The Montana Food For Montanans Initiative is a task force created by Governor Schweitzer as an outcome of the Governor’s Food and Agriculture Summit in March 2007.  The Task Force is made up of five state departments: Department of Public Health and Human Services, Department of Agriculture, Department of Corrections, Department of Labor, and Department of Commerce.

The Task Force is in place to assist the work of the Montana Food Systems Council (MFSC).  MFSC is a citizen council that also formed as an outcome of the Food and Agriculture Summit in 2007.

 Mission of MFSC:

To connect and empower people, organizations, businesses and agencies to advance the growth of a self-reliant food system for all Montanans. 

Vision of MFSC:

The Montana Food System Council envisions a future in which…

• Montana’s food system is sustainable, resilient and self reliant. 
• All Montanans have affordable and consistent access of adequate amounts of locally produced nutritious food.
• The food system sustains ecologically sound agriculture and culturally viable rural and tribal communities and is the source of economic development and new job creation for the State of Montana.

 Definition and Purpose of MFSC:

The Montana Food System Council is an independent council of citizens that broadly represent Montana’s food system both substantively and geographically.  The purpose of the Council is to serve as a connecting entity for food system work in Montana through linking action groups, communities and state agencies; to serve as a communications hub for relevant legislative action and food system projects; to move Governor’s Food and Agriculture Summit action groups forward on their goals and support their needs; and ensure a viable future for the Council.