A member of MY community and I were having coffee this morning. It was a special treat because he lives in Montreal, and I haven't had the honour of his company in quite some time. He's the Interim Executive Director of that fabulous organization in Montreal I've often referred to in these posts, Santropol Roulant. After our coffee date (I wish it could have lasted for hours, as he's so wonderful to talk with), I was driving him up to The Stop Community Food Centre to meet with Nick Saul to talk about all things food security - or so I thought. Mr. Lubelsky (that's my friend's name) schooled me on that term. He pointed out that "food sovereignty" is what we're working toward. He is so right.
You know that feeling you get when you walk into a food shop and have so many wonderful choices? I know that feeling. I've been blessed with resources at most times of my adult life to be able to make a choice about which foods I bring home and put into my body. What an amazing thing that is. So, yeah - not just food SECURITY, we want food SOVEREIGNTY for all!
I came across one way that we can help folks have a little more choice in their lives when they are on SNAP (food stamps) in the States. According to Green for All (another kick-ass organization), here's the problem:
Many of the nearly 45 million Americans participating in the SNAP program are unable to use their benefits at many healthy fresh retailers such as farmers markets, farmstands, and roadside stands.
And the solution
Similar to a credit or debit card, SNAP benefits are processed electronically, using an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) machine. The USDA currently offers free EBT machines to all retailers certified to accept SNAP benefits - but only those that have a telephone or electronic lines. Farmers markets, farmstands, or other healthy food retailers without telephone and electricity are required to purchase or rent their own equipment. Some states have raised funds to provide EBT machines to their farmers markets, and the USDA's Farmers Market Promotion Program provides grants to individual markets to get them; however, funds do not nearly come close to the demand.Let's change that. The USDA can make a common sense, low-cost administrative change that would provide EBT machines free of charge to healthy fresh food retailers. This change would benefit farmers that are losing out on important sales and allow low-income customers to have access to healthier, more nutritious food options.No one should be forced to buy unhealthy food for their family because the government makes it impossible to buy anything better.
Want to take action on this important issue? Contact U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and ask him to provide wireless electronic benefit transfer (EBT) machines free of charge to healthy fresh food retailers that do not have electricity or telephone lines.
