You may take access to fresh, organic produce for granted: if there’s a nearby farmers’ market or high-end grocery store, you likely have you pick of fruits and vegetables grown by organic standards. However, if you live in a food desert, or have a tight budget, such items likely strike you as luxuries. Farmers and food activists around the US not only recognize the presence of regions where fresh food is scarce; they’re also building organizations and even working farms to address unequal access to high-quality produce in these neighborhoods and communities. Here are a handful of groups not only growing produce, but also working to ensure it gets to those suffering from food poverty.
Industrial hemp may be one of the most versatile and environmentally benign crops out there, but because of its relationship to marijuana, the cultivation of this crop has been banned in the United States since the late thirties. Last week, a group of farmers, along with David Bronner, president of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, staged a protest in front of the Drug Enforcement Agency in Washington, DC, and were promptly arrested for planting hemp seeds on the agency’s front lawn.
If you like to cook, or just enjoy a good meal, than you’re probably a fan of spices such as rosemary, thyme, clove, and mint. Turns out these seasonings can be deadly… to bugs. A group of Canadian scientists are researching the insecticidal value of these spices, and that could be good news for farmers looking to meet growing demand for organic fruits and vegetables.
If you’ve already seen the documentary FOOD, INC., you know that film reiterates the argument that the industrialization of our food supply resulted largely from the rise of fast food: the business model requires a large supply of cheap, consistent meat and produce. If you haven’t seen the film, it turns out you may be able to do so for free… and that fast food Tex-Mex chain Chipotle will pay for your ticket.
You likely associate food policy with the federal government, but on July 8th, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom demonstrated what local governments can do to promote local, sustainable, and healthy food initiatives. Speaking at the West Oakland Woods Urban Garden (one of several farms operated by City Slicker Farms), Newsom outlined new policies aimed at “…form[ing] a comprehensive and strategic approach to addressing pressing needs in all sectors of the food system.”
Got a big trip planned to the beach, mountains, or lake this summer? Maybe not: with our current economic doldrums, you may well have cut back on summer travel plans. If you’re looking for activities closer to home this year that won’t cost big bucks, it just so happens that summer is also the season for sustainable farm tours… and there’s likely one near you coming up. Here are just a few upcoming events that will allow you to see more sustainable agriculture in action, as well as provide you with an education on where your food comes from…
Killer spices: Rosemary, Mint, and Thyme
