December 2008 - The Declaration for Healthy Food

I continue to be amazed at this column's faithful readers who I meet for the first time through email, or at places like the farmer's market, the post office or the gas station. And I am grateful each time readers comes up to introduce themselves, because they are eager to voice their concerns with food issues. Sometimes a writer can feel like a still, lone voice echoing in the dark... and then I encounter another Chew on This reader. Thank you all.

For these readers and anyone else truly concerned about the industrialization of our food supply and production, I invite you to visit www.fooddeclaration.org.  Coupled with the Slow Food Nation celebration in San Francisco in August, a new statement of principles for reforming our food system was officially announced. This Declaration for Healthy Food and Agriculture has been developed over this past year and its focus is on the basic restructuring of the next Farm Bill. One need not be familiar with the Farm Bill to understand the tenets of this proposed declaration. The clarity of language contained in this statement is exceptional, which is hardly surprising when one considers that Wendell Berry, Michael Pollan, Alice Waters, Bill McKibben, Winona LaDuke and others, all ardent, articulate advocates for de-industrialization of US food production, worked together drafting this document.

Excerpts from the Declaration:

"We, the undersigned, believe that a healthy food system is necessary to meet the urgent challenges of our time. . .

". . . We believe that the food system must be reorganized on a foundation of health: for our communities, for people, for animals, and for the natural world. The quality to food, and not just its quantity (emphasis mine), ought to guide our agriculture. . .

" . . . A healthy food and agriculture policy:

". . . 2. Provides access to affordable, nutritious food to everyone. . .

". . . 4. Upholds the dignity, safety, and quality of life for all who work to feed us. . .

". . . 5. Commits resources to teach children the skills and knowledge essential to food production, preparation, nutrition, and enjoyment. . .

". . .11. Enforces transparency so that citizens know how their food is produced, where it comes from, and what it contains. . .

"Our pursuit of healthy food and agriculture unites us a people and as communities, across geographic boundaries, and social and economic lines. We pledge our votes, our purchases, our creativity, and our energies to this urgent cause."

Although it is not lengthy, space does not permit reproducing the complete Declaration in this column. But you can read the Declaration's preface and twelve points in its entirety when you visit the site above. You also may provide comments, add your name in support of the Declaration, or both. The goal is to collect at least 300,000 signers, at which time the Declaration will be presented to Congress.

If each faithful reader visits www.fooddeclaration.org and then shares this column and encourages one more reader to do the same, then I'll know I'm not a still, lone voice echoing in the dark. And I'm doing my job.

May our work together bring affordable, nutritious food to every table in the New Year. Happy Holidays!

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