Community-based food systems

What MN School Food Service Directors Think About Local Food

As demand for local food continues to grow, K-12 schools are looking for ways to incorporate food from local sources into their food and nutrition programs.

Access to Healthy Food

Many people in Minneapolis, including entire neighborhoods, lack access to healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate foods. Last year, IATP organized a series of roundtable discussions with Minneapolis community members to talk about the food they buy.

Eat! Grub!

When I was growing up, the word “grub” meant only two things: a thick-bodied larva that burrowed beneath my parents’ grass, and food.

Like Food, Does Money Need to Go Local?

The current Wall Street financial crisis has me thinking about potential parallels to food. Not long ago, the vast majority of Americans had little choice but to consume a diet dominated by industrially produced food. We were becoming the culture of Wonder Bread. But then some alternative ideas started to break through.

China Meets Lou T Fisk

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I drove out to Western Minnesota to check in on Ms. Shi Yan.

Food Waste

The Stockholm International Water Institute issued a new report (while many of us were vacationing in August) that is worth revisiting. The report covers an aspect of the global food crisis that is often missed: waste.

U.S. Sustainable Agriculture Through Chinese Eyes

“You should tell more people around the world about America’s non-mainstream agriculture and food system. Then they won’t hate you so much!” This was the blunt advice I got from Professor Wen Tiejun, as I bade him farewell at the Minneapolis airport in September 2006.

One mini-market at a time

In the U.S., a food desert has been described as a large geographic area where mainstream grocery stores are absent. Most U.S. food deserts are found in low-income communities where residents often struggle to find fresh fruits and vegetables.

Wal-Mart and Local Food Economics

Last week, Wal-Mart announced a new commitment to "go local" and source more locally-grown fruits and vegetables. Where did this come from? Is Wal-Mart's announcement a signal that the global food economy is undergoing a major shift toward local - or just opportunistic corporate marketing? Or maybe a little of both?

This volunteer experience is brought to you by Wal-Mart, Cargill, Pepsi-Cola…

IATP Senior Fellow Mark Muller is working in a volunteer program in Honduras through July. He is blogging periodically on his experiences there.