The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday advanced a motion by Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Janice Hahn to expand and strengthen the County’s Office of Food Systems (OFS), a key agency coordinating efforts to ensure equitable food access and public health across the region.
The move comes as more than 1.5 million Angelenos remain without CalFresh benefits amid an ongoing federal shutdown and major cuts to nutrition programs such as CalFresh and Local Food for Schools. The County is also facing continued challenges from natural disasters that have disrupted local food access.
“In a time of growing need and uncertainty, we must deliver stability, partnership, and real progress for the people we serve through our food systems,” said Supervisor Horvath. “This motion strengthens how Los Angeles County protects food access, unites departments under one shared vision, and empowers the Office of Food Systems to lead with coordination and purpose — now and in the years ahead.”
Supervisor Hahn noted that the initiative builds on years of County work addressing food insecurity. “The threat of food insecurity still hangs over too many families across LA County on any given day,” Hahn said. “Supervisor Kuehl and I launched the original Food Equity Roundtable to find long-term solutions, and today we’re taking the next step in that strategy to make sure no one goes hungry here.”
Originally established as the Office of Food Equity, OFS grew out of the County’s Food Equity Roundtable launched in 2021. The office, which began operations in January 2025, functions as a public-private partnership between Los Angeles County and Community Partners, with support from the Annenberg Foundation, Weingart Foundation, and California Community Foundation.
Since its inception, OFS has coordinated countywide food responses and worked to strengthen partnerships that promote equitable and resilient food systems.
“We are grateful for the support and vision of the Supervisors in furthering the work of this Office,” said Paula Daniels, Executive Director of the Office of Food Systems. “Cross-departmental coordination is critical to increasing affordable access to food, strengthening local food economies, and improving the environmental aspects of our food system.”
Under the new motion, OFS will gain expanded authority to coordinate across County departments and lead strategic planning for long-term food system investments. Key provisions include:
- Formal collaboration between OFS and all County departments, each designating a Food Systems Liaison.
- An interim progress report due by June 16, 2026, and a final strategic plan by October 20, 2026.
- Enhanced coordination on state and federal food policy through the County’s Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations unit.
In tandem with the motion, Los Angeles County has funded a $10 million contract with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to expand food purchasing and distribution this month. The partnership will support additional pop-up sites and drive-through pantries, bolstering the Food Bank’s existing network of 940 pantries countywide.
Residents experiencing food insecurity can locate nearby resources here.
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