 |
| People's Food Co-op in Ann Arbor, MI |
1. What are the goals and objectives of The Mustard Seed project and what is the nature of what you do?
Our goal is to open a community-owned grocery store. We know many people want to eat local, wholesome food but don't always know where to find it. This is an opportunity for us to learn together about where our food comes from, and to nurture the connections with the people who produce our food.
2 As the city contemplates a food strategy, is there a fit for efforts such as the one you are leading? If so, what might that fit be and what is needed to take it to the next level.
Absolutely. The Mustard Seed is committed to making sure everyone in our community has access to wholesome food. We are still in development, so now is a great time to be part of the conversation with our civic leaders.
A primary principle of co-ops is concern for community, so we see The Mustard Seed as contributing to a local food strategy. We are committed to just interactions between the various stakeholders in our local food web - producers, workers, & consumers. We've seen how 30 other food co-ops respond to these needs in their communities, and Hamilton can learn a lot from the success of others.
There are efforts already underway to address food issues in our city, one being the Hamilton Food Charter, which I would recommend everyone learn about and sign up for. Their goal is to create a healthy, sustainable and just food system in Hamilton. There are many people in this city who are passionate about access to good food. Hamilton has more community gardens than ever before and collective kitchens happen all across the city.We can also look to other communities to try to bring new initiatives in that really work, such as The Stop community food centre. Collaboration on all these initiatives will be key, and having one web presence that brings all this together is something that has been on the Community Food Security Stakeholders Committee wish list for a long time.
3 What challenges have you encountered and how did you overcome them?
Hamiltonians are generally unaware of food co-ops, so education has been really important. Once people understand how democratic ownership and economic vitality in our agricultural sector can come together to promote access to local food they get really excited. A lot of people feel uncomfortable with the grocery industry status quo, but don't realize they can change things.
Our goal is to open a community-owned grocery store. We know many people want to eat local, wholesome food but don't always know where to find it. This is an opportunity for us to learn together about where our food comes from, and to nurture the connections with the people who produce our food.
2 As the city contemplates a food strategy, is there a fit for efforts such as the one you are leading? If so, what might that fit be and what is needed to take it to the next level.
Absolutely. The Mustard Seed is committed to making sure everyone in our community has access to wholesome food. We are still in development, so now is a great time to be part of the conversation with our civic leaders.
A primary principle of co-ops is concern for community, so we see The Mustard Seed as contributing to a local food strategy. We are committed to just interactions between the various stakeholders in our local food web - producers, workers, & consumers. We've seen how 30 other food co-ops respond to these needs in their communities, and Hamilton can learn a lot from the success of others.
There are efforts already underway to address food issues in our city, one being the Hamilton Food Charter, which I would recommend everyone learn about and sign up for. Their goal is to create a healthy, sustainable and just food system in Hamilton. There are many people in this city who are passionate about access to good food. Hamilton has more community gardens than ever before and collective kitchens happen all across the city.We can also look to other communities to try to bring new initiatives in that really work, such as The Stop community food centre. Collaboration on all these initiatives will be key, and having one web presence that brings all this together is something that has been on the Community Food Security Stakeholders Committee wish list for a long time.
3 What challenges have you encountered and how did you overcome them?
Hamiltonians are generally unaware of food co-ops, so education has been really important. Once people understand how democratic ownership and economic vitality in our agricultural sector can come together to promote access to local food they get really excited. A lot of people feel uncomfortable with the grocery industry status quo, but don't realize they can change things.
4 What successes have you achieved and what difference are they making?
Over 1,000 people gave their input in our market research survey on what they would like to see The Mustard Seed become. Now a team of people is working through those ideas with the goal of opening the store in the next 6-12 months.
5. What is your reaction to the announcement that a full scale grocery store will be opening in Jackson Square. Is that a good thing, in your view?
It's great for Jackson Square and downtown residents. It promises the spectrum of international foods, which many people will appreciate. Our focus is on how our local economy can be strengthened by the food choices consumers make while reducing the environmental impact of our globalized food system.
6. Is there anything else you would like Hamiltonians to know about the Mustard Seed coop?
The Mustard Seed will offer Hamiltonians the chance to take ownership of their grocery buying decisions while exercising an important role in shaping the economic and social vitality of our community. If you are interested in joining this journey, please take a look at our website for info on ways to get involved. The more help we have during the development stage, the sooner the store will be able to open. It is awesome to see our community work together!
Hamilton needs jobs, as many as possible. We have all the food anyone could need, our problem is affordability, we have 30,000 people collecting Ontario Works benefits, their grocery store is the nearest food-bank. We have to break the cycle of poverty, only a full-time paying job will do that.
ReplyDeleteYes, we need jobs, however, another important issue is the fact that many do not keep their jobs because of violations to our labour laws, which are not enforced. Steel City Solidarity has helped workers get their stolen wages, which is rampant out there as well. Given these stats, between the years 2001 and 2006 over 150 million dollars in stolen wages were reported, in the same time period, just over 100 million dollars were deemed uncollectable. Thru direct action we have helped workers win stolen wages. Too many in our cmmunity are food insecure and foodbanks are not the answer. Wait til Harper gets thru revamping EI, more hunger and despair is looming.
ReplyDeleteA food charter is empty words on paper, just like the so called Ontario Works Charter of Rights. I wonder when Ontario works is going to start to get rid of the rotten workers who like to chase people out into the streets, screaming and threatening people who are already upset and stressed out. Having only one low income of the Food Stakeholder Committee was a mistake, when the many only throw crumbs at those who are hungry
ReplyDelete