Phoebe Walker, director of community health at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), was recently elected vice chair of the Massachusetts Food Policy Council.

The Food Policy Council brings together workers from all areas of the food system — soil experts, farmers, and food distributors, as well as state agencies such as the state Department of Public Health — to inform statewide initiatives to improve the food system locally, Walker explained.

“It has been a fascinating opportunity to meet regularly with nearly all the players in the statewide food system,” Walker wrote in an email. “I very much appreciate the way the council brings together different segments of Massachusetts to improve access to farmland, food, and resources.”

Walker was appointed to the council last year by Gov. Maura Healey to fill the Local Public Health Seat. At the council’s election in May, members voted for Walker to take the role of vice chair.

“Basically, my role is to represent what local public health has to say about the issues that come up,” Walker said in an interview. “It gives me more of a platform to bring forward things that local public health is identifying [as issues].”

Walker used food trucks as an example. She explained that there has been a recent increase in the number of food trucks in Franklin County. With her role on the Food Policy Council, she can advocate for policy at the state level that further supports the growth in the number of food trucks, while making sure that they are operating in a way that supports public health, she explained.

“I’m excited to have Phoebe Walker join the Massachusetts Food Policy Council as our vice chair,” the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner and Council Chair Ashley Randle wrote in a statement. “Her steadfast commitment to our local food system will be a tremendous asset [to] the council and with our leadership team now in place, I look forward to working with her and the rest of the members in future meetings.”