Real Food Midwest

Calling all artists!

Ashley Swank — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:49:53 +0000

Calling all creative writers and artists!
The Midwest Blog is starting something completely new! Starting in May, we’ll be starting weekly blog updates focusing on issues most important to the food movement. In addition, we’ll be keeping tabs on all things Midwest and updating y’all what all you fabulous activists are doing in your communities. To do this, we need your help!

Each week, we’ll address a different issue and investigate it from at least two perspectives. The inclusion of multiple perspectives is an integral aspect to understanding the issues facing our food system and we hope you’ll help us by commenting on this entry with ideas for issues and topics to address, in addition to the contact information for people you think would be good collaborators for this weekly project.

In addition to these weekly blog posts, we’d like to put a spotlight on the art of the youth that’s really making an impact on the success of the movement. Email your poems, stories, editorials, drawings, paintings or anything else to Midwest@realfoodchallenge.org and we’ll post it on our brand new Art page, in addition to featuring you on the blog’s main page with a brief bio of you and what you’re doing on campus.

Other ideas for the website? Leave them in the comments! We’re looking forward to utilizing our blog to its fullest potential and continue interacting and working with the youth activists of the Midwest.

Peace,
Ashley

Get involved with the movement, post-summit!

Ashley Swank — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:49:11 +0000

After an amazing year with the Real Food Challenge and some fabulous summits across the US, it’s time to gear up and get out there! We’d first like to take a moment to thank everyone for making February’s summit in Evanston such a huge success! Without the students, staff and incredibly supportive community members, we couldn’t bring these opportunities to you guys!

Each summit leaves us with such a great feeling of community and solidarity, energizing all those involved and that air of excitement doesn’t have to stop once the summit is over. From summer leadership training to calculator pilots, there’s lots of ways to keep up the momentum! Stay involved with the RFC and the real food movement by:

Starting a Calculator Pilot on Your Campus!
Email Midwest@realfoodchallenge.org and let us know you’re ready to engage with your campus dining services and get more local food in your dining halls. To get started, fill out our new, online, Baseline Assessment to get all the basic information on your school that you’ll need to get started on the calculator. Check it out here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dFNfcWcwaFZVVDdNc2tTRzUyc2loRGc6MQ&ndplr=1#gid=0

Become the NEW Midwest Regional Field Organizer!
Liked this year’s summit, but came away with a ton of ideas about how it could be better? Want to stay connected with hundreds of students across the Midwest? Does the idea of becoming a leader in the real food movement sound like a great idea? How about the opportunity to attend national conferences on food justice? If any of these sound as cool to you as they do to me, then you should apply to be next year’s RFO! Email Midwest@realfoodchallenge.org if you have questions about what an RFO does, then fill out the application at http://realfoodchallenge.org/RFO and email katie.blanchard@gmail.com

Represent Your Local Community as a Grassroots Leader!
Serious about making real change on your campus? Apply to be a Grassroots leader and receive recognition in local and national media! Receive support to lead an ambitious campaign on your campus and collaborate with student leaders across the company on ideas and events around the US. Check it out here: http://realfoodchallenge.org/GLP

Join the Real Food Challenge Alumni Network!
If you’re graduating this year, but still want to be part of the Real Food Challenge, stay active in the movement at both the regional and national levels and be a part of a powerful and exciting network of professionals, then joining the alumni network is for you! Learn more by emailing Katie at Katie.blanchard@gmail.com

Look forward to talking with you all soon!

Ashley

Make your voice heard!

Ashley Swank — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:08:26 +0000

Have an idea for a workshop or a field trip and want to host it yourself? Let us know at midwest@realfoodchallenge.org!

Vote here to let us know what you’d like to see:

Registration is up!

Ashley Swank — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:44:34 +0000

Check it out: http://realfoodchallenge.org/mwsummit2011

Midwest Real Food Summit 2011 Chicago, Feb. 18 – 20.

Ashley Swank — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 04:01:33 +0000

Food is culture, food is community. It is what unites us, sharing a meal together. However, the system that produces and distributes and controls food in this country is flawed. The Midwest is the epicenter of our commodity food system and as students learning in midwest institutions we have the responsibility and the power to educate ourselves and those around us about the issues in the modern U.S. food system. That’s where this summit comes in!

What to expect
This year we’re trying something new. Instead of gathering students and putting them in classrooms to learn about the issues facing us today, we’re going out on the town and learning about the issues first hand. We are seeking to find out what a modern, urban, and sustainable food system can look like in the third largest city in the U.S. – Chicago.

Hands-on Learning
To get the whole story, we will observe, participate, and engage with specific aspects of the system that are working to make a change. Here are some example focus areas:

Food Service Meet with food service employees and see how food gets onto students’ plates. Hear their stories and learn how you can help them create a better environment in institutional food service operations.

Nutrition Can we feed the world and what can we feed them? We hope to further the discussion on the health impacts of GMOs and on helping developing nations create their own just and sustainable food systems.

Urban Farming Our cities are only going to get bigger. How can we bring fresh, healthy, and local food to people who are miles away from the nearest farm? Bring the farm to the people. Learn how Chicago is becoming one of the biggest urban farm centers in the U.S. and see the difference urban farming makes in the lives of city-dwellers.

Community
The only way we can learn from each other is to share our experiences. Throughout the summit we will facilitate storytelling as a way to share ideas. As we learn in small groups, we will share with the large group in an attempt to create a Master Midwest Story. In addition, we’re working to bring in professionals, already involved in the food movement, to add to the story and to share experiences they have with working in the food system.

Activism & Education
After the summit, we want you to head back to your campuses and apply what you learn at the summit in order to create a better food system in your community.

Nuts & Bolts
Where: Chicago
When: February 18, 19, & 20, 2011 (Times to be announced)
More information on logistics coming SOON!

Registration and Payment Info
Coming SOON!

FOR MORE INFORMATION
VISIT http://midwestrfc.boardforum.ca/
EMAIL Ashley – abswank@iastate.edu

October Updates!

Ashley Swank — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:37:08 +0000

^{Hey fellow Midwest foodies!}

^{As everyone has started to get in to the swing of a new school year and new classes, I hope you’re also ready for some new Real Food Adventures! This year is going to be even better than before and we’ve got lots of great news to share with y’all!}

^{What’s new with the RFC?}

^{The Midwest has gotten a little savvier and we’re proud to introduce The Midwest Real Food Forums}

^{Now you can:}

^·^{Interact with other students from the Midwest (and even across the country!)}

^·^{post your own ideas}

^·^{share your stories}

^·^{ask questions}

^·^{keep up to date on the latest Midwest happenings}

^·^{Start your own blog}

^·^Network

^·^{Make great new friends}

^·^{Post events}

^·^{All while expanding and strengthen the food movement!}

^{Check it out today! http://midwestrfc.boardforum.ca/ It’s still a baby and we need you to help it grow, so sign up and start making it the pulse of the Midwest Real Food Movement!}

^{We’re making tons of progress on local campuses! Check it out!}

^·^{Our friends over in Utah have started a new no carbon footprint goal! Check it out here: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50293228-76/university-climate-campus-carbon.html.csp?page=1.}

^{Want to get something like this started on your campus, but can’t figure out how? Start with food of course! Email us or check out the forums for ideas on how to start projects.}

^·^{Pressure from students at Truman State has caused Sodexo to go local! Check it out here: http://blogs.truman.edu/agriculture/2010/09/13/sodexo-goes-local/}

^{If our friends at TS can do it, so can you! Let’s work together to pressure all the Food Service Groups to go local!}

^·^{A third shout-out to our friends at KSU for getting the administration to fight the ‘freshman 15’ and put a focus on healthier foods! Check it out here:http://www.ajc.com/lifestyle/ksu-dining-goes-back-599222.html}

^{Excited about a farm to campus idea and wanting to get it started on your campus? We’re here to help!}

^{We’re breaking out with a new e-zine for the Midwest called the Midwest Minuteand we want students like you to help us out! Each month we’ll have updates about:}

^·^{New calculator pilots}

^·^{New policy wins}

^·^{Midwest school of the month (who we think is doing a great job, and you can totally nominate yourself!)}

^·^{Food news}

^·^{New real food inspired recipes}

^·^{Food joke of the month}

^·^{Important food justice issue of the month}

^{Want to get involved? Email Ashley at abswank@iastate and include “Midwest Minute” in the subject header. We’re super excited about it!}

^{We’ve got a Midwest-Wide Conference Call coming up! Want to talk with people you met at the summit and see what’s going on in the Midwest? Register at the forums by saying who you are and where you’re from under the event and we’ll be sure to expect you!}

^{Dates are:}

^{October 26th at 7pm}^and^{October 27th at 5pm}

^{Once you sign up, we’ll send an email out to everyone who’s going with the conference call number

Hope to hear you all there!}^J

^{What now?}

^{It’s been a while since the last summit, but we know you’re as excited as ever about real food justice. The big question is: what now? Where do we go from here? Great Question!}

^{Get involved on campus!}

^{Not sure how? Email Pete Peter Kerns kernsp@carleton.edu or Ashley abswank@iastate.edu and they can help you get the ball rolling?}

^{Remember the Real Food Calculator?}

^{Most of you probably remember the awesome presentation about the Real Food Calculator by Kelsey. (I know I do! It looked like such a cool idea!) If you’re still super interested but a bit confused about how to get started or ready to start, but just don’t know where to begin, reply to this email and Pete or Ashley will be sure to help you out!}

^{THANKS FOR READING AND HERE’S TO AN AWESOME YEAR FOR THE REAL FOOD MOVEMENT!}

Way to go!

Ashley Swank — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:32:12 +0000

Operators follow suits against colleges, contractors over meal plans

September 20, 2010 | By Jacqueline Kochak

Firehouse Subs franchisee Reed Compton said sales at his location next to Auburn University fell when the school required students to buy into an on-campus dining plan.

Bust up Big Ag!!!

salcake — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:56:21 +0000

Thank goodnes, somebody is finally getting around to analyzing our food system and asking: do corporations rule our food system?

Although many of us feel that we could answer this question confidently without any dog and pony show, at least the Department of Justice is attempting to listen to the farmers, producers, and consumers around the country.

Next week, the DoJ will be heading to Wisconsin to address this issue of corporate control in the dairy industry. Below is a synopsis from my friend Siena, who works for WHY Hunger in NY:

In the last few years, the price you pay for milk has stayed the same
(or even gone up)-but the price the dairy farmer gets has dropped by as
much as half! Where’s the profit going? Turns out that dairy is one of
the most concentrated industries in the country; in some regions, just
two firms bottle 90% of the milk-it’s those corporations who are making
money. For the rest of us consumers and farmers, it’s a lose-lose
situation. Only the corporations are winning.

(You can hear from some farmers affected here
.)

The federal government just has stepped in to determine if these
corporations have too much control over our food-and they need to hear
from all of us.

On June 25, Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Agriculture
Tom Vilsack will be Madison to examine the dairy industry! They need to
hear that concentration in dairy is a farmer issue AND a consumer issue
– come out and make your voice heard. Also join us for an exciting
dairy town hall forum and a picnic on June 24.

This is a critical issue, and we need a great turnout at both events!
Come out and get involved! To help organize the Town Hall, learn more
about the public comment period, publicize the events, coordinate a
group from your area to attend, or anything else, contact Siena Chrisman
at siena@whyhunger.org, or 212-629-8850 x13.

Full schedule below and more info from Family Farm Defenders
; Thank you — look
forward to seeing you in Madison!

THE WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
Thurs. 6/24

* 12-5pm, UW-Madison, Memorial Union: Community Workshops and
Strategy Sessions focusing on the dairy sector. Curious why farmers get
paid so little and consumers pay the same in the store while dairy
giants make record profits? This is your chance to find out how and why
there is NO free market in milk!

* 5:00 pm UW-Madison Library Mall: Community Potluck Picnic ($5
donation suggested) Bring a dessert or salad to share!

* 6:30-10pm UW-Madison, Memorial Union, Great Hall: Dairy Town
Hall Forum

Expert panelists with open public comment period. Hear straight from
family farmers, consumer advocates, labor leaders, and others why the
Dept. of Justice, the U.S. Congress, and the Obama Admin. needs to take
anti-trust action against the food giants NOW!

Fri. 6/25

* 9am – 6 pm UW-Madison, Memorial Union, WI Union Theater (800
Langdon St.): Anti-Trust Dairy Workshop hosted by the USDA and Dept. of
Justice. Expert panel and public comment period.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack, Sen. Russ
Feingold, Sen. Herb Kohl, Rep. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Steve Kagan, Rep. Ron
Kind, Gov. Jim Doyle, among others will be attending, and they want to
hear from YOU about why corporate control over the food system is a
problem that needs to be solved for the sake of farmers and consumers
alike.

Come one, come all! The more support we show farmers and outrage at the corporatization of our food system, the better!!!

If you’re not in the Wisconsin area, there are still a couple more hearings coming up:

August 27, 2010 — Livestock Industry: Fort Collins, CO

December 8, 2010 — Margins: Washington DC

Food Corps Opportunity

salcake — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:31:40 +0000

So in the foodie/social justice/service oriented crowds has been a buzz with news of a new AmeriCorps program called Food Corps.

Food Corps will provide an excellent opportunity for young people to bring healthier, safer, fresher food to community schools.

Planning for the first year service (shooting for Fall 2010) is still in the works and we have the chance to help mold this incredible program!

Go to the Food Corps website to sign up for a summer work group!

This is the body of the email I received yesterday:

Participation in one or more of the seven Work Groups that will inform the next phase of the FoodCorps planning process. Each group will consider a particular component of the program, such as Member Recruitment or Site Selection, and will help identify challenges, opportunities, and strategies FoodCorps will need to address in each program area. Participation in a Work Group means collaborating remotely with a diverse collection of people and members of the FoodCorps Planning Team. Over a two-month period, you will be asked to join in 4 conference calls, share insights through a group email list, and conduct a small amount of outside research. We understand that not everyone will be able to participate at the same level of commitment, but we hope you will take this opportunity to lend your valuable expertise to the area of FoodCorps that gives you the most excitement, concern, or interest. Sign-ups close June 20.

I’m planning on signing up for one of the groups (haven’t quite decided which yet) and you should too!

Local action: global impact

salcake — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:02:03 +0000

Here a few different forms of resistance I’ve come across today… they are all different approaches but all vitally important to the cause!

1. Haitian farmer’s plan to symbolically burn donated GM seeds a threat to their traditional agriculture http://www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2927

2. Students at University of Michigan-Dearborn start a student Co-op that will serve as an alternative to the dining hall meals for those committed to locally grown food and willing to cook! http://media.www.kenyoncollegian.com/media/storage/paper821/news/2010/05/06/Features/Food-CoOp.Takes.A.Bite.Out.Of.Peirce-3917992.shtml

3. Farmers in Frace garden over Champs-Elysees Avenue (one of the Western world’s largest shrines to consumer culture) to draw attention to their dire financial situations http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10143795.stm