Fourth Annual New England Food Summit!- Day 2

I was elected as a state delegate to represent Rhode Island at the Fourth Annual Food Solutions New England Summit in Pawtucket Rhode Island on June 12 & 13, 2014.

Food Solutions New England or FSNE is a regional food systems learning-action network dedicated to advancing a sustainable New England food system. The UNH Sustainability Institute serves as the backbone organization for FSNE.

To read my post on Food Solutions New England click here

To read my post on Day one of the New England Food Summit click here

DAY 2-

Day two started bright and early with a continuation of our discussion on racial equity and food justice.

We then met as individual states to discuss next steps by state and as by a region.

The Rhode Island delegation made it clear that supported the Living Wage movement was one of its top priorities.

Rhode Island Food Policy Council 

http://www.foodsolutionsne.org/new-england-food-vision

http://action.clf.org/site/Survey?

Fourth Annual New England Food Summit!- Day 1

DAY 1-

We started today's conference with a conversation about Racial Equality and Food Justice  and the following are just a few take aways from our presenters and small group table discussions. (this is a very brief snapshot that I will update once I receive the information presented)

• 97% of all farms are owned by whites 

• Food system change is not a luxury it is a necessity

• Local food is not intrinsically good... It's only good if it delivers on social and environmental values

• There's a lot to be said about the healing power of growing your own food.

• Sustainability can't happen without racial justice

• New England Food Vision: Healthy food is a fundamental human right

• Local food is only good if it delivers on social and environmental values.

• The new paradigm begins as soon as you're ready to perceive it.

• Not just about individual behavior and consumer actions, it's about a systemic change in our society

After lunch (see the menu below) we discussed the 50 by 60 Food Vision

The New England Food calls for our region to build the capacity to produce at least 50% of food in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner, that promotes health and is accessible by all New Englanders by 2060.

 To read the New England Food Vision (to read the complete document click here). 

Highlights

The Four Core Values:

1. Rights to Food: Access to adequate healthy, culturally appropriate foods at all times is a basic human right for all.
2. Healthy Eating: New Englanders will move towards healthier eating patterns, including eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and both plant and animal sources of protein.
3. Sustainability: Regional food production, procurement and access will be advanced embracing environmentally respective practices, economically just principles and social responsible behaviors.
4. Community Stability: Strong local and regional agricultural and sustainable fisheries will help New England communities thrive by providing a decent livelihood  to farmers and fisherman, while creating and maintaining attractive communities  for people to live in, work in and visit.  

KEEPING WITH THE URBAN THEME

A FOOD TRUCK LUNCH

Fourth Annual New England Food Summit!- Background

I was elected as a state delegate to represent Rhode Island at the Fourth Annual Food Solutions New England Summit in Pawtucket Rhode Island on June 12 & 13, 2014.

Food Solutions New England or FSNE is a regional food systems learning-action network dedicated to advancing a sustainable New England food system. The UNH Sustainability Institute serves as the backbone organization for FSNE.

The New England Food Summit is an action-oreinted working summit geared towards strengthen the regional food system sustainability. This year's summit includes a focus on urban and metropolitan food system issues, as well as the central place of food justice and racial equity in food system sustainability.

As part of our pre-work we were asked to read the New England Food Vision (to read the complete document click here). 

The New England Food calls for our region to build the capacity to produce at least 50% of food in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner, that promotes health and is accessible by all New Englanders by 2060.

A New England Food Vision imagines a new future that is possible if society were to commit to supporting a sustainable food production in New England. We hope this report will compel people to act by creating new conversations, new collaborations and new, actionable plans. We seek to engage diverse voices and create new inspiration that will lead to healthy food and thriving communities.
. 

Additionally we were asked to read or watch the following that revolve around this years theme of Racial Equality and Food Justice. 

Over the next few days I will share with you my experiences from the summit.