FOOD SYSTEMS PLANNING
Welcome to the City of St. Petersburg’s Food Systems Map created by Healthy St. Pete. This interactive GIS map was designed to identify a variety of assets in the St. Petersburg food system and, more specifically, healthy food retailers. The map displays multiple categories of the food system, such as different types of food retailers, food producers, food distributors/processors, and charitable food services. Along with these categories, the map identifies areas of the city located 0.5-1.0 mile away from healthy food retailers and USDA-identified low income and low access areas. The information presented in this map can be used to locate and assess food resources around the city as well as identify gaps in food access and insecurity.
Please click here for a list of terms and definitions associated with layers and attributes on the map.
Please click the graphic above to view the interactive GIS map.
Healthy St. Pete Programs and Partnerships
The City of St. Pete Parks & Recreation Department and Healthy St. Pete are partnering with Feeding Tampa Bay to bring their Groceries On The Go resource to the Sunshine Center. Groceries On The Go is a mobile grocery store that offers low-cost and affordable groceries. They accept the following forms of payment: cash, credit/debit, and SNAP/EBT. Groceries On The Go offers $10 to use on fresh produce for every SNAP/EBT purchase of $10 or more.
Please click here for more information about the Sunshine Center location.
This program offers fresh and affordable produce to families as well as nutrition education at 11 recreation centers around the city.
Food Systems Memberships & Committees
Members of the Healthy St. Pete team participate in the following teams and committees: Florida Food Policy Council, Pinellas County Teen Food Security Committee, Juvenile Welfare Board Pinellas Childhood Hunger Initiative, Department of Health Pinellas Community Health Needs Assessment Committee, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Community Benefit Strategic Implementation Plan member, Chair of School Health Advisory Committee Pinellas County Schools.
This program offers nutrition education and obesity prevention classes online for families and individuals. All classes are free and offer a $10 produce voucher for every class that is attended. Our featured classes include: AllKids In the Kitchen, Fit4All Families, Diabetes Education and Empowerment Program (DEEP), Get Into Fitness Now (GIFT), Healthy For Life.
Reach St. Pete is a local nonprofit that has converted a donated PSTA bus to a grocery store on wheels. This bus currently offers free groceries and hygiene items at Enoch Davis Recreation Center and Campbell Park Recreation Center every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. There are no eligibility requirements to shop on this bus. Please click here to view the bus route.
The Summer Food Program, a federally funded program that the Parks and Recreation Department has had in effect for around 40 years. It’s provided food to children during the summer when school is not in session. An estimated 100,000-150,000 meals are served each summer at 17 locations around the city.
Community Resources
Food pantries play a vital role in nourishing families. Photo ID or proof of residency may be required; some
serve specific areas or zip codes. This list is updated regularly; however, some sites may change schedules or
close without warning. Please call before visiting a site to ensure they are open.
St. Pete Free Clininc distributes to over 50 plus food partners within Pinellas County. All the food partners, plus other local food resources, are listed in the interactive map on their website. You can easily search by zip code to find the food resource closest to you.
City-wide Programs and Policies
The 2016 Healthy Vending Standards Administrative Policy establishes expectations and standards for promoting access to healthier food and beverage items in vending machines located in City-owned and operated facilities.
In 2021, the Health, Energy, Resiliency and Sustainability Committee introduced and passed a resolution declaring Food as a Human Right in St. Pete. This resolution was introduced by Council Chair, Gina Driscoll, with the help of the Parks and Recreation Department and Healthy St. Pete staff. The resolution focuses on increasing access to nutritious and affordable food in healthy food priority areas, the creation and implementation of a health food action plan, and other healthy food accessibility efforts.
Parks & Recreation Departmental Policies
The Parks and Recreation Department has several policies promoting the consumption of healthy food, including the following: Vendor- Mobile Whole or Uncut Produce, Healthier Food Options at Events and Programs and Healthy Lifestyles in the Workplace.
St. Pete Food Policy Council
Healthy St. Pete staff sit on the St. Pete Food Policy Council and are actively collaborating with its members and other organizations to increase food access.
Empowering youth to lead urban agriculture projects with community guidance and resources has proven to be a successful strategy in youth, workforce, and neighborhood development. At the St. Pete Youth Farm, young participants start as workers, then become mentors, managers, and eventually food systems leaders. They learn through experience, implement real-world business principles, and serve the local community.
Urban agriculture has many benefits and contributes to our collective economic, social, environmental, and physical health. The City approved ordinance amendments in January 2021 to expand opportunities for production and sale of produce.
Click here to see the City’s Guide to Growing Urban Agriculture. Healthy St. Pete’s map also includes locations of known community gardens, school gardens, and urban farms.