Kathy Ozer, ¡Presente!

NFFCBlog

We are deeply saddened to report the passing of our beloved, courageous and steadfast leader and friend, Kathy Ozer. Her indefatigable optimism and resolve eventually were not enough to overcome her cancer, and she died peacefully on Sunday, January 22, 2017.

CAGJ & C2C Co-Host USFSA & Food Sovereignty Prize in Seattle

NFFCBlog

Last week, representatives of over 20 organizations gathered in Seattle and Bellingham for several days of dialogue, action, and celebration of the growing food sovereignty movement. The Encounter, co-hosted by Community Alliance for Global Justice and Community to Community Development was a national gathering of the US Food Sovereignty Alliance (USFSA). On Saturday, we honored Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa and Farmworkers Association of Florida as recipients of the 8th Annual Food Sovereignty Prize, awarded by the USFSA.

USFSA Holds Learning Call on People’s Agrarian Reform

NFFCPress Room

On May 23, 2016, the Resource Reform work team of the US Food Sovereignty Alliance held a learning call on People’s Agrarian Reform based on the principles outlined by La Via Campesina (http://bit.ly/1R9ospB) at their April 2016 International Conference of Agrarian Reform. Speaking were Blain Snipstal (Black Dirt Farm Collective, SAFFON and Rural Coalition), Dena Hoff (Northern Plains Resource Council, NFFC), Saulo Araujo (WhyHunger) and Eric Holt-Gimenez (Food First). Excellent questions and dialogue followed the presentations, all of which may be heard at https://soundcloud.com/user-319354071/peoples-agrarian-reform-usfsa-learning-call-52316.

USFRA Promotes Agribusiness, Not Farmers

NFFCBlog

The USFRA was created in 2011 as a trade association uniting Big Ag corporations (such as Monsanto, Cargill and DuPont Pioneer) and marketing groups for commodities (including corn, soybeans, beef and pork). Take note: some of these groups are farmer-funded, but in reality, farmers have no choice but to fund them, and it is often at their own expense.

The Battle for the Capitol – Solidarity within the Food System

NFFCBlog

On April 28th, NFFC and Iowa CCI staff joined ROC United, National Domestic Workers Alliance, the National People’s Action, and the National Organization for Women to show Congress that we are fed up with them favoring corporations over people. The march timed to coincide with the National Restaurant Association’s annual lobby day. “The other NRA” has worked to block minimum minimum wage increases, paid sick day legislation, and kept the federal tipped minimum wage at $2.13 since 1991. The NRA also lobbied against sustainable farming practices, farm animal welfare rules, and efforts to label the nutritional quality of foods in restaurants.

Growing Food and Justice Initiative Debrief

NFFCBlog

Immediately after the Food Sovereignty Prize, Rachel flew to Taos, New Mexico to represent NFFC and USFSA at the Growing Food and Justice Initiative Gathering. She attended the Intensive Leadership Facilitation Training as well as the main conference to join the conversation about racism and structural inequality in our food system.