Growing Passions – Albany, Food Champions of the West
Way out west community interest in food system transformation is powering along. Increasingly self reliant in energy from wind power generation, Albany, Western Australia, has a plethora of people and groups active in developing local community food initiatives, businesses and specialist produce to equally create a booming local food economy in the region.
Last week’s trip, along with Dr Nick Rose from Sustain. The Australian Food Network, included consultations with the Great Southern Food Hubs Committee plus Shires and other agencies within the Great Southern region. It highlighted the breadth of activity and desire to progress plans for a food hub in the region.
A visit to the local community farmers market on Saturday was an opportunity for a chat with local producers. Local asparagus and the variety of fresh and interesting veggies were of a high standard, the black radishes a new find, plus there were several types of tasty asparagus chutneys on sale.
The Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre Community Garden and food swap were abuzz with activity following the market visit, with some interesting local plants and seeds and healthy looking produce changing hands at a rapid rate. There were even hessian covered kneeling pads made from shredded recycled paper for the taking.
Later that day many involved in the food hub discussions were also part of a local food network event where it was good to speak and join in a celebratory meal, prepared by Xavier, a Michelin starred French chef, fortuitously now a local business owner (and croissant maker par excellence).
The following day a festival, Food for Thought, focused on celebrating innovative food businesses, the benefits of foods grown and produced in a clean environment and community connection, was supported by a thousand people out and about on a bright and sunny day.
As a fly in fly out for my brief stay its clear that the food future of Albany, supported by so many local food champions, is very bright indeed.
Growing Passions – New York School Food Program
The US has traditionally had a significant role to play in children’s nutrition via their school lunch programs. While the worst of the system has been illustrated by people like Jamie Oliver, there are also some positive signs that food literacy gains are being taken seriously in the US. When travelling around New York recently the subways and trains were plastered with a multitude of materials about the new School Food Program’s summer campaign. With a slogan ‘Feed Your Mind’, the campaign promoted free summer meals for everyone under 18 years, sourced locally when possible, accessible all over the city, it was impressive in its scope. During the summer school break free breakfasts and lunches are available at hundreds of public schools, community pool centres, libraries, parks, public housing estates, and other locations around the city. Food trucks also complement this food access initiative, targeting areas of identified need. Plus they have just introduced compostable plates that will save 128 million styrofoam plates going to landfill.
Partnerships with programs such as the state’s school garden program Grow To Learn are identifying schools to participate in the school to cafe program during the year and the amount of local produce procured overall for the School Food Program is progressively increasing due to the institutional procurement policies that encourage purchase of locally grown food . A great initiative – if only we could have something on this scale in Australia.
