Madison Mayor Paul Soglin has announced that George Reistad has been named Madison’s Food Policy Coordinator. Reistad has most recently served as the Associate Policy Director at Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, a non-profit that focuses on food systems and sustainable agriculture issues in Madison.
In his new position, Reistad will assist on oversight of food policy and several food-related programs. He will work with other City staff on issues including, but not limited to, the Public Market, Pollinator Protection Plan, Healthy Retail Access Program, community gardens, Madison SEED Grant Program and Summer Meals Program.
“I welcome George to the City team,” said Mayor Soglin. “His work with food advocates, policymakers, and neighborhoods will be crucial as we work to not only provide healthy food to all Madisonians regardless of their neighborhood, but also to grow our food economy and create jobs.”
As the Associate Policy Director for the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Reistad’s responsibilities included staying abreast of both adverse and opportune policy developments for sustainable agriculture in the State of Wisconsin and nationally and then reacting and capitalizing accordingly. Reistad identified the challenges and opportunities to the sustainable agriculture community and then designed and implemented effective policy solutions with a broad base of partners.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Reistad will start in his new position on August 22.
