New PEI Food Security Network Brochure

PEI Food Security Network brochure PDF

Food Security in Local News

Federal Liberal food caucus hears call for domestic fair trade policy print this article

NIGEL ARMSTRONG
The Guardian

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=241501&sc=98

Workshop on Growing the Island Way

On March 23, 2009, the PEI Food Security Network Food Production and Distribution Working Group hosted a policy directions workshop to study the document Growing the Island Way: The Next Chapter for the Agriculture and Agri-food Economy of Prince Edward Island.

The report from the workshop is now available: FSN-Workshop-Report-March-23

Workshop Objectives:

• to identify Growing the Island Way… as a continuation of past policy directions
• to situate Growing the Island Way… within the current PEI development strategies
• to critique the process used in the development of Growing the Island Way…
• to analyze the stated vision, mission, goals and targets of Growing the Island Way… from the perspective of food security
• to identify actions and next steps

Notes from “Sowing the Seeds”

Here are notes from our workshop on February 24^th. I hope we have managed to capture the richness of the day’s discussions. Please feel free to forward comments to us.

If you would like a hard copy, please let me know so we can arrange for you to pick up a copy!

Don’t forget our two upcoming events (posted below).

Michelle

Link to PDF: sowing-the-seeds

Support to Island families

A simple way to double your support to Island families this season
GUARDIAN GUEST OPINION
NANCY CLEMENT

It’s that time of year again and it seems like everyone is “talking turkey.”

Here’s a fresh look at the situation and a simple way to support two Island families at once when you donate to the turkey drive or the food bank. In two words: “buy local.”

Usually when you donate a turkey, one Island family benefits from your generosity. However, if you buy a locally raised turkey for a fair price (it costs about $2.50/lb. to raise a turkey), then the farming family that produced that turkey also benefits, as does the community they live in when they spend those hard-earned dollars.

The same applies for other types of food you might choose to donate during the holiday season. Our Island farmers produce a regular cornucopia of wonderful food – cranberries, blueberries, pumpkins, carrots, squash, meat, fish and tofu – not to mention the humble potato.

All of these are desperately needed by the food bank this time of year so why not buy them locally and support Island families twice over? Take it one step further and buy organically raised, locally grown food and you are helping the environment and future generations as well.

But where to find this food?

One possibility would be to go directly to a producer. You may well know a neighbour who raises turkeys, chickens or another type of food that you could donate. (See link for contact information for some producers at the end of this article.)

Another good place to start would be one of the farmers’ markets (e.g. on Belvedere Avenue in Charlottetown or Spring Street in the old Holman’s Building in Summerside) or there may be one in your community.

These choices put all the money you spend directly into the hands of the producer and then into his or her community. If you are purchasing your food at a retail store, many locally owned and community-based stores carry Island produce; or if you shop at a larger supermarket, ask for locally produced foods.

Ultimately, we all hope for the day when every Island family has an income that allows them to put enough healthy food on the table year-round, not just at Christmas, and that we will not need to rely on generosity and charity to fill the annual goal of more than 2,000 turkeys, and to keep food on the shelves of Island foodbanks year-round.

Ideally, we also all look forward to a time when producers are paid a fair price for their produce and can make a decent and reliable living at farming or fishing. Until then, the annual turkey drive will remain one of the harbingers of Christmas. Participating in the drive by buying locally and paying a fair price is a smart way to support two families with one turkey.

Contact and ordering information for some local producers is available at www.healthyeatingpei.ca.

Nancy Clement is with the working group on access to healthy, culturally appropriate food, P.E.I. Food Security Network. The network is an education and action organization committed to achieving food security in P.E.I.

Meeting Report: May 13, 2008

PEI Food Security Network
Meeting, May 13, 2008
Report

Participants: Melodie Bowes; Marie Burge; Charmaine Campbell; Leo Cheverie; Michelle Harris Genge; Gary Gaudet; Kelsey Kennedy; Roberta Larsen; Jane Ledwell; Delores LeVangie; Michelle MacCallum; Jane McNeil; Becky MacPhee; Melanie Melanson; Marilyn Norton; Irene Novaczek; Margaret Prouse; Jackie Vloet-Koughan; Ann Wheatley.

Animators: Ann Wheatley, Marie Burge, Cooper Institute

Objectives for the meeting

• to develop agreement about PEI FSN structure
• to have initial gathering of the working groups
• to decide on the formation of a co-ordinating committee
• to plan next steps

1.0 PEI Food Security Network Structure

The meeting reviewed the notes on proposed structure from the April 29 Founding meeting. The general outline for structure was approved as follows: that the FSN would be constituted as a network of memberships mainly of organizations, including also committed individuals; that one member group act as host organization; ; that the FSN be directed by a representative Coordinating committee; and that action-oriented working groups be formed around the objectives developed in the Founding meeting

1.1 The Membership will include (but not be limited to):

• front-line service providers
• dietitians/health professionals
• home economists
• primary producers
• environmentalists
• people working in government
• individuals affected by food insecurity
• livable income advocates
• academics
• people involved in processing and marketing and distribution of food

Efforts will be made to include in the network people of diverse cultures; Aboriginal people; women; people of all ages, all income levels, sexual orientations and abilities, language and health status. Members are expected to adhere to PEI FSN principles/mission/objectives and to agree not to speak or act publicly in opposition to these. Members make a commitment to participate actively. Persons representing a member organization will agree to seek the participation and commitment of their organization.

1.2 The Host Organization will act as chair of the coordinating committee for a year-long term (terms may be repeated) and as such will schedule and draw up agendas for the meetings. The Host organization will: “house” the PEI FSN documents (all interventions, minutes, research papers, reports, etc.); provide and/or facilitate secretarial functions; facilitate access to funding for hosting tasks; provide office space for a volunteer and/or a researcher.

1.3 A Coordinating Committee of between 8 and 10 members will include the chairs of the working groups and representatives of (at minimum):

• front-line service providers (e.g. dietitians)
• primary producers
• environmentalists
• livable income advocates
• self-advocates

Roles of the Coordinating Committee

• meet regularly (e.g every 4-6 weeks, September to June) ensure the network is inclusive (of all interests or sectors relevant to the PEI-FSN understanding of food security)
• develop or refine criteria for membership
• carry on a permanent member recruitment function
• monitor the membership make-up to ensure inclusion and healthy balance between group- and individual- membership
• facilitate communication among members (e-mail)
• organize at least three general meetings of membership (avoiding primary producer seasons Mid April to mid-November)
• ensure that working groups are established to address objectives
• maintain communication among the working groups
• establish an evaluation procedure from day one: monitor the effectiveness of the structure; track progress on objectives
• work with media
• find funding and oversee finances
• communicate with government
• act as a link between PEI and Food Secure Canada and other provincial/territorial food security networks

1.4 Working Groups will be formed to address each of the objectives that the Network designates as a priority. At least one member of each working group will also be on the Coordinating Committee.

Role of the Working Group:

• design and implement actions to address objectives
• obtain necessary community support;
• communicate progress on objectives to the Coordinating Committee.

2.0 Formation of the Coordinating Committee of the PEI FSN

The following were approved as members of the PEI Food Security Network Coordinating Committee (the first five are chairs/co-chairs of the three working groups; the individuals/organizations in italics were suggested. They will be contacted and invited by the person listed)

• Marilyn Norton (CHANCES)
• Margaret Prouse (Home Economics Association)
• Leo Cheverie (CUPE)
• Gary Gaudet (Canadian Cancer Society)
• Marie Burge (Cooper Institute)
• Michelle MacCallum (Women’s Network of PEI)
• Raymond Loo (Organic Farmer) – Margaret Prouse
• Council of the Disabled – Ann Wheatley
• Marie Hendricken (NFU) – Leo Cheverie
• Maria Martens (Farmer) – Jane McNeil
• Shannon Dixon Pollard (NAPO) – Michelle MacCallum
• Sara Roach Lewis (Fisher) – Michelle MacCallum
• Aboriginal People – Delores LeVangie
• PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada – Leo Cheverie

3.0 First Meeting of the Working Groups

The three working groups met around the themes identified as objectives in the Founding meeting (all of which involve: research; education; and influencing community attitudes and public policy). The themes are:

• access to healthy, culturally appropriate food (including complete labelling
• food costing and development of more advanced food skills
• guaranteed livable income for producers and ecologically responsible production and distribution

The specific tasks of the working groups at this meeting were; choosing a chair; refining the composition of the group (identifying who is in the group and who else needs to be there); deciding on record keeping and communication and who will do this; clarifying the mandate of the working group; and deciding on preliminary steps in an action plans.

The understanding was that the recorder in each working group would write a report and send it to the Coordinating Committee.

4.0 Next Steps

• to send out the report of this meeting to the participants and to those who were at the Founding meeting, but absent from this one (Ann Wheatley & Marie Burge)
• to develop a web presence (Jane Ledwell & Michelle MacCallum)
• to advise Food Secure Canada of the formation of the PEI Food Security Network (Michelle MacCallum)
• to issue a news release about the Founding (Coordinating Committee)
• to develop a flyer for distribution (Coordinating Committee)
• to develop a schedule of meetings for the coordinating committee and the general membership (Coordinating Committee)

Report from the Founding Meeting

PEI Food Security Founding Meeting

April 29, 2008
Farm Centre, Charlottetown, PE

Participants: Marie Burge; Leo Cheverie; David Daughton; Allan Davidson; Catherine Freeze; Gary Gaudet; Kelsey Kennedy; Sharon Labchuk; Roberta Larsen; Jane Ledwell; Raymond Loo; Barb Lundrigan; Michelle MacCallum; Jane MacNeil; Becky MacPhee; Maria Martens; Marilyn Norton; Irene Novaczek; Lynda Oulton; Reg Phelan; Margaret Prouse; Holly Smith; Jennifer Taylor; Jackie Vloet-Koughan; Ann Wheatley.

Facilitators: Marie Burge and Ann Wheatley

Objectives: Using the information generated in the March 4th Pre-Formation workshop, to:

• agree upon a mission statement for the PEI Food Security Network
• develop, agree upon and prioritize objectives
• determine the structure and communications plan
• develop work plans for each of three objectives
• formally declare the existence of the PEI Food Security Network

Principles: Eight guiding principles – developed from the discussions and report of the March 4th pre-formation meeting – were presented, discussed and amended. The resulting principles are listed here.

Mission Statement: The group discussed, amended and accepted a Mission Statement that had been prepared by the facilitators, based on the proceedings of the March 4th pre-formation meeting. The Mission Statement is here.

Objectives: The group discussed, amended and accepted a set of objectives that had been prepared by the facilitators, based on the proceedings of the March 4th pre-formation meeting. Using a “dot-mocracy” process, three objectives were selected as being priorities for short-term action. After some reflection and discussion, the group decided, in two cases, to combine two objectives. The revised (4) objectives are included here. They are presented as they were prioritized by the participants. For each objective, a working group was established. Participants had an opportunity to sign up for one of the working groups (see notes here).

Next Steps: Participants agreed to meet again on May 13, 2008, 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Farm Centre. The agenda will include developing a work-plan for each of the three objectives that was selected (time did not permit doing this at today’s workshop).

Declaration and Closing: Irené Novaczek declared the establishment of the PEI Food Security Network. The “motion” was approved by all!

Welcome!

Welcome! This blog will be a record of the activities of the PEI Food Security Network. The Network was officially formed on March 4, 2008. It is open to organizations and individuals as members.