Food Summit.

By Margo Rebar

As part of its BEC (Building Environmental Communities) program, the Alabama Chapter participated in the planning, funding, and discussion of the next steps at the Greater Birmingham Community Food Partner’s “Food Summit 08,” held June 21st in Birmingham.  Now that you have read past that mouthful, what actually happened?

Approximately sixty people who are involved with food security issues heard guest speakers from Austin (Texas), Nashville (Tennessee), Atlanta (Georgia), and the Birmingham region address the need for better availability of and access to safe, healthy, fresh, and, preferably, locally produced foods. Too many Alabamians, nearly 12%, are “food insecure” and do not know when or if their next meal will come. To many Alabamians are physically and/or fiscally unable to get food that is fresh and healthy. The guest speakers described programs in their communities that address these situations, including increasing the number of farmers and farmers’ markets, developing community gardens, encouraging schools to grow and use their own vegetables, adding “grocery” buses to the transit system, and educating parents and policy makers about accessibility to fresh, affordable, healthy, and safe food. 

Already the Birmingham area has a few programs in place, such the Magic City Harvest, East Lake Farmers’ Market, and Jones Valley Urban Farm community plots. However, more needs to be done to expand these programs to a broader segment of the population, especially those who live in communities without a store or farmers’ market that regularly sells fresh, healthy foods.

Our Chapter continues to take actions to improve access to and awareness of the need for safe, healthy, fresh, locally produced foods. Two local food groups, one in Tuscaloosa and one in Birmingham, are actively engaged in these issues. Interested? contact Peggie at peggie.griffin@sierraclub.org.

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