The 3 S's of Food

Safety, Security and Sovereignty

Our March blog was written by my dad, Jay and his dear friend in farming, Steve Moore. Jay and Steve once got stuck in traffic on the Jersey turnpike together and that is where their friendship blossomed. It would have been a rare treat to have been a fly on the wall of that road trip. Their dedication to sustainable growing practices has left a lasting impression on so many lives that have been touched in their lifetimes of farming. I am so grateful to have them both in my corner as I venture out onto my own path. If you know my dad, you may also be surprised to hear that these two Zoom with each other regularly. Dad from Maryland and Steve from North Carolina. It is my honor to begin to collect their thoughts here so that their stories continue to show us the way. Enjoy! - Heather

Food Safety - Is my food safe to eat?

We all would like to have access to a safe food supply. I would argue that we have a right to a safe food supply. Not only for humans but also safe for all of our co-inhabitants of planet Earth and the Earth itself. One of the main concerns that our customers have had over the years is pesticide-use on their foods.

The EPA is responsible for establishing an acceptable tolerance level also known as maximum residue limit for all pesticides after a risk assessment is done. These assessments are performed on adults. Their impact on children and especially on infants is considerably higher.

The word pesticide is a blanket term for insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and animal repellants. The USDA and the FDA are responsible for enforcing the regulations as set forth by the EPA. As one who has grown food organically for almost forty years, I would argue there is NO acceptable tolerance level for any pesticide of chemical origin. I would also argue that with the current political environment the work done by the EPA, USDA and FDA may not be as reliable as we would like.

Another consideration for food safety is the working conditions for those who grow, harvest and handle our food. There is a regulation restricting the entry into a field after the application of a pesticide called the REI or reentry interval. This allows the pesticide enough time to dissipate to what is considered to be a safe level. Being almost impossible to enforce, this rule is often disregarded. This is but one example among many of the dangers associated with pesticide use.

Early on my farming career I helped manage a peach orchard. The owner, unbeknownst to me and the rest of the harvest crew , had applied a fungicide the evening before we started harvesting at 6:00 am. By noontime everyone who had picked the peaches that morning was nauseous and enduring miserable headaches, including my pregnant wife.

Food Security - Where is my next meal coming from?

Billions of people on this planet go to bed at night not knowing where their next meal is coming from. Estimates I have seen are close to 50% and rising. Food security is not a production problem. The world’s farmers produce an excess of food well beyond the needs of all of us. The problem lies in the distribution channels. Many of the Third World Nations simply cannot afford to purchase their needs.

The Lancet Report titled Food in the Anthropocene details what we must do to feed the global population with a healthy diet while not polluting the planet. Very simply put, it calls for increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and a reduction of the consumption of meats, sugars and refined grains.

As an example: If the amount of meat that could be sustainably raised were equally divided between the world’s carnivores it would amount to the equivalent of 2 burgers per week. In the the 1990’s the United Nations proposed a resolution that all humans have the right to a safe and secure food supply. The United States was the only nation that chose not to sign on to that resolution. Once again, it bears mentioning the current political environment is not conducive to attempt any resolution to this tragedy.

Food Sovereignty - Will my food nourish my body, mind and spirit?

With all the turmoil in the world, I have been reflecting on the difference between “Food

Security” and “Food Sovereignty”. At first glance, both seem reasonably similar and

occasionally folks use them interchangeably. Let me share the definitions and that probably will make it self-explanatory why these words have been on my mind.

Food security means to have enough food. Typically that means I have enough money to buy my food. However if money is tight I could count on a food bank, community kitchen, a neighbor, family or friends. (Internationally USAID). Bottom line - I know I will have food even if the amount and type of food is determined by others.

Food sovereignty adds layers of long term self-reliance and community resilience. A few

components of food sovereignty include:

1) Sustainably grown: if not, by definition has a finite end. Growing our own carbon and nitrogen for composting and nutrient cycling is important. Managing our gardens to maximize production and minimize space are important as well. It means going beyond “organic.”

2) Feeding ourselves rather than just producing food. This involves knowing both general nutrient requirement, and our own particular body needs, and working towards a complete diet (vitamins,, minerals, calories and protein, all within a culturally appropriate diet)

3) Determination over our food production. Use open-pollinated seeds (or produce your own hybrids) so you and your community have control. Weather, economic or political anomalies can mean reduced access to seeds.

4) Be mindful of energy and water use in production. The home and/or community garden is by far our best opportunity to have true food sovereignty. It has the potential that few other production schemes have to check all the boxes. There are many other benefits as well. To mention one, is home/community production offers peace of mind. Mental wellbeing and physical exercise in the natural world is vital for our vitality.

In conclusion, anyone who does this work has some level of hope for the future. Sometimes, the future looks bleak. You don't have to look far to find the next chaotic event. However, when you put a seed in dirt and cover it, you are flexing your hope muscle. The seed, covered by dirt, cracks open and reaches for the light. We encourage you to be aware of the safety, security and sovereignty of your food. Start where you are and start small but we hope you start.

Onward,

Heather, Jay and Steve