Comments on: What Does the Local Sustainable Food Movement Need? http://www.freshthemovie.com/2009/11/18/what-does-the-local-sustainable-food-movement-need/ New thinking on what we're eating Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:25:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Anonymous http://www.freshthemovie.com/2009/11/18/what-does-the-local-sustainable-food-movement-need/comment-page-1/#comment-1491 Anonymous Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:07:12 +0000 http://www.freshthemovie.com/?p=1213#comment-1491 You make a number of good points, however, you have left one out that is very important. The consumer has to be willing to pay more for the same product. I am a chef and am about to do a luncheon for a group that is trying to educate people on local sustainable food. The problem is that they are a state group that pays a state rate. This translates to making lunch for a food cost of $2.00 per person. I can do this with my normal suppliers, but when I use local vendors my costs double You make a number of good points, however, you have left one out that is very important. The consumer has to be willing to pay more for the same product. I am a chef and am about to do a luncheon for a group that is trying to educate people on local sustainable food. The problem is that they are a state group that pays a state rate. This translates to making lunch for a food cost of $2.00 per person. I can do this with my normal suppliers, but when I use local vendors my costs double

]]> By: Eireann http://www.freshthemovie.com/2009/11/18/what-does-the-local-sustainable-food-movement-need/comment-page-1/#comment-324 Eireann Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:05:21 +0000 http://www.freshthemovie.com/?p=1213#comment-324 We do have some great leaders/influencers. In addition to Michael Pollen and Joel Salatin, we have Barbara Kingsolver, Raj Patel, Amy Cotler, Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon, the Organic Consumers Association, movies Food, Inc., and now FRESH! (Yay!). But a movement for local food of course also needs local leaders. I am extremely pleased that my local community (Berkshire County, Massachusetts) has an outstanding local food movement, with a grassroots group stepping up for organization and leadership (www.berkshiregrown.com). In my area, farmers markets and CSAs are going strong, numerous restaurants and colleges are sourcing ingredients locally, and community outreach programs are promoting local eating. So point #1 is in great shape in our community. Point #2 is catching on in some ways (as mentioned, restaurants and colleges are onboard, grocery stores a little less so but making some hopeful moves). Point #3 is the stickiest part for us, as national and state legislation continues to be passed favoring industrial farming methods (including our state law prohibiting the sale of raw milk anywhere except on premises, which even excludes farmer's markets - and, sadly, I just have to be grateful I don't live in a state where it's entirely prohibited). This is really where national leadership is needed, in my opinion. Consumer influence on regulations and laws is not likely to amount to much, even if a significant portion of the population is onboard - unless we have enough people in the system working on our behalf. Lobbyists are powerful, and legislation is cleverly crafted in favor of industrial practices in the name of "safety" and "accountability" - which are hardly things that your typical politician or lawmaker (or even citizen!) would say no to. It's these people who need to understand that accountability is built-in when it comes to small, local farms; only industrial practices require such oversight. It's these people who need to understand that expensive, rigorous safety procedures are only required by a system that removes the farmer from the consumer, that reduces profit margins for farmers to below living standards, that places profit at the forefront rather than community, health, enjoyment. We do have some great leaders/influencers. In addition to Michael Pollen and Joel Salatin, we have Barbara Kingsolver, Raj Patel, Amy Cotler, Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon, the Organic Consumers Association, movies Food, Inc., and now FRESH! (Yay!).

But a movement for local food of course also needs local leaders. I am extremely pleased that my local community (Berkshire County, Massachusetts) has an outstanding local food movement, with a grassroots group stepping up for organization and leadership (www.berkshiregrown.com). In my area, farmers markets and CSAs are going strong, numerous restaurants and colleges are sourcing ingredients locally, and community outreach programs are promoting local eating.

So point #1 is in great shape in our community. Point #2 is catching on in some ways (as mentioned, restaurants and colleges are onboard, grocery stores a little less so but making some hopeful moves). Point #3 is the stickiest part for us, as national and state legislation continues to be passed favoring industrial farming methods (including our state law prohibiting the sale of raw milk anywhere except on premises, which even excludes farmer’s markets – and, sadly, I just have to be grateful I don’t live in a state where it’s entirely prohibited). This is really where national leadership is needed, in my opinion.

Consumer influence on regulations and laws is not likely to amount to much, even if a significant portion of the population is onboard – unless we have enough people in the system working on our behalf. Lobbyists are powerful, and legislation is cleverly crafted in favor of industrial practices in the name of “safety” and “accountability” – which are hardly things that your typical politician or lawmaker (or even citizen!) would say no to. It’s these people who need to understand that accountability is built-in when it comes to small, local farms; only industrial practices require such oversight. It’s these people who need to understand that expensive, rigorous safety procedures are only required by a system that removes the farmer from the consumer, that reduces profit margins for farmers to below living standards, that places profit at the forefront rather than community, health, enjoyment.

]]> By: Amber @ Native Food and Wine http://www.freshthemovie.com/2009/11/18/what-does-the-local-sustainable-food-movement-need/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Amber @ Native Food and Wine Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:08:53 +0000 http://www.freshthemovie.com/?p=1213#comment-177 Great suggestions. I especially agree with point #3 and to add to that - people need to stop blindly trusting our government. Question them! Hold them responsible! I look at countries like France and am inspired by their inquisitiveness and by how out spoken they are. Great suggestions. I especially agree with point #3 and to add to that – people need to stop blindly trusting our government.

Question them! Hold them responsible!

I look at countries like France and am inspired by their inquisitiveness and by how out spoken they are.

]]> By: *Lisa* http://www.freshthemovie.com/2009/11/18/what-does-the-local-sustainable-food-movement-need/comment-page-1/#comment-175 *Lisa* Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:07:01 +0000 http://www.freshthemovie.com/?p=1213#comment-175 After the discussion at the community screening of FRESH we held last week, a group of us decided to keep the conversation going by starting this blog, along w/a FB group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=204235635324&ref=ts It's amazing to see what a small group of concerned citizens can do when they work together for a cause they truly believe in! After the discussion at the community screening of FRESH we held last week, a group of us decided to keep the conversation going by starting this blog, along w/a FB group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=204235635324&ref=ts
It’s amazing to see what a small group of concerned citizens can do when they work together for a cause they truly believe in!

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