California Food &

Justice Coalition

:: July 2010 Newsletter ::

IN THIS ISSUE:

:: CFJC News
:: Events and Announcements
:: In the News
:: Take Action
:: Resources
:: Jobs, Internships & Opportunities
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CFJC News

Executive Director Message

:: Although new to the “food justice movement,” I am no stranger

to the many issue areas that intersect therein. While I am
absorbing as much literature as possible and meeting/
reconnecting with so many wonderful individuals and groups to
get myself up to speed, it occurs to me (not for the first time) that
there will always be new members entering our ranks.

I believe this means that we have a responsibility to create and

maintain a culture that is both welcoming and responsive to
questions and inquires such as, “what the heck does food justice
and food security mean anyway,” even if we have personally
discussed the issue ad nauseam.
In that spirit, I will begin the CFJC newsletters by highlighting
something I’ve come across in my quest to learn more about the
work you all do in the food system continuum. This month I want
to share a Road to Wellness map developed by the Hartman
Group. Armando

CFJC Member’s Public Policy Call

:: CFJC is re-instituting monthly public policy calls on August 17,

2010 from 9:00-10:00 am PDT, which will be hosted on the Public
Health Institute’s Dialogue4Health Web Platform. The August 17th
call will be in English, but we will schedule Spanish language calls
beginning in August as well. Sessions are open to anyone working
on food system and justice issues, though we hope you will take a
moment to join/renew your CFJC membership as well. Details for
registering for the event will be sent out next week.

____________________________________________________________
Events and Announcements

:: On August 16–18, 2010, the Center for Ecoliteracy will host a

three-day seminar for educators, “Sustainability Education:
Connecting Art, Science, and Design,” at the David Brower
Center in Berkeley, California. Participants will explore how to
improve science education through art, use design as a form of
critical thinking, and employ strategies for applying bio-inspired
design to student projects. For more information, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/ecolit

:: Bay Area Green Tours and Gather Restaurant to host second

Farm to Fork Tour on Sunday, August 15th to Brentwood, California.

:: NewSeed Advisors, an investment bank and consulting firm

devoted to sustainable agriculture, is planning several
conferences on sustainable agriculture this fall: Agriculture 2.0
Global Markets, which will take place in New York City on
September 14th, 2010, and Agriculture 2.0 Canada, taking place
in Toronto on October 19th, 2010. This announcement has
engendered a vigorous discussion on who defines “sustainable
agriculture” in the world of finance.

:: Stett Holbrook and company have posted a trailer for a

documentary television series that features California residents.
The effort is hosting a fundraising event August 3rd, with details at
the trailer’s site.

:: At Food, Culture, & Justice: The Gumbo That Unites Us All,

attendees will have the opportunity to see first-hand the unique
regional and multi-cultural approach to food organizing taking
place in New Orleans. Scholarship/volunteer applications due by
August 13, 2010.

:: Urban Aquaculture Track at Growing Power Farm Conference-

Sept 10-12th in the Milwaukee State Fair Grounds. For more
information and to register online:
www.growingpowerfarmconference.org

________________________________________________________________
___________________
In the News

Thankfully, there is still a lot being written about what is taking

place in government, conference rooms, laboratories, and other
venues relating to our food systems. For example:

:: Is genetically engineered algae with a “suicide gene” really a

good idea? Andrew Pollack in the NY Times writes about one
such effort.

:: La Via Campesina reports on another aspect of the issue. Read

about it on their website.

:: Public News Service ponders the effects on marine life (bluefin

tuna) of the Gulf oil spill.

:: Now that everyone has had a moment to calm down about the
Shirley Sherrod kerfuffle, take a look at another perspective on
racism and the USDA.
:: Perhaps we should remember the adage, “be careful what you
pray for.” Yes, talk about food systems is becoming all the rage.
And we need to remain actively engaged in the conversation,
monitoring every aspect of the food system. Peter Wilson’s
American Thinker article raises a number of issues.

:: Great story about a local effort in Richmond, showing once

again that it’s the small deliberate steps that help move us along
the path to health, sustainability and well-being.

:: Alyce Ortuzar, noting that there are indeed differences

between organic and conventional foods, criticized the
government for pushing processed, low nutrition foods at the
expense of farm fresh foods.

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___________________
Take Action

:: Organic Consumers Association has an excellent list of 10

reasons to label genetically engineered foods. Read the list, and
take action on proposed legislation.

:: USDA publishes proposed rules that would end many unfair

labor practices in the poultry industry. Link to RFI website for more
information.

________________________________________________________________
_____________________
Resources

:: Check out a good video discussing climate change and food

created by WhyHunger, with the Small Planet Institute
(www.smallplanet.org), entitled: “The Food and Climate
Connection.”
:: Real Time Farms is a new crowd-sourced, live, local food guide
designed to excite, engage, and educate people about where
they can find fresh, local sources of food. Website claims that
everyone can contribute by adding and/or editing information
and pictures to share their excitement and enthusiasm for their
local market, farm, and/or vendor.

:: Interview with Dr. Sandra Steingraber, author of Living

Downstream, for Food Sleuth Radio. The 30 minute interview is
posted on line.

________________________________________________________________
____________________
Jobs, Internships & Opportunities

California

:: San Francisco HR Job Opening—Veritable Vegetable, the oldest

organic produce distributor in the U.S. is hiring a Human Resources
Manager. Widely regarded as the leader in our industry, Veritable
Vegetable provides full service distribution of organic fresh fruits
and vegetables to retailers, restaurants, schools, corporate
campuses and wholesalers. HR Manager salary is competitive.

:: CAFF Farm to School Program Director, Central Coast, Bay Area

or Davis Office, position open. The Community Alliance with
Family Farmers (CAFF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
building a movement of rural and urban residents to foster family-
scale agriculture that cares for the land, sustains local economies,
and promotes social justice.

:: Director for the Berkeley Edible Schoolyard position open with

the Chez Panisse Foundation. The Edible Schoolyard is a program
of the Chez Panisse Foundation. The ESYB Director is responsible
for the leadership, development, and management of the ESYB
program.

:: California FarmLink seeks an Equity Building Programs Manager

to work full-time at the organization’s headquarters in Sebastopol,
CA. California FarmLink is a non-profit organization working to
promote family farming and preserve. The EBPM is an exempt
salaried position.

:: Pesticide Watch is hiring a Community Organizer to work here in

San Francisco to prevent pesticide exposure, support local
farming and build healthier communities. Applications for this San
Francisco based position will be accepted through August 6,
2010.

:: CalCAN Outreach Coordinator position in Berkeley, CA. CalCAN

is a collaboration of California's leading sustainable agriculture
organizations and allies advocating for policy solutions at the
nexus of climate change and agriculture.

:: Marin Position Open—Marin Primary and Middle School is hiring

for the position of co-garden teacher and manager responsible
for maintaining the Outdoor Education Center garden and
creating/teaching innovative curriculum to Pre-K-8th grade along
with a teaching partner. The position is part time, 15 hours a week.

:: Farm Crew/VeggieYouth position open through the Silicon

Valley HealthCorps, an AmeriCorps program in San Jose, CA. Part
time position also available. For more information and to apply
contact svhealthcorps@healthtrust.org

:: Sustainable Seed Co. Paid Internship Position open until filled in

the hills of Petaluma. Details on the internship and more
information about Sustainable Seeds Co. at
www.sustainableseedco.com.

:: Stipended Project Internship available in Oxnard. The Abundant

Table Farm Project is a young adult Christian community seeking
a contemporary rhythm of life with a land based ministry in
Ventura County. For more information on this position, contact
Sarah Nolan, Program Coordinator at
Abundanttablefarm@gmail.com
:: The Gardening and Composting Educator Training Program
('GCETP') is a 3 month organic gardening certification program
offered by Garden for the Environment. Applications for this San
Francisco based training are due by August 7, 2010.

Job Opportunities Outside California

:: Community Food Policy Specialist- Multnomah County, Portland

OR. The selected Coordinator will be a member of the county’s
Office of Sustainability and will report to the Sustainability Director.
For questions contact Susan Giesbrecht at 503-988-5015 x24289, in
the Chair's Office. Recruitment number 6020-28.

:: National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition seeks a Policy

Associate to advocate before Congress and federal agencies,
particularly USDA. Minimum of three years Hill/lobbying or
agricultural policy experience required. Job description available
on the NSAC website.

:: Program Associate, Start Farming (#32425), is a position with

Penn State Cooperative Extension. Beginning farmers and
ranchers in the region will be trained in production, marketing,
financial management and land acquisition skills necessary for
successful farm entry. See www.extension.psu.edu/start-farming
for program details.

:: Food Policy Coordinator, NYC Office of the Mayor, position

applications accepted through August 20, 2010. For more
information or to apply, interested candidates should submit a
cover letter and resume to: msobelson@cityhall.nyc.gov.

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The California Food and Justice Coalition is a statewide

membership coalition working to ensure
the basic human right to healthy food while advancing social,
agricultural and environmental justice.
We collaborate with community-based efforts in California
working to create a socially just, ecologically
and economically sustainable food supply. We envision a
California food system in which all activities,
from farm to table, are equitable, healthful, regenerative, and
community-driven.

California Food and Justice Coalition

2530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite F, Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone: 510-704-0245
FAX: 510-548-8896
http://www.CAFoodJustice.org <http://www.cafoodjustice.org/>
<http://www.cafoodjustice.org/>
email: info@CAFoodJustice.org

CFJC is a fiscally-sponsored project of the Ecology Center.