Bringing fresh produce to South LA

Pompea Smith of Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles (SEE-LA) writes in today’s LA Times about the need for fresher, healthier food in wide swaths of Los Angeles:

Supermarkets are one of the few reliable providers of fresh fruits and vegetables, which are crucial to a healthy life. Yet South Los Angeles has one supermarket for every 28,000 residents. By comparison, Los Angeles County as a whole has a supermarket for every 18,000 residents.

So where are people getting their food? In the vast stretch between the 10 and 105 freeways, the majority of food outlets are liquor shops, convenience stores or fast-food chains. Another assessment of food availability, this one in 2004 by the nonprofit Community Services Unlimited, captured a grim snapshot: In a 1.5-square-mile segment of South Los Angeles, there were eight restaurants, 50 fast-food outlets and 39 liquor stores. The four grocery stores were clumped together, beyond walking distance of much of the survey area.

Of course, the available choices are processed foods (full of subsidized corn products) and other unhealthful alternatives. And the consequences are severe:

South L.A.’s food environment abets [heart disease and diabetes] the same way chemical-laced dumps spawn cancer and smog-choked cities aggravate asthma.

SEE-LA is continuing its work to make produce more accessible to the less-wealthy areas of Los Angeles by opening farmers markets like its newest in Watts, and pushing to have more farmers markets accept food stamps. SEE-LA is also partnering with FTLA in planning for our upcoming Just Lives Festival - at the Hollywood Farmers Market on Sunday, September 30.

A new Fair Trade Town

Brattleboro, VT Declared the 2nd Fair Trade Town in the U.S.

The Fair Trade Brattleboro Resolution was approved at the Selectboard
Meeting this evening, making Brattleboro, Vermont the First Fair Trade
Town in New England & the second in the nation!

We are thrilled to announce that the majority of the Brattleboro
Selectboard voted to support the Resolution, a proclamation developed
by the Brattleboro Fair Trade Steering Committee. This fulfills the
final criteria for officially becoming a Fair Trade Town, set forth by
the UK Fairtrade Federation.

Follow the link for more information. Congratulation, Brattleboro!

Ideas for Effecting Public Policy

Public Policy Notes from March 5th FT Brainstorming Session

1 Work on resolution/ordnance that requires City/County to buy FT products where available for their own internal consumption and use.
2 Work with local coalitions/Chambers of Commerce/Neighborhood Councils/other organizations to pass internal resolutions which we can present to the City/County.
3 City of Lynwood wants to open a FT shop. Start with small cities and move to LA.
4 Jose Huizar is from Zacatecas and Zacatecans in LA are very interested in FT.
5 State Senator from Beverly Hills is positive about FT chocolate
6 Target big businesses/stores/other local businesses to adopt FT products and then approach City/County elected officials.
7 Network with USC/UCLA FT movements.
8 Ballot initiative might be an approach because it will allow us to educate the voters.
9 Beware of sounding TOP DOWN!!! Initiatives should not tell consumers what they have to buy. Case study - Berkely
10 Work with professional organizations and associations , e.g. accountants, lawyers, etc., and engage their support.
11 Need a multi-lingual marketing approach.
12 Work with ethnic/cultural/civic organizations.
13 Think about passing FT resolutions through community colleges.
14 Get union support for FT.
15 Start with smaller cities, like Lynwood (which has already expressed an interst in an FT store) and Santa Monica, and replicate from a successful model.
16 Educate people about trade subsidies—do we want to focus on Farm Bill in 2007?
17 Work with small independent farm organizations in a reciprocal arrangement.
18 Get unity and support from farmer’s markets.
19 Get publicity.
20 Get a celebrity to support us.