Specifications include, but are not limited to: (1) Food Security One or more of the following food security options may be proposed: • Free meal programs: Free meal programs provide the priority population with free, healthy, culturally relevant meals on a regular basis, daily or weekly. Meals provided must meet the Attachment 3: Dietary Guidelines for Americans. • Food shelf: Food shelves are distribution centers where the priority population can receive food at no cost. Local food shelves typically provide a wide variety of items, including fresh produce, meats, dairy, and dry goods, as well as healthy, culturally relevant foods. A food shelf is often structured like a grocery store in which individuals shop at no cost. Foods provided by food shelves must meet Attachment 2: Hennepin County Healthy Food Guidelines. • Mobile food shelf: Mobile food shelves bring healthy, culturally relevant food directly to the priority population who have mobility, health issues, disabilities, lack transportation and/or do not live near a brick-and-mortar food shelf. Foods provided by mobile food shelves must meet Attachment 2: Hennepin County Healthy Food Guidelines. • Food bank: A food bank is an organization that collects and distributes healthy, culturally relevant food to hunger-relief charities and community organizations, such as food shelves and free meal programs. Foods provided by food banks must meet Attachment 2: Hennepin County Healthy Food Guidelines. All food security services should offer flexible operating hours. (2) Food Recovery Food recovery activities are provided within Hennepin County to develop new or expand collection of edible food destined to be discarded and redistribute this food to feed people. Proposals for food recovery must include plans to collect, redistribute, and/or process food that would have been discarded. Proposals of both service categories must serve the priority population in an efficient, culturally relevant manner, which includes addressing the priority population’s food needs and preferences.
