAC's combination of farm stand operations, food access subsidies, and food system policy work.
• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit pioneering SNAP doubling at farmers markets and food access programs; comparable to FPAC's pay-what-you-can farm stand and SNAP/EBT integration approach.

Broad incumbents

• City Harvest: Large NYC food rescue and access nonprofit operating farmers markets, mobile pantries, and policy advocacy — relevant as a scaled-up urban analog of what FPAC aspires to build in Erie.
• MAZON: National Jewish anti-hunger advocacy nonprofit funding food access and policy work — relevant as a federal-level peer in food system advocacy and a potential funder/ally.
• Center for Science in the Public Interest (Food Policy): National food and nutrition policy organization that conducts research and advocacy on federal nutrition programs — relevant as a national-level policy peer to FPAC's local policy audit work.

Others

• Mercy Corps Northwest / Feeding America network: Feeding America is the national hunger-relief network with food bank members such as Second Harvest (an FPAC partner) — relevant ecosystem player and a model for coordinated anti-hunger infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/eriefpac
• Facebookfacebook.com/ErieFPAC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Erie Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC)