The Food Sovereignty Network
“Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally-appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations.”
Declaration of Nyéléni, the first global forum on food sovereignty, Mali, 2007
Bellow was drafted from the conversations of the
Taos Food Sovereignty working Group
Increasing Local Farm Production
1.Incentivizing farmers with a larger market, to drive up sales and down prices.
Connecting with existing organizations and coalitions that are focused on developing local food systems
Allocating funds to support the establishment of new farms, laborer employment, and farmer training.
Allocating funds to train farmers and ranchers with regenerative practices that increase yield and improve soil health (NMDA Healthy Soils Grant.)
2.Aggregating and Distributing Food From Farm to Table
Cataloging and databasing farmers in Taos, Taos County, surrounding counties, and adjacent states.
Mapping aggregation routes for refrigerated trucks to aggregate and distribute goods to markets and restaurants.
Calling all local restaurants to see what they are willing to buy locally and sharing catalog of farmers and produce, starting most local.
3. Temperature Controlled Warehouse For Storing Large Quantities of Produce and Grain
community or government funded warehouse 10,000 square feet distributed into walk in refrigeration, freezer storage for meat, cool storage for grain
Fork lifts, refrigerated trucks and vans for moving produce
4.Processing Local Food Into Viable
Consumer Products
Funding industrial commercial equipment to support the local production of staples like bread and tortillas from locally grown wheat and blue corn.
Taos made products that keep currency circulating in Taos economy.
5.Increasing Retail, Consumer Direct, and Institutional Outlets for Local Food
Increasing farmers market days throughout Taos County.
Opening more local markets focusing on food deserts.
Establishing institutional markets (USDA School Food Programs, Hospitals, Senior Homes)
Promoting CSAs to support direct trade.
6. Advocacy and Grant Writing to Support the Whole System
Support grant writers to apply for funds to run the various programs required by this system.
Attending County and Town meetings to encourage tax payer money to support development of local food system.
Encouraging consumers across class and demographic backgrounds to buy local.
Click here to learn about CSA
“Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally-appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations.”
Declaration of Nyéléni, the first global forum on food sovereignty, Mali, 2007