In an effort to improve local food security, the North Thompson Food Action Network has created a new food security website: www.bcfoodactionnetwork.com.
According to Wikipedia, food security refers to the availability of food and one’s access to it. “Community food security exists when all citizens obtain a safe, personally acceptable, nutritious diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes healthy choices, community self reliance and equal access for everyone” - Bellows and Hamm, 2003.
The purpose of the bcfoodactionnetwork.com website is to:
• Create awareness of local foods available to the residents of the North Thompson Valley by connecting consumers with local food producers
• Provide directories of local food producers, processors, retailers, restaurants, community gardens, farmer’s markets, feed and seed suppliers, nurseries, food banks, and vendors of farm equipment
• Provide resources for local food producers and processors
• Teach consumers why and how to eat locally
• Keep locals current with blogs, news and an events calendar
• Provide health-related information through healthy recipes, health tools, and links to reliable resources through the Interior Health Authority
• Provide information about gardening, fishing and hunting, and wild food
• Provide helpful links, publications, and how to’s
Food Security is a worldwide concern that affects all communities, large and small. Increasingly, the cost of fossil fuel is impacting the price and availability of healthy food.
Added to this, climate change also will be increasingly affecting food production with the potential for major crop failures, water shortages, and significant changes in weather patterns and temperature regimes. As glaciers retreat they will be unable to sustain late summer stream flows, thus affecting irrigation of crops.
Funding for the North Thompson Food Action website was provided through the Interior Health Authority and the Real Estate Foundation. An advisory committee comprised of the following representatives guides the food security initiatives undertaken by the North Thompson Food Action Network: Leslie Groulx, District of Clearwater, Clearwater; Jill Hayward, North Thompson Star/Journal; Barriere, Simone Jennings, Interior Health Authority, Kamloops; Shelly Loring, Simpcw First Nation, Chu Chua; Sharon Neufeld, Forest House, Clearwater; Virginia Smith, District of Barriere, Barriere,; and Melissa Williams, public-at-large, Blue River.
We urge you to check out the website. Your input is welcome. Please submit comments, healthy recipes, food-related news, events and more to: www.bcfoodactionnetwork.com/contact.
– North Thompson Food Action Network