Dear Friends,
Over the weekend we saw the movie, “Food, Inc.” with friends. We were told to have dinner first because the movie would take away our appetite. We didn’t doubt that possibility. But for one very simple reason we don’t have the same kind, or the same level, of concern. We know where nearly all our food comes from and we know the producers and growers who provide it.
Still, the movie is unsettling. None of us were vegetarians before seeing the movie, nor did we leave ready to become vegetarians. But the level of cruel and inhumane treatment of animals in the film was difficult to watch. And, witnessing the level of bacteria, chemicals and waste products involved in America’s industrialized food system was very disconcerting, to say the least.
Even more startling and heart-wrenching was the segment of the film that featured the death of 2 ½ year old Kevin Kowalcyk, who died tragically in 2001 after eating a hamburger contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Kevin's untimely death was agonizing and brutal. No person should experience the pain that Kevin did, and no family should have to bear witness to a loved one suffering in the way he did. Passage of a bill called “Kevin's Law” would put into place major recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Advisory Committee for Microbiological Criteria for Foods, both of which have consistently supported greater federal enforcement of food-safety standards.
At the other end of the spectrum was Joel Salatin, owner of Polyface Farms in Virginia. His animals are raised humanely and processed on site with exponentially lower bacteria counts than the nearby industrial meat-packing plant. Animals live outside and have adequate space, clean water, shelter from the elements when necessary and exposure to sunshine. Many customers drive several hundred miles to buy their meat from Salatin because they have a relationship with him and know how his animals are raised and processed.
In Iowa, there are more and more farmers like Salatin – and it’s important for us to support them, for their sake and for ours.
Did you know that if Iowans ate five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and Iowa farmers supplied that produce for just three months of the year, production and marketing for these additional crops would add $302.4 million and 4,094 jobs to the Iowa economy (Swenson, D. The Economic Impacts of Increased Fruit and Vegetable Production and Consumption in Iowa: Phase II. Ames, IA: Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture; May 2006.) And that’s just fruits and vegetables! Think of the possibilities for family-farm raised meat, dairy, cheese and a huge range of value-added products.
I recently attended a Communities of Practice conference put on by the Leopold Center.
This conference brought together many types of people interested in local agriculture -- farmers, nutritionists, educators, social service agency directors, economists, grassroots organizers, and food-industry business owners. They came together to share what they know, to learn from one another regarding different aspects of their work and to provide a social context for that work. These leaders are working to make it easier to connect producers with consumers/eaters.
But – there’s plenty you can do too!
Actions You Can Take:
Buy Locally
HYPERLINK "http://www.practicalfarmers.org/about-us/who-we-are.html#linkingpeople" www.practicalfarmers.org/about-us/who-we-are.html#linkingpeople
Educate Yourself
Here are several websites that will present you with an array of topics.
HYPERLINK "http://www.environmentalnutritionsolutions.com" www.environmentalnutritionsolutions.com
HYPERLINK "http://www.crcworks.org/rural.html" www.crcworks.org/rural.html
HYPERLINK "http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/" www.leopold.iastate.edu/
HYPERLINK "http://www.law.drake.edu/centers/agLaw/?pageID=bfbl" www.law.drake.edu/centers/agLaw/?pageID=bfbl
If you have specific questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to write to Ed and me. If we don’t have the answer, we can usually point you in the right direction.
Contact your Elected Official
The summer recess is coming up and during their town hall meetings in Iowa, we need to contact specific elected officials who serve on committees that deal with the Child Nutrition Act reauthorization. This is the legislation that contains funding for the Farm to School program. We need to let them know we want good food in our schools. If you’re willing to email, call or write in support of the Farm to School program, or if you will be attending a town hall with your elected official and would be willing to ask them to support this program, would you please write me? Their contact information is included here:
Senator Tom Harkin
(202) 224-3254 Phone
HYPERLINK "https://harkin.senate.gov/c/index.cfm" https://harkin.senate.gov/c/index.cfm (email address)
HYPERLINK "https://harkin.senate.gov/c/office.cfm" https://harkin.senate.gov/c/office.cfm (office locations)
Senator Charles Grassley
HYPERLINK "http://grassley.senate.gov/contact.cfm" http://grassley.senate.gov/contact.cfm (information for phone, email and office locations)
Congressman Dave Loebsack
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http://loebsack.house.gov/Contact/ (office locations)
http://loebsack.house.gov/contactform/ (email address)
Congressman Tom Latham
HYPERLINK "http://www.tomlatham.house.gov/Contact/" http://www.tomlatham.house.gov/Contact/ (information for phone, email and office locations)
Thanks for reading!
Lynn Fallon
Events
July 29 – IBC’s Monthly Chat ‘n Ride (Iowa City)
An informational meeting of Iowa Bicycle Coalition Supporters who want to talk about bicycling in Iowa City. Meet at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St., Meeting Room B, from noon to 3:00 p.m.
July 29 – Daytrotter Bands Barnstorm (Coon Rapids)
An evening of good food, even better music, and pure, unfiltered merriment. Grill out at 6:30 p.m. Music at 8:00 p.m. at the Riverhouse Barn, 1313 Fig Ave., Coon Rapids. For overnight accommodations (camping) contact HYPERLINK "mailto:Jeana@whiterockconservancy.org" Jeana@whiterockconservancy.org. For more information: HYPERLINK "http://www.daytrotter.com/ex/daytrotter-barnstormer/2311.html" http://www.daytrotter.com/ex/daytrotter-barnstormer/2311.html.
August 1 - Really, Really Free Market (Des Moines)
A huge, free yard sale the first Saturday of every month at Drake Park, 24th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. It runs from 11:00 – 2:00, or so. People are invited to come and shop or bring things to donate. Face painting and kids’ crafts, too. Contact Tracy Robson at HYPERLINK "mailto:tracy.robson@gmail.com" \t "_blank" tracy.robson@gmail.com.
August 1 - Strengthening Community Dialogue Forum (Cedar Rapids)
A forum and resource fair to connect community members to resources, service providers and business leaders. It’s at the Jane Boyd Community House, 943 14th Street from 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm. Contact LaSheila Yates at (319) 651-9829 or HYPERLINK "mailto:lasheila_yates@yahoo.com" lasheila_yates@yahoo.com.
August 6 – From Hiroshima to a World Without Nuclear Weapons (Des Moines)
Join us in telling Congress to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. We will also welcome Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, a leading member of “Mayors for Peace.” Meet at the Japanese bell, west of the Iowa Judicial building on the south side of Court Avenue across from the State Capitol. The rain site will be Calvary Baptist Church, 606 E. 9th St. Please bring lawn chairs. For more information, contact Jeffrey Weiss at (515) 274-4851, (x 16) or HYPERLINK "mailto:JWeiss@afsc.org" JWeiss@afsc.org.
August 8 – Yes We Can – Ban All Nuclear Testing (Des Moines)
Supporters of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty will meet at the Central Library, 1000 Grand Avenue, Des Moines from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Jeffrey Weiss at (515)274-4851 (x16) or HYPERLINK "mailto:JWeiss@afsc.org" JWeiss@afsc.org.
August 21-23 – DIGIn Decorah (Decorah)
Dig IN is a weekend-long festival set in idyllic Northeast Iowa featuring off-the-grid homes and sustainable farm tours, along with live music at both a street dance and garden party, an expert-filled green expo, seminars and forums, and local foods all weekend. For more information, go to HYPERLINK "http://www.digindecorah.com/" www.digindecorah.com/.
August 27-30 – “Khrushchev in Iowa” – 50 Year Commemoration (Coon Rapids)
Fifty years ago, during the Cold War, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev came to Iowa to learn about growing and feeding corn. More than 30 Iowa organizations are planning a state wide “Khrushchev in Iowa” commemoration for August 27-30. For more information, go to: HYPERLINK "http://www.creatinggreatplaces.org/" http://www.creatinggreatplaces.org/.
September 4 – Producing Sustainability: Growing Food, Growing Lives, Growing Economies (Fairfield)
Whether you are in local food production, consumption, or food system development, you’ll find this conference to be of interest to you. We’ll hear from innovative local food producers making a livelihood growing food in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. We’ll also hear from those on the leading edge of research, policy development and local food system development. The event will be from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center, 200 N. Main St. For more information contact Elisabet Humble at HYPERLINK "mailto:ehumble@rcdnet.net" ehumble@rcdnet.net.
September 11 - Iowa Women's Music Festival (Iowa City)
This is the event’s 16th anniversary, hosted by Prairie Voices Productions. It’s at the Upper City Park during the day and at The Mill at night, and begins at 7:30 p.m. Contact HYPERLINK "mailto:festival@prairievoices.net" festival@prairievoices.net or (319) 335-1486.
September 24-25 - Iowa Black Business Summit (Des Moines)
First-ever event, at the Marriott Hotel, 7th and Grand in downtown, 8:30 am – 5:30- pm. The program costs $75 and is geared toward business owners and those who would like to start businesses. For details, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.iowabbs.com/" \t "_blank" www.iowabbs.com.
October 10-13 – 13th Annual Community Food Security Coalition Conference (DM)
Save the date for this conference being held at the Polk County Convention Center. For more information, go to HYPERLINK "http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=444693&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.communityfoodconference.org" \t "_blank" HYPERLINK "http://communityfoodconference.org/13/" http://communityfoodconference.org/13/.
They are catalysts for cooperation of diverse interests to create solutions for food and fiber producers and businesses; hubs which create, capture, document and leverage knowledge and deploy this knowledge as technical assistance; magnets to attract funding; and, scouts to identify emerging opportunities with high potential to deliver economic benefit to sustainable agriculture stakeholders.
