What is Food Justice?
Food justice is the belief that healthy food is a human right, and by that measure everyone has an inherent right to access healthy, fresh food. Food justice is occasionally viewed as a mixture of the alternative food movement, environmental rights, and social justice, all of which demand recognition of human rights, equal opportunity, and fair treatment. Access can be a mixture of location, affordability, and cultural appropriateness. Food is part of how we communicate with one another, show love, and spend time together as a family. Food is culture. It's this connection, this ability to bring joy and comfort, nourish ourselves and others, that allows us to stay healthy and sane.
What is Food Insecurity?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. While hunger and food insecurity are closely related, they are distinct concepts. Hunger refers to a physical sensation of discomfort, while food insecurity refers to a lack of access and financial resources in the household. Our food system problematizes the influence of race and class on the production, distribution and consumption of food. This encompasses farm labor work, land disputes, issues of status and class, environmental justice, public politics, and advocacy. As you can see, food justice is a multifaceted concept with a number of components and players. We all have a part in creating the equality and justice we want to see in our world.
Who is Most Affected?
Food Insecurity affects every community in the United States. Food justice addresses the disproportionate burden of environmental barriers to healthy food experienced by low-income communities and communities of color. While closely tied to poverty, not all people living below the poverty line experience food insecurity. In fact, people living well above the poverty line can experience food insecurity. In 2017, an estimated 1 in 8 Americans were food insecure, equating to 40 million Americans including more than 12 million children. Lack of access to good food is both a cause and a symptom of the structural inequalities that divide society.
What can I do?
This is about good food for all. It is not enough to vote with your dollar, or grow your own garden, or support your local CSA. Choose a community you want to be a part of. It could be your local community garden, a faith-based group, or a food policy council. Engage with others who are working closely toward systemic change. There are many ways to participate, and you can start by looking at our resources here on Gather This.
Food justice is the belief that healthy food is a human right, and by that measure everyone has an inherent right to access healthy, fresh food. Food justice is occasionally viewed as a mixture of the alternative food movement, environmental rights, and social justice, all of which demand recognition of human rights, equal opportunity, and fair treatment. Access can be a mixture of location, affordability, and cultural appropriateness. Food is part of how we communicate with one another, show love, and spend time together as a family. Food is culture. It's this connection, this ability to bring joy and comfort, nourish ourselves and others, that allows us to stay healthy and sane.
What is Food Insecurity?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. While hunger and food insecurity are closely related, they are distinct concepts. Hunger refers to a physical sensation of discomfort, while food insecurity refers to a lack of access and financial resources in the household. Our food system problematizes the influence of race and class on the production, distribution and consumption of food. This encompasses farm labor work, land disputes, issues of status and class, environmental justice, public politics, and advocacy. As you can see, food justice is a multifaceted concept with a number of components and players. We all have a part in creating the equality and justice we want to see in our world.
Who is Most Affected?
Food Insecurity affects every community in the United States. Food justice addresses the disproportionate burden of environmental barriers to healthy food experienced by low-income communities and communities of color. While closely tied to poverty, not all people living below the poverty line experience food insecurity. In fact, people living well above the poverty line can experience food insecurity. In 2017, an estimated 1 in 8 Americans were food insecure, equating to 40 million Americans including more than 12 million children. Lack of access to good food is both a cause and a symptom of the structural inequalities that divide society.
What can I do?
This is about good food for all. It is not enough to vote with your dollar, or grow your own garden, or support your local CSA. Choose a community you want to be a part of. It could be your local community garden, a faith-based group, or a food policy council. Engage with others who are working closely toward systemic change. There are many ways to participate, and you can start by looking at our resources here on Gather This.