FOOD JUSTICE
Food Justice
Atmaja Patil
Source: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/
Areas considered food deserts marked in bright green.
During this pandemic, demand for many common food items has increased, and consequently, their price as well. Most food deserts are located in lower-income regions, where even though food may be abundant, affordability is a growing issue. Cultural appropriateness also plays a role in the food justice movement. Cultural appropriateness is that certain foods are not necessarily “healthy” for certain demographics. For example, the majority of the people in some cultures are lactose intolerant, providing food that is healthy for them is important as well.
Much of this food injustice is as a result of historical injustice in the food production industry. A key example of this is the Bracero program which was a bilateral agreement between the US and Mexico during World War II. The program began in 1942 and its original intent was to replace the labor leaving California’s fields to fight the war with farmers from Mexico. Overtime, large private farms began to exploit the Braceros’ labor. The Braceros were paid 30 cents an hour (equals about $4.63 today). The Bracero program is a clear example of the historical injustice in the food production system versions of which still exist today.
Food justice is not just about healthy eating. Food brings families and cultures together. Not having access to the supplies to make a recipe that has been in your family for decades is upsetting.
The issue of food injustice sheds light on the prejudice that goes beyond just food accessibility. While there are measures in place to support equal housing, transportation, care, and employment opportunities without regard to race, the same isn’t done for access to clean air and water. This is what’s referred to as “environmental racism”. Environmental racism generally targets areas of lower socioeconomic status. A majority of California’s oil refinery sites are near communities of color.
Credit certainly needs to be given to the various organizations fighting for Food Justice in California. These include:
While celebrating Earth Day, it's important to acknowledge that so much inequality still persists. Food Injustice and Environmental Racism are concerns that need to be given a lot more attention and Earth Day is an opportunity to recognize our potential for progress on these issues.
Bibliography:
Amanpour, Christiane, et al. “Robert Bullard: How Environmental Racism Shapes the
US.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 3 Mar. 2020,
www.pbs.org/wnet/amanpour-and-company/video/robert-bullard-how-environmen
Bobman, Joe. “What Is Food Justice and Why Does It Matter?” Food Forward, 22 Apr.
2016, www.foodforward.org/2016/04/what-is-food-justice/
Henderson, Nikki. “Food Justice - Nourish: Food Community.” Nourish Food Community
Food Justice Comments, Nourish, www.nourishlife.org/2012/11/food-justice/.
Ross, Daniel. “How Residents of South LA Are Tackling Environmental Racism.”
EcoWatch, YES! Magazine, 10 July 2018,
www.ecowatch.com/south-la-environmental-racism-2585451385.html.
Shute, Lindsey L, and Hannah Beal. “Braceros: The Controversial History of US-Mexico
Farm Worker Programs with Dr. Matthew Garcia.” National Young Farmers
Coalition, 25 Mar. 2019,
www.youngfarmers.org/2019/03/braceros-the-controversial-history-of-us-mexico-fa
m-worker-programs-with-dr-matthew-garcia/.
Strange, Hannah. “Environmental Injustice Is Alive and Well in California - And So Is the
Resistance.” Greenpeace USA, Greenpeace.org, 30 Aug. 2018,
www.greenpeace.org/usa/environmental-injustice-alive-well-california-resistance/.
Food justice is the belief that access to healthy food is a human right. Access includes location, affordability, and cultural appropriateness. Food is an integral part of everyday life and a large chunk of the California population works to grow, distribute, and serve food either professionally or for pleasure. Even though California as a state produces the most food (by value) out of the whole US, we still have so many regions considered “food deserts” (map below). A food desert is a region of land with minimal access to fresh and healthy food. As the effects of this pandemic worsen, it certainly harms those living in these “food desert” regions greatly.
ABOUT ATMAJA
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Atmaja is a member of the Silicon Valley Strike team and is passionate about progress on food sustainability and food waste issues. She thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to work with the California Strike Team and is so proud of the work we've done. When she isn't advocating for these issues, Atmaja enjoys art, dance and cooking.