queer farmer film project “out here” mid-west and west coast tour

I am a new team member of the Greenhorns blog: The Irresistible Fleet of Bicycles. Here is one of my posts today!

the irresistible fleet of bicycles

The Queer Farmer Film Project’s Out Here will be proudly touring the Mid-West and West Coast during the coming weeks. Please see the screening details below, most of the information is there and will stay updated on the tour site.

Out Here is a full-length documentary film created by the Queer Farmer Film Project. Completed after 4 years in production, it looks at the experiences of queer farmers across the country and asks – what does it mean to be a queer farmer, is agriculture a safe space for queer people, and what are the relationships between food production and queerness? It is the filmmaker’s dream that this project will give voice and visibility to queer people in agriculture and inspire a flagrant national discussion about gender and sexuality as they are related to our food system.

See the list of screenings here.

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Genetically Engineered Food: The Arctic® Apple Deregulated

Okanagan Specialty Fruits located in British Columbia just created the first Genetically Engineered (GE) apple to become legal for mainstream sale and consumption:  The Arctic® apple.  It has been engineered to not turn brown or bruise. This milestone for the biotechnology sector of the food system in America raises many ethical and health concerns.

Image Credit Arctic® apple

Lets look at the name first and pause. Arctic® apples. The trademark symbol identifies that this good is different than other similar goods (i.e. other apples).  Trademarks appear on human inventions. They denote ownership and intellectual property. Food is naturally occurring and should be a right to all humans. The trademark represents inherent ethical problems with the engineering of food.

There are many arguments for ethical pros to engineered food, most of which center around producing larger amounts of cheaper food in a “reduced risk” environment in order to feed the growing human population.  I have plenty to say to dispute these claims, but I will save that for another post. Mainly because this apple invention does not fulfill even an idealistic account of manipulating food to feed the world. The human tampering that turned off the enzyme that causes apples to turn brown is purely cosmetic.

However, I would argue that the implications are far beyond cosmetic. The natural browning of apples once cut or after a long period of time is a natural cue that the fruit has begun to spoil. While it is still often safe to eat an apple at a certain level of brownness, eventually it is a sign that the apple is too old or has been exposed and susceptible to bacteria for too long.  The lack of browning could lead to higher chance of consumers eating contaminated apples. The Okanagan website does not address this safety point. It does argue though that the invention is beyond cosmetic: it will save profits for every part of the supply chain due to its longer shelf life. Putting profits before human and environmental safety is a choice that drives our food system far too often and has already caused epidemic levels of obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and has still not cured world hunger.

The GE apple will be another wedge put between humans and our food system, reducing the understanding of our natural relationship.

The creation and testing of GMO and GE foods can be a foreign language to the general public.  The USDA deregulation announcement of arctic apples and the Q&A does not instill much more understanding or trust in the process.  Although there was space for the public to comment on the process, the USDA acknowledges that comments about general concern of GE plants were not taken into account, and “final decision can only be based on its analysis”.  In addition, the FDA did no independent testing of the product.

The lack of democracy and transparency of our food system is frightening when there is such a large amount of public outcry against such advancements.  Farmers fear cross-pollination. Exporters are threatened by the possible cross contamination affecting export sales which are currently one third of the apple industry. Consumers are against being used as lab rats for unnecessary products.  And everyone who is a non-GMO advocate is simply pissed and scared that the right to choose natural food may be highjacked from the lack of responsibility being exhibited by the biotech and big agricultural industry.

The lack of regulation with labeling means this product could end up in juice, baby food, apple sauce, and other processed fruit products without consumer knowledge. Major companies such as McDonalds and Gerber have already publicly declared to not use Arctic® apple.

The product is on track to hit shelves as soon as 2016.  There is still time to put pressure on companies to not buy the product.  Please exercise your voice on the petitions below and leave comments about your ideas on GE food.

Reject “Arctic” Apple • Put a Freeze on Arctic Apples
 No GMO Apples • Just label it!

Edible City Vision

Here is an inspiring video about the food strategy in Vancouver.

Imagine a city where food is abundantly growing in yards, public spaces, urban farms, and schools.  Growing fresh, local produce meets a basic human need that ensures security and equity for all.  Designing our spaces to efficiently produce food creates a thriving and sustainable community through strengthening local economy and resources. It raises awareness and respect for the environment.

Here in Portland The Mayor’s Food Initiative works to improve health and sustainability of food systems in our community. It supports many of the initiatives of other organizations. The Edible East Bayside project is transforming the Bayside Trail into an edible food forest. Among many events, the Resilience Hub + Portland Maine Permaculture teach permaculture design courses and organize permablitz’ to turn people’s yards into self-producing food forests.  Cultivating Community provides food systems education in schools and to members of the New American farmer’s program. They manage the community gardens in Portland and increase access to locally grown produce.  Garbage to Garden keeps recycles our organic waste and provides healthy soil for all of our gardens. Many folks are working towards the Edible City vision here in Portland!

Soul Fire Farm

Soul Fire Farm is a sustainable farm in Albany, NY that is committed to dismantling the oppressive structure that creates inequality for marginalized groups in our food system.  Project Growth is a restorative justice program in Albany, NY that creates partnerships with organizations for incarcerated youth to work for, gain new skills, and earn money to reimburse the victim of their theft. Partnered together, the organizations gave five young men the chance to heal their relationships with their communities, connect to the land, and have an empowering experience through self-sustainable action.

“Look, you’re going to die from the gun or you are going to die from bad food”

According to the article in Yes! Magazine about this project: The biggest killers of black Americans today are not guns or violence, but diet-related diseases, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. These illnesses affect minorities at greater rates than white people, in part because of a broken food system that allows only certain populations to access healthy food while subsidizing low-quality food for the rest.

As recently brought to the forefront of conversation by the Black Lives Matter Movement, systematic racism in our “justice” system perpetuates an unequivocally high rate of young black men in American prisons. Institutional racism, which effects all aspects of an individuals experience, allows only certain groups knowledge about or access to healthy food. Just as access to land and growing our own food are the keys to liberate any human from the current system, Soul Fire Farm is creating this intentional space for young convicted black men.

It is necessary to acknowledge the sensitivity of the history of black people farming on American soil. Programs such as those at Soul Fire Farm can facilitate healing traumatic relationships slavery formed with the land.  Participants can also be empowered through building a new relationship with food systems. Black people currently own less than 1 percent of the nation’s farmland. Real local food economy can be liberating to every individual and community.

This restorative justice program is an ingenious act of food and social justice activism. It selects individuals in the criminal justice system and gives an alternative sentence that has the ability to completely change they way the person relates to the world, resources, and independence. People can begin to reverse this social devolution by practicing the values of food sovereignty.  Soul Fire Farm also offers Black and Latino Farmer Immersion, Youth Programs, and a space for activist retreats.  It is an inspiring instance and prototype for REAL food activism that actively encompasses oppressive social implications of our broken food system.