(In the interest of blogger etiquette, you'll have to click through the links below to see the charts since I didn't create them myself. But keep reading for even more fuel for the why we need to change our food system argument and how a co-op can do its small part.) I've been meaning to share this post from Grist's food section for a long time. You can see the date, I've had it sitting in my queue since April. Better late than never! The main point is that from 1970 to 2008 the American food system has gone from producing 2,168 calories per day per person to 2,673 calories per day per person. As if consuming about 500 more calories per day weren't bad enough (not to mention the toll that producing 500 extra calories per day per person for about 105 million more persons takes on the environment), the portion of those calories that come from added sugar and added fat (the sugar and fat not naturally found in whole foods but added to food during its processing) has gone from 37 percent to 41 percent. Basically, on average, we're producing/consuming 300 more calories from added sugar and added fat per day than the average bell-bottom wearing, Grand Funk Railroad listening 1970 American. So if you click through to the Grist post it will take you to another post that has a fun (wait, I mean horrifying) chart that shows the change in the make-up of the American diet between 1970 and 2008. 2008 is the last year of available data. I have a feeling it hasn't gotten better since then. Silly Grist even suggests that if the food processing industry simply cut the number of calories per person per day that it produces down from 1100 to 550, our total caloric intake would be back around where it was in 1970. You know... when everyone was skinny (though, in fairness, a lot of the skinniness was achieved by smoking). As if those numbers and charts weren't enough to send you into a rage for change, Vegansaurus rages on about another pretty well known inequity in our food system: the percentage of agricultural subsidies that go towards meat and dairy (that would be 63) vs the percentage that goes towards fruits and vegetables (that would be 1). Grains, sugar, starch, oil and alcohol combine for 35 percent. I highly recommend that you click through to read what she has to say if you're looking for some colorful language to take with you to your next cocktail party when you can preach to your friends about these issues (which probably explains why I don't get invited to as many cocktail parties as I used to). She says something about a breast pump and social change that you won't want to miss. So, loyal readers, any idea what we can do about this situation? Even more importantly, how can a co-op become an agent of this change? This isn't a quiz so there are no wrong answers. Fire away in the comments. (Oh yeah... and if you haven't done so already "Like" us on Facebook and vote for us in this great contest sponsored by Intuit. We could part of $50,000 in grants toward start-up costs!)

It is difficult to fathom that in a country as wealthy and industrialized as the United States, over 17 million households are without proper access to fresh, healthy food. Many US cities with a large impoverished population, with little access to food, rely on a strong network of nonprofit organizations to help increase food security. While these nonprofit efforts are admirable, the best way to bring the community together to increase food access for all citizens, is the implementation of a Food Policy Council (FPC). The advent of food policy councils began in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1977, when Bob Wilson, a professor at the University of Tennessee challenged his landscape architecture class to examine planning issues related to food availability within their city. This assignment spurred a resolution to be passed within Knoxville’s local government in October of 1981 to form a food policy council. The resolution declared that food policy and issues were a governmental responsibility and concern, and that Knoxville’s food system was to be monitored and acted upon as needed. The initiation of Knoxville’s food policy council inspired the implementation of at least five other food policy councils over the past twenty years within the US. As food policy councils became more prevalent in the United States, their function became clearer. A council’s mission is to strengthen the economic vitality of the local food industry, ensure that an adequate and nutritious food supply is available to all citizens, increase local food production, and minimize food-related activities that degrade the natural environment. A council’s members consist of government officials, local restaurateurs, members of local businesses, farms, and food distributors, as well as volunteers from a diverse set of policy development and community bodies. A number of policies must to be enacted in order for an FPC to accomplish these goals. The specific state and local policies that affect the survivability of a local food system address transportation issues that hinder food access and farm viability, nutritional programs available to citizens, institutional and nonprofit involvement, and sound economic strategies that promote a sustainable local economy. The organization of urban farming programs by a city’s food policy council not only improves access to food for impoverished residents, but also improves the environment with the creation of green space, as well as provides a source of income for local citizens. One area where this is being done is Boston, Massachusetts. There, the statewide food policy alliance is supporting an extensive campaign encouraging citizens and institutions to buy and eat local produce. The promotion of urban and backyard gardens in Boston have improved the area’s land and soil quality, boosted the local economy, and provided impoverished citizens with greater access to fresh, healthy food. Meanwhile, back in Knoxville, TN, home of the first ever food policy council, members of local government collaborated with policy developers from the department of transportation, re-routing bus routes, in order to provide impoverished citizens with greater access to supermarkets. In addition to altering mass-transit routes, the Knoxville food policy council also pushed to install bicycle racks on the front of buses so that citizens without cars could access food a little easier. Without governmental sanction and strong ties to the local nonprofit network, many Knoxville residents would still be without sufficient food access, today. Bringing together specialists and key players within a food system helps to improve the system as a whole from the beginning of growth and manufacturing, to distribution, to consumption and ending with waste management. The implementation of Food Policy Councils offers the best opportunity for any urban area to accomplish the goals of strengthening the local food network, aiding in increased food and nutrition policy effectiveness, and also in creating an overall balanced food system for producers, consumers, and the environment. In addition, councils strengthen food security for the residents of an urban area. The implementation of a food policy council is the best way for a city to improve its local food system and move toward the ultimate goal of sustainability. Please welcome Haley VanderMeer who is a new addition to our team of South Philly Food Co-op volunteer bloggers. Haley first published this article at GreenAnswers.com on March 28, 2011. Haley has done work promoting various local food events including photographing food at farmers' markets for social media promotion for the Jefferson Farmers' Market and has written and distributed recipes at its educational booth.

It is difficult to fathom that in a country as wealthy and industrialized as the United States, over 17 million households are without proper access to fresh, healthy food. Many US cities with a large impoverished population, with little access to food, rely on a strong network of nonprofit organizations to help increase food security. While these nonprofit efforts are admirable, the best way to bring the community together to increase food access for all citizens, is the implementation of a Food Policy Council (FPC). The advent of food policy councils began in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1977, when Bob Wilson, a professor at the University of Tennessee challenged his landscape architecture class to examine planning issues related to food availability within their city. This assignment spurred a resolution to be passed within Knoxville’s local government in October of 1981 to form a food policy council. The resolution declared that food policy and issues were a governmental responsibility and concern, and that Knoxville’s food system was to be monitored and acted upon as needed. The initiation of Knoxville’s food policy council inspired the implementation of at least five other food policy councils over the past twenty years within the US. As food policy councils became more prevalent in the United States, their function became clearer. A council’s mission is to strengthen the economic vitality of the local food industry, ensure that an adequate and nutritious food supply is available to all citizens, increase local food production, and minimize food-related activities that degrade the natural environment. A council’s members consist of government officials, local restaurateurs, members of local businesses, farms, and food distributors, as well as volunteers from a diverse set of policy development and community bodies. A number of policies must to be enacted in order for an FPC to accomplish these goals. The specific state and local policies that affect the survivability of a local food system address transportation issues that hinder food access and farm viability, nutritional programs available to citizens, institutional and nonprofit involvement, and sound economic strategies that promote a sustainable local economy. The organization of urban farming programs by a city’s food policy council not only improves access to food for impoverished residents, but also improves the environment with the creation of green space, as well as provides a source of income for local citizens. One area where this is being done is Boston, Massachusetts. There, the statewide food policy alliance is supporting an extensive campaign encouraging citizens and institutions to buy and eat local produce. The promotion of urban and backyard gardens in Boston have improved the area’s land and soil quality, boosted the local economy, and provided impoverished citizens with greater access to fresh, healthy food. Meanwhile, back in Knoxville, TN, home of the first ever food policy council, members of local government collaborated with policy developers from the department of transportation, re-routing bus routes, in order to provide impoverished citizens with greater access to supermarkets. In addition to altering mass-transit routes, the Knoxville food policy council also pushed to install bicycle racks on the front of buses so that citizens without cars could access food a little easier. Without governmental sanction and strong ties to the local nonprofit network, many Knoxville residents would still be without sufficient food access, today. Bringing together specialists and key players within a food system helps to improve the system as a whole from the beginning of growth and manufacturing, to distribution, to consumption and ending with waste management. The implementation of Food Policy Councils offers the best opportunity for any urban area to accomplish the goals of strengthening the local food network, aiding in increased food and nutrition policy effectiveness, and also in creating an overall balanced food system for producers, consumers, and the environment. In addition, councils strengthen food security for the residents of an urban area. The implementation of a food policy council is the best way for a city to improve its local food system and move toward the ultimate goal of sustainability. Please welcome Haley VanderMeer who is a new addition to our team of South Philly Food Co-op volunteer bloggers. Haley first published this article at GreenAnswers.com on March 28, 2011. Haley has done work promoting various local food events including photographing food at farmers' markets for social media promotion for the Jefferson Farmers' Market and has written and distributed recipes at its educational booth.

I was informed shortly after posting the announcement about the 1st City Council District candidates forum at Neumann-Goretti this coming Thursday evening that there is also a forum for all of the 2nd District candidates that night as well. Our friends at the Newbold Neighbors Association are sponsoring the forum along with the South Broad Street Neighbors Association. Details: Date: Thursday, April 14, 2011 Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM Location: St. Agnes Medical Center Auditorium, 1900 S. Broad St. All residents are invited to come and learn about the candidates for City Council in the 2nd district. Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions, register to vote (remember, deadline is April 18), and meet your neighbors! Like I said before, I had a chance to see most of the 2nd District candidates at the Urban Sustainability Forum's candidate night last week. To put it mildly, they could stand to be questioned a bit more on sustainability and food access issues. We strongly encourage co-op members who live west of Broad Street to attend and, if possible, report back to us on what you hear.

I was informed shortly after posting the announcement about the 1st City Council District candidates forum at Neumann-Goretti this coming Thursday evening that there is also a forum for all of the 2nd District candidates that night as well. Our friends at the Newbold Neighbors Association are sponsoring the forum along with the South Broad Street Neighbors Association. Details: Date: Thursday, April 14, 2011 Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM Location: St. Agnes Medical Center Auditorium, 1900 S. Broad St. All residents are invited to come and learn about the candidates for City Council in the 2nd district. Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions, register to vote (remember, deadline is April 18), and meet your neighbors! Like I said before, I had a chance to see most of the 2nd District candidates at the Urban Sustainability Forum's candidate night last week. To put it mildly, they could stand to be questioned a bit more on sustainability and food access issues. We strongly encourage co-op members who live west of Broad Street to attend and, if possible, report back to us on what you hear.

I apologize for interrupting the flow of great recipes and praise from food writing superstars to bring a little dose of civic engagement to the blog. Since we are as much about community as we are about food, we want to make everyone aware of an upcoming event that will have huge ramifications for this area for at least the next four years. That's right. It's election time. But wait, you might ask, I thought elections in November and in years when we get to see our formerly dominant U.S. 4x100 relay team get schooled by the Jamaicans? That's not this year, is it? While we wait for 2012 and the grand national Bobby Flay-style Throw Down between Barack Obama's grilled endive and roasted pepper with a side of arugula and fava bean crustini and Sarah Palin's grizzly bear pot roast wrapped in wild boar bacon, we have our local, municipal elections for mayor, city council, sheriff, commissioner, and register of wills. Since the mayor's race has effectively been canceled this year by the lack of serious opposition, South Philadelphia is left with the important task of choosing new city council representatives for the 1st (east of Broad) and 2nd (west of Broad) Districts. Longtime incumbents Frank DiCicco and Anna Verna are retiring after a combined 328 years in public office leaving us with a situation that occurs about as often as you can find a vegan cheesesteak at Pat's or Geno's - two open seats. And if you're waiting to see extensive news coverage of these races on television or hear it on the radio or read in the newspaper, you may be waiting until Charlie Sheen decides to enter the race and his opponent is a structurally deficient Southwest Airlines 737. It's going to be up to you (a) to figure out which candidate to vote for and (b) show up at the polls on May 17th for the Democratic primary (oh yeah, all the declared candidates are Dems so if you want a say, better get that voter registration in order... deadline for that is April 18). I'd be more than happy to help with (b). Let me know and I'll knock on your door to remind you when the polls open at 7am (you'll want to beat the lines). As for (a), the civic associations in the area - Passyunk Square Civic Association, Lower Moyamensing Civic Association, East Passyunk Crossing Civic Association, the South Broad Street Neighborhood Association and Columbus Square Advisory Council - are sponsoring a candidate forum for the four guys who are running in the 1st District. They are Vern Anastasio, Joe Grace, Jeff Hornstein, and Mark Squilla. Those of you who attended our Spring Community Forum should be familiar with the location: What: District 1 City Council Candidates Night Date and Time: Thursday, April 14, at 7 pm Location: Neumann-Goretti High School (11th & Moore) Attendees will be able to submit questions for the candidates in writing on the night of the meeting. We hope at least a few of those questions will be about supporting a food co-op. Thanks to the folks at LoMo civic for asking us to post about this! Here's an extra link to their post about the event. As an aside, I had a chance to attend the Urban Sustainability Forum candidates night for districts 1-5 at the Academy of Natural Sciences, which basically turned into a forum for the 2nd Council District since that was the only race in which all the candidates showed up. Each of the candidates seems earnest though it's evident, judging from the way they talked about these issues, that none of them necessarily has sustainability as their top priority. Sustainability, access to fresh and local foods, food co-ops... these are issues that most candidates are only going to pay attention to if they keep getting questions about them from potential voters. Though it applies to everything contributors to this blog write, it should be expressly stated that any opinions above are solely those of the author and DO NOT reflect any policies, rules, or decisions made the South Philly Food Co-op’s steering, legal/finance, or outreach committees.

I apologize for interrupting the flow of great recipes and praise from food writing superstars to bring a little dose of civic engagement to the blog. Since we are as much about community as we are about food, we want to make everyone aware of an upcoming event that will have huge ramifications for this area for at least the next four years. That's right. It's election time. But wait, you might ask, I thought elections in November and in years when we get to see our formerly dominant U.S. 4x100 relay team get schooled by the Jamaicans? That's not this year, is it? While we wait for 2012 and the grand national Bobby Flay-style Throw Down between Barack Obama's grilled endive and roasted pepper with a side of arugula and fava bean crustini and Sarah Palin's grizzly bear pot roast wrapped in wild boar bacon, we have our local, municipal elections for mayor, city council, sheriff, commissioner, and register of wills. Since the mayor's race has effectively been canceled this year by the lack of serious opposition, South Philadelphia is left with the important task of choosing new city council representatives for the 1st (east of Broad) and 2nd (west of Broad) Districts. Longtime incumbents Frank DiCicco and Anna Verna are retiring after a combined 328 years in public office leaving us with a situation that occurs about as often as you can find a vegan cheesesteak at Pat's or Geno's - two open seats. And if you're waiting to see extensive news coverage of these races on television or hear it on the radio or read in the newspaper, you may be waiting until Charlie Sheen decides to enter the race and his opponent is a structurally deficient Southwest Airlines 737. It's going to be up to you (a) to figure out which candidate to vote for and (b) show up at the polls on May 17th for the Democratic primary (oh yeah, all the declared candidates are Dems so if you want a say, better get that voter registration in order... deadline for that is April 18). I'd be more than happy to help with (b). Let me know and I'll knock on your door to remind you when the polls open at 7am (you'll want to beat the lines). As for (a), the civic associations in the area - Passyunk Square Civic Association, Lower Moyamensing Civic Association, East Passyunk Crossing Civic Association, the South Broad Street Neighborhood Association and Columbus Square Advisory Council - are sponsoring a candidate forum for the four guys who are running in the 1st District. They are Vern Anastasio, Joe Grace, Jeff Hornstein, and Mark Squilla. Those of you who attended our Spring Community Forum should be familiar with the location: What: District 1 City Council Candidates Night Date and Time: Thursday, April 14, at 7 pm Location: Neumann-Goretti High School (11th & Moore) Attendees will be able to submit questions for the candidates in writing on the night of the meeting. We hope at least a few of those questions will be about supporting a food co-op. Thanks to the folks at LoMo civic for asking us to post about this! Here's an extra link to their post about the event. As an aside, I had a chance to attend the Urban Sustainability Forum candidates night for districts 1-5 at the Academy of Natural Sciences, which basically turned into a forum for the 2nd Council District since that was the only race in which all the candidates showed up. Each of the candidates seems earnest though it's evident, judging from the way they talked about these issues, that none of them necessarily has sustainability as their top priority. Sustainability, access to fresh and local foods, food co-ops... these are issues that most candidates are only going to pay attention to if they keep getting questions about them from potential voters. Though it applies to everything contributors to this blog write, it should be expressly stated that any opinions above are solely those of the author and DO NOT reflect any policies, rules, or decisions made the South Philly Food Co-op’s steering, legal/finance, or outreach committees.

Mark Bittman, once more hitting on all cylinders, and today praising our fair city, Mayor Nutter, and the fine work of the Food Trust.

Foodwise, among the most progressive cities in the country right now is Philadelphia, where the alliance of a forward-thinking mayor and a 19-year-old non-profit is moving things forward. Within a year or two, Philly might be funding better access to real food for its poorest citizens by taxing soda. And if you accept the notion that childhood obesity and the accompanying Type 2 diabetes are big problems, and you’re aware that soda is a major cause, you’ll agree that’s a huge step in the right direction.

Even the present is encouraging, because Philadelphia is figuring out its residents’ food needs and demonstrating that government and non-profits can lead the fight against diet-related diseases by putting real food into the hands of people — especially children — who have trouble finding and affording it.

Meanwhile, the Food Trust is also gearing up for the 15th annual Stroehmann Bakeries Walk Run Against Hunger. The Food Trust will receive 80 percent of funds donated through supporters, and the rest goes to more than 100 food pantries, soup kitchens and hunger-relief agencies in Philadelphia area. Please help them reach their fundraising goal! Mayor Nutter would want you to:

Mark Bittman, once more hitting on all cylinders, and today praising our fair city, Mayor Nutter, and the fine work of the Food Trust.

Foodwise, among the most progressive cities in the country right now is Philadelphia, where the alliance of a forward-thinking mayor and a 19-year-old non-profit is moving things forward. Within a year or two, Philly might be funding better access to real food for its poorest citizens by taxing soda. And if you accept the notion that childhood obesity and the accompanying Type 2 diabetes are big problems, and you’re aware that soda is a major cause, you’ll agree that’s a huge step in the right direction. Even the present is encouraging, because Philadelphia is figuring out its residents’ food needs and demonstrating that government and non-profits can lead the fight against diet-related diseases by putting real food into the hands of people — especially children — who have trouble finding and affording it.

Meanwhile, the Food Trust is also gearing up for the 15th annual Stroehmann Bakeries Walk Run Against Hunger. The Food Trust will receive 80 percent of funds donated through supporters, and the rest goes to more than 100 food pantries, soup kitchens and hunger-relief agencies in Philadelphia area. Please help them reach their fundraising goal! Mayor Nutter would want you to:

Mark Bittman, the New York Times columnist and author of the seemingly ubiquitous, How To Cook Everything, is spending the week fasting to call attention to the cuts to food assistance programs currently churning through the House. In the name of measly deficit reduction the bills in front of Congress would make deep cuts to numerous programs that feed the hungriest amongst us.

I stopped eating on Monday and joined around 4,000 other people in a fast to call attention to Congressional budget proposals that would make huge cuts in programs for the poor and hungry. By doing so, I surprised myself; after all, I eat for a living. But the decision was easy after I spoke last week with David Beckmann, a reverend who is this year’s World Food Prize laureate. Our conversation turned, as so many about food do these days, to the poor. Who are — once again — under attack, this time in the House budget bill, H.R. 1. The budget proposes cuts in the WIC program (which supports women, infants and children), in international food and health aid (18 million people would be immediately cut off from a much-needed food stream, and 4 million would lose access to malaria medicine) and in programs that aid farmers in underdeveloped countries. Food stamps are also being attacked, in the twisted “Welfare Reform 2011” bill. (There are other egregious maneuvers in H.R. 1, but I’m sticking to those related to food.)

While I applaud Mark's goals and use of his national platform to call attention to food security and availability issues, there are also more concrete things we can do in the short term to help. If you want to do something more, make a donation to one of Philadelphia's food banks, such as Philabundance, and help immediately feed people who are hungry. A major focus for many of us at the Co-op is improving access to high quality food in our area. Rest assured, we will be accepting food stamps and WIC at our eventual store. Though it applies to everything contributors to this blog write, it should be expressly stated that any opinions below are solely those of the author and DO NOT reflect any policies, rules, or decisions made the South Philly Food Co-op’s steering, legal/finance, or outreach committees.