Week 3 -9/22/15- Innovations in Distributions: Rerouting Food to the Hungry
Hola Foodies!
I know the first round of midterms are rolling around for everyone, but don’t stress too much and believe in yourselves! Meanwhile remember to treat yourself well with nutritious food!
This week we got some deep insights into the world of food insecurity and its local solutions with our awesome speaker Melissa Akers.
She got her MPH from UC Davis and currently works as the Program Coordinator for the Center for Vulnerable Populations at SF General Hospital. She currently coordinates two programs with Dr. Hilary Seligman: EatSF and CDC's Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (NOPREN).
Speech Recap
Hunger vs. Food Insecurity?
Leading to obesity and chronic diseases
Facts and Stats on food insecurity in America: Big Problem!!
EatSF
Striving to incorporate healthy food into lower-class family diet
Fruits-and-Veggies-only vouchers
Targets the most insecure, SSI recipients and the disabled
Neighborhood approach, work with corner stores
Working on expansion and outreach
Concept of Food Deserts and Food Swamps
The Takeaway:
Many similar or different assistance programs have been enacted locally, we should take our initiative to get involved and contribute our effort.
Volunteer!
Various types of opportunities with EatSF, and check out other programs: USDA FINI Program, Market Match, healthy retail corner store conversion work etc.
Stay informed!
Ex) Food security Task Force has a public meeting each month
The blog and photos are updated weekly, check them out! http://calfoodsystem.wix.com/decal
Please email us back with any topics/issues/people you would like to discuss in class or just share with everyone!
Announcement This Week
Our amazing peer Izzy was very nice to share and recommend a documentary very relevant to last week’s topic, “Cowspiracy.” It is locally filmed in Oakland, it uncovers that animal agriculture is the leading cause of many environmental problems like deforestation, water consumption and pollution, greenhouse gas and etc. However this root issue has low acknowledgement and rarely challenged. This film has made some great impact to our community, a restaurant even went 100% vegan after watching Cowspiracy!
http://www.cowspiracy.com/
It is available on Netflix and we encourage everyone to check it out! We may find time to class period depending on our guest speaker schedule but y'all should go learn more about it and discuss your thoughts with each other. Shout out to Izzy! Thanks again!
Upcoming Week’s Speaker!
For our class this week, we will have David Ceasar of Green Skies Vertical Farm. David has nearly 25 years of experience in agriculture and has been farming at Green Skies since 2013.
"Green Skies Vertical Farm is a modular farming system that can be set up on vacant lots in urban areas. Green Skies was founded in 2013 and grows and sells microgreens, herbs, wheatgrass and plant starts. We currently sell through Good Eggs, Farmigo and a local CSA.
I decided to start this business because I think it makes sense to beautify vacant lots and grow produce as near to the consumer as possible. Our farm is currently producing at one location and hope to open a second location within a year."
On Tuesday, David will talk to us about his farm, indoor vertical farming and trends in agriculture. A little more information about his farm can be found here.
Can’t wait to see you again next Tuesday!!
*As always, remember to bring in a piece of food news to get some delicious CHOCOLATE!
Study hard and eat & sleep well!
Best,
Hailey
Agnes, Cindy and Vicky
Environmental, Nutritional & Social Aspects Influencing Our Food System DeCal, UC Berkeley
Fall 2015
Tuesdays, 7-8 pm
Location Dwinelle 283
