Comments on: 10 Ways to Support a Sustainable Urban Food System Through Politics and Participation in the Food Economy

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:41:05 +0000

Thank you for this excellent piece. Very helpful suggestions. I was talking to a friend of mine about urban food systems and concerns about nutrition in urban settings. Her church recently started a food pantry where they distribute canned food, fruits & veggies to individuals and families in their community. They were distributing heads of lettuce to people and one woman asked for something canned or boxed instead. She confessed that she didn’t know how to cook with the fresh produce. This story speaks to the need for education. I know some food pantries and food banks offer cooking classes. They give a family a box of food and show them how to cook the food. Farmer’s Markets, like Hollywood Farmers’ Market, established programs to teach people at the market to cook healthy food with their purchases. This is an important step in improving people’s nutrition. I think it’s also valuable to do education around the cost of healthy food. People think fruits and veggies cost more than processed food, but it’s not true.

By: 10 Ways to Support Sustainable Urban Food « Farm To Table: The Emerging American Meal

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:00:45 +0000

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By: Michae Dimock

Michae Dimock — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:09:44 +0000

Progress is being made in work to improve good food access. Here are examples: 1) more farmers markets are accepting payment for produce in the form of food stamp debit cards and WIC vouchers supplied to low income mothers to improve child nutrition; 2) more farmers markets or farm stands are being sited in low income communities; 3) more federal money is being allocated to food stamps and WIC vouchers; 4) more community-based nonprofits are helping develop urban farms and food processing capacity in communities that need fresh food; 5) food banks and farmers are developing robust ways to use food from fields that once was wasted; and 6) more foundations are providing funds to improve nutrition to those in need. In short, a wave is building. An unprecedented cross sector collaboration focused on the issues of good food access and nutrition is emerging. More good food is coming to those most in need.

By: jdalton

jdalton — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:26:45 +0000

Thanks for your comments and information Gayle and Justine! This list was meant to be very basic consumer information inspired by two panels I witnessed. I guess I didn’t set it up very well. Overall, clearly, there are serious policy hurdles, across the board, that need revision. A few policies, once addressed more effectively (and in line with a food system transitioning towards resiliency) that Paul Ash and the Secretary mentioned as a stopgap measure include: WIC, Food Stamps and School Food. If we (the people) can give these our full attention and monies, more people will get fed (though it won’t solve the problem). From my perspective, though, more people simply need to gain more consciousness regarding the food they eat and their food choices. And start demanding better food for overall health (for people, planet, profits). Maybe, just maybe, once more people care more about their own food choices they’ll have more health, energy and attention to give to those who don’t get enough. And, I think like most things, “the movement” is finding its way – so parts of it may be out of touch while other parts, not so much. Read the piece on Petaluma Bounty (http://civileats.com/2009/03/10/power-to-the-people-rebuilding-community-in-petaluma/) to see how one town is addressing the need to feed the hungry.

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:52:49 +0000

Interesting that this piece begins with mention of a discussion about hunger and new food systems, then lets it drop. This is a serious issue for the sustainable food movement. Although I agree with your suggestions, they don’t help the view that the movement is out of touch with the real needs of Americans. I’d love to hear ideas or developments that came from that panel discussion.

By: Gayle

Gayle — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:36:02 +0000

As the SF Food Bank Exec Director said during the panel, it’s unrealistic to think you will solve hunger by turning poor people into urban gardeners. Many work 2 or 3 jobs and are struggling to find enough time to even do tasks like laundry or cook for their children. Consider this: “In San Francisco HMFA, a minimum wage worker earns an hourly wage of $8.00. In order to afford the fair market rate for a two-bedroom apartment, a minimum wage earner must work 159 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.” (http://ow.ly/3Io2) A good first step would be to improve California’s draconian system for receiving food stamps – which is the absolute worst in the country in terms of getting food stamps to people who qualify. How shameful is that?

By: CHEESESLAVE

CHEESESLAVE — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:29:00 +0000

Great post! Stumbling and tweeting it…

By: Matdiskussioner « MiljöBloggAktuellt

Matdiskussioner « MiljöBloggAktuellt — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:30:10 +0000

[...] hos Civil Eats att det verkar ha varit en liknande debatt hos The Commonwealth Club i Kalifornien förra veckan: [...]