This spotlight is a feature in a series of the USDA Community Food Project Competitive Grant Program (CFP). Grantees are doing some of the most innovative and collaborative projects to change local and regional food systems. WhyHunger’s www. — also funded by a CFP grant — has recently begun to profile these organizations through dynamic stories and pictures, to give a real flavor of what
08-03-2013
Economic downturn. Recession. Financial crisis. Federal deficit. In recent years, these terms have become all-too familiar for Americans. Did you know... Only 1% of Americans share 40% of the nation's wealth? The bottom 80% of Americans only share 7% of the wealth? The average American worker needs to work more than a month to earn what a person in the
06-03-2013
The Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance (NAMA) has hit the road in New England. The Who Fishes Matters Tour aims to unite fisherfolk to create policies that will "lead toward a healthier ocean, working waterfronts and a thriving food system." Why is this tour important? Niaz Dorry, the Executive Director of NAMA, says we need to protect small-scale fishing in order to ensure fair
05-03-2013
Most of us in the local food / food justice movement are familiar with urban agriculture -- and even with programs that glean fruit from trees, in cities where citrus and other tree fruits grow. But last month, we read about a twist on urban agriculture we hadn't heard of before: urban maple sugaring! In Somerville, Massachusetts, non-profit Groundwork Somerville
04-03-2013
“While it may not be the direct responsibility of a large chain to get involved with a supplier's labor disputers with their employees, there is some moral responsibility. A company like Publix which prides itself on making the Forbes "Best Places to Work" list, should be willing to leverage its enormous purchasing power to make life easier for the people
01-03-2013
Have you seen the new music video by Earth Amplified and Stic.Man (of Dead Prez)? The core message of "Food Fight" is simple: Fight big food before big food fights you! The song addresses corporate control of our food, diet-related disease, and the ways in which people of color are disproportionately affected by our failing food systems. Ain't nothing but a G thing
28-02-2013
The Farm Labor Reality Tour spent the last several days in snowy Wisconsin, lending support to food workers' struggles for justice, talking with organic farmers, and digging in to work on a dairy farm. Here's some snapshots of the last few days. First stop was in Milwaukee, on a picket line with Palermo's Pizza workers who are on strike for
27-02-2013
We’re participating this week in the Farm Labor Reality Tour, which is in Kendall, Wisconsin, today, working on a dairy farm. The tour is headed up by Bob St. Peter, Maine vegetable farmer and a board member Food for Maine’s Future (a 2012 www. winner). Food for Maine’s Future focuses in part on issues of local control over the local
26-02-2013
This spotlight is a feature in a series of the USDA Community Food Project Competitive Grant Program (CFP). Grantees are doing some of the most innovative and collaborative projects to change local and regional food systems. WhyHunger’s www. — also funded by a CFP grant — has recently begun to profile these organizations through dynamic stories and pictures, to give a real flavor of what
08-03-2013
Economic downturn. Recession. Financial crisis. Federal deficit. In recent years, these terms have become all-too familiar for Americans. Did you know... Only 1% of Americans share 40% of the nation's wealth? The bottom 80% of Americans only share 7% of the wealth? The average American worker needs to work more than a month to earn what a person in the
06-03-2013
The Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance (NAMA) has hit the road in New England. The Who Fishes Matters Tour aims to unite fisherfolk to create policies that will "lead toward a healthier ocean, working waterfronts and a thriving food system." Why is this tour important? Niaz Dorry, the Executive Director of NAMA, says we need to protect small-scale fishing in order to ensure fair
05-03-2013
Most of us in the local food / food justice movement are familiar with urban agriculture -- and even with programs that glean fruit from trees, in cities where citrus and other tree fruits grow. But last month, we read about a twist on urban agriculture we hadn't heard of before: urban maple sugaring! In Somerville, Massachusetts, non-profit Groundwork Somerville
04-03-2013
“While it may not be the direct responsibility of a large chain to get involved with a supplier's labor disputers with their employees, there is some moral responsibility. A company like Publix which prides itself on making the Forbes "Best Places to Work" list, should be willing to leverage its enormous purchasing power to make life easier for the people
01-03-2013
Have you seen the new music video by Earth Amplified and Stic.Man (of Dead Prez)? The core message of "Food Fight" is simple: Fight big food before big food fights you! The song addresses corporate control of our food, diet-related disease, and the ways in which people of color are disproportionately affected by our failing food systems. Ain't nothing but a G thing
28-02-2013
The Farm Labor Reality Tour spent the last several days in snowy Wisconsin, lending support to food workers' struggles for justice, talking with organic farmers, and digging in to work on a dairy farm. Here's some snapshots of the last few days. First stop was in Milwaukee, on a picket line with Palermo's Pizza workers who are on strike for
27-02-2013
We’re participating this week in the Farm Labor Reality Tour, which is in Kendall, Wisconsin, today, working on a dairy farm. The tour is headed up by Bob St. Peter, Maine vegetable farmer and a board member Food for Maine’s Future (a 2012 www. winner). Food for Maine’s Future focuses in part on issues of local control over the local
26-02-2013