In a sold-out room at The Commonwealth Club on August 14, Moderator Naomi Starkman led a discussion about “The Centralization of Our Food System.”

Centralization affects all aspects of our food system, Starkman said, including production, distribution, consumption patterns, and economic cycles. The question is, what does this really mean?

To answer that question, she turned to Roots of Change President Michael Dimock, Ecosa Capital Managing Director Paul Frankel, and Don Shaffer, President and CEO of RSF Social Finance.

Dimock began by discussing how perfect our current system was – that is, it is perfect if the ultimate value is profit. But, what if there are other goals for a food system, like the health of the society?

Frankel added that centralization is a necessary component of our food system, and that it is not necessarily bad, we just need to optimize it for the values that we hold dear – local culture, communities, and heritage.

Shaffer jumped in, wanting to get to the root of the issue. “We all need to realize that we need to invest our money differently,” was one of his central points. The reality is, Shaffer says, that all of us as investors and consumers are responsible for the system that we have. We need to try to create more alternatives to be able to invest our money in sustainable projects.

What the current system does do very well, continued Dimock, is to create a cheap price point. But it does this by externalizing some of the costs. For example, water pollution caused by farming and transportation is something that society as a whole has to pay for.

The good news is that we now have momentum in the right direction. One large reason for current change is the high price of oil. Shaffer pointed out that this makes international trade less viable, making all companies look for local sources. “It’s an encouraging shift,” he says.

Dimock pointed out that even WalMart and other large retailers are starting to buy local for economic reasons. This is great, Frankel added, because WalMart brings awareness and education to a whole new group of consumers. What’s more, it lowers prices and increases the demand for organic and sustainable goods in the process.

What’s the take-away message? What actions can we all take? Here are some panelist recommendations:

1. Buy from retailers who buy local and seasonal.

2. Shrink the distance between you and your food sources.

3. Shrink the distance between you and where your money is invested.

4. Build relationships with where your food comes from.

5. Write two letters: one to the State Capital, and one to the White House, asking them both to plant vegetable gardens on their lawns.

6. Make a meal from local sources. Live and express your appreciation for the connection between food and community.

7. Support businesses that share your values.

8. Support the FoodDeclaration.org. The Declaration calling for healthy food, farms, and communities will be read aloud in a ceremony at Slow Food Nation on August 28th, in the Rotunda of San Francisco’s City Hall.

Images by TheeErin and David Boyle in DC

The Commonwealth Club’s special month-long “How We Eat” speaker series continued last Wednesday, August 6, with a panel presented in association with Slow Food Nation. The session—the first of three co-hosted by Slow Food Nation—brought together panelists Kevin Lunny, Owner of Drakes Bay Oyster Company; Jessica Prentice, author of Full Moon Feast and co-owner of Three Stone Hearth Community Supported Kitchen; and Helene York, Director of Bon Appetit Management Company Foundation, for a conversation about “Eating the Right Way.”  The discussion, moderated by Slow Food Nation Communications & Policy Director Naomi Starkman, took place in front of a full house at the Commonwealth Club.

The conversation began by simply asking each panelist what “eating the right way” means to them and how their individual work contributes to reaching this goal and ultimately educating consumers. All three emphasized that our eating habits affect not only our own bodies but also the environment, underscoring the need for all Americans to understand the critical connection between plate and planet. York began by recalling the famous words of Carlo Petrini, who said, “an environmentalist who is not a gastronomist is sad, but a gastronomist who is not an environmentalist is stupid.”

Petrini’s statement reinforces Bon Appetit’s own efforts to promote the connection between food and climate change. They are committed to looking at the origins of food from both an environmental and human perspective. As a food services company that provides meals for 80 million people per year in more than 400 cafes in 29 states, York notes that Bon Appetit has the power to affect food choices and a unique opportunity to educate guests. The company has joined forces with their chefs, making a commitment to sourcing food locally and, by extension, to getting guests engaged in the dining experience.

Lunny stressed that the way we eat can also be a solution to many of the environmental changes Americans are calling for. In fact, he said, healthy eating can help save the family farm, which is so vital to our economy, and can also reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to slowing the effects of climate change. Lunny talked about the impact of beef on America’s carbon footprint—the average hamburger in the U.S. travels over 1,500 miles from farm to plate. The transition back to a healthier grass fed cow would provide opportunities to sequester carbon emissions and reduce greenhouse gasses. To accomplish these types of benefits, it is critical to get this message out to the consumer, Lunny said.

Prentice discussed the importance of transformation across all levels of the food distribution cycle and her passion for reviving local eating traditions. As the creator of the term “locavore” and the Local Foods Wheel, her message echoes the call for consumer awareness of local food and seasonality. Prentice demonstrated the functionality of her Local Foods Wheel for attendees—a visual aid designed to educate food service professionals and consumers on what foods are grown locally and when they are in season.

All three panelists addressed the affordability of food and the progress being made to facilitate greater access. Prentice pointed out that there is a perception issue at hand, as other items such as flat screen TVs, mobile devices, or designer shoes are much more expensive than healthy food, despite being non-essential. For Prentice, the long-term health benefits to eating real food are priceless and the “cheap food system” comes with a huge price tag both to humanity and our environment. Lunny pointed out several ways in which farmers were working to lower prices so that healthy, sustainable food can be enjoyed by everyone. York pointed out the wasteful habits of most Americans that result from the overabundance of cheap food, and suggested that there are more efficient ways to consume healthy food at affordable prices while conserving our precious resources.

Join us for the next panel at the Commonwealth Club in partnership with Slow Food Nation on Thursday, August 14. “The Centralization of Our Food System,” a panel discussion presented in association with Slow Food Nation, will explore how the American food system is shaped by centralization in production, consumption and economic cycles. Panelists include Don Shaffer, President and CEO, RSF Social Finance; Paul Frankel, Managing Director, Ecosa Capital; and Michael Dimock, President, Roots of Change. Discounted tickets for this panel are available for Slow Food members. For more information, check www.slowfoodnation.org/events/special-programming/commonwealth-club-panels. Programs often sell out, so we encourage you to purchase tickets in advance at commonwealthclub.org or call (415) 597-6705.

Photos courtesy of The Commonwealth Club

San Francisco is fortunate to be home to the Commonwealth Club, one of the oldest and largest public affairs forums in the country. With members of all ages and backgrounds, the Commonwealth Club has set the stage for civic engagement across the Bay Area since 1903. Slow Food Nation is thrilled to partner with them for an outstanding series of panels and conversations leading up to the main event over Labor Day weekend.

For the Month of August, the Commonwealth Club is hosting a “How We Eat” speaker series, hands-on classes, tastings, field trips and dining opportunities. Their intention is to bring greater attention to food and diet as the cornerstone of all cultures. Their platform: “For decades, the U.S. food system has been epitomized by industrialization, high productivity, convenience, innovation and high profits. But as diet-related disease, energy-related food shortages and natural-resource depletion became growing concerns, critics have fought back, emphasizing health, taste and food’s source and production methods.”

The series got off to a great start last Thursday, July 31, with a panel featuring Slow Food Nation founder Alice Waters; Anya Fernald, Executive Director of Slow Food Nation; Harold Goldstein, Executive Director of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy; and Bertram Lubin, M.D., President of Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute. The sold-out panel was held at the Fairmont Hotel and was moderated by Eric Schlosser, Investigative Reporter and Author of Fast Food Nation. A video and transcript from the event can be found here.

The conversation focused on food and its intersection with health, agriculture, education and policy. Panelists discussed the importance of educating children about sustainability and making connections between food, health and the environment. Schlosser began the conversation by asking Dr. Lubin to set the stage for the current diet-related health crisis in this country. Dr. Lubin talked about the rates of obesity and diabetes among young people today, noting that the National Center for Health Statistics indicates 16% of children aged 6-9 are overweight, up 45% from 1988-1994, and double from 1976-1980. He cited an oft-stated, but nonetheless stunning figure: For the first time in our nation’s history, the average life expectancy of today’s children may actually be shortened by 2-5 years due to obesity-related health problems (NEJM). His message was one of employing easy preventative measures to ensure that the future generation has access to good food and exercise.

Goldstein underscored the disconnect between the industrialized food industry and our current public policy, citing the statewide efforts to require menu labeling at California fast food restaurants. Bringing out a fine-print menu brochure from Jack in the Box, he challenged the fast food industry to take a stronger stand on labeling ingredients and calories in a clearer and more meaningful manner. He also talked about the need to bring good, safe and affordable food into low-income neighborhoods and encouraged each one of us to become involved, take action and urge our lawmakers for better food policy across the board.

Fernald shared with the audience her experiences traveling the world, and engaging with other cultures in their food traditions. She told of her travels to northern Sweden, where she learned from the Sami people, who traditionally herd reindeer, and who shared with her their stories, dance and music (and a lot of reindeer meat, too). Fernald also addressed the claim that Slow Food is for the elite, noting that the movement is about bringing people back to the origin of their food. She said that is not just about spending money, but more about giving thought, care and time to food. She told the crowd that Slow Food Nation will bring the message that good food is a universal right and not a privilege.

When asked by Schlosser what her version of a good fast food restaurant would look like, Waters, who champions edible schoolyards and good nutrition for all students, said, “A big garden, a big bottle of olive oil… and then you tell people, ‘Go out side and graze!’” She shared with the audience her experiences of supporting local farmers in California and connecting food and farms to schoolchildren across the country. She envisions a future where there is a vegetable garden on the White House lawn, and where the next president of the United States stands up for edible education as a core curriculum in every school.

The next event in the series takes place tonight, Wednesday, August 6. Please join us on at the Commonwealth Club for “Eating the Right Way,” a panel discussion presented in association with Slow Food Nation. Panelists include Kevin Lunny, Owner of Drakes Bay Oyster Company; Jessica Prentice, author of Full Moon Feast and co-owner of Three Stone Hearth Community Supported Kitchen; and Helene York, Director of Bon Appetit Management Company Foundation. I will moderate the panel and welcome you to the first of our three panels during this month. Discounted tickets for this panel are available for Slow Food members. For more information, check here. Purchase tickets at commonwealthclub.org or call 415.597.6705.

Photos courtesy of Commonwealth Club