by Alexandria McMahon a student from Northeastern University and fellow at Oxfam America
We all have a vested interest in knowing where our food comes from and how our consumer choices impact the food system in Boston but also globally. This year marks Oxfam America’s fourth year at the Boston Local Food Festival. Oxfam is an international nonprofit working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and other social injustices. We believe that hunger isn’t about too many people and too little food; it’s about power, and its roots lie in inequalities in access to resources and opportunities. We stand with the millions of small-scale farmers around the world growing our food. Small scale farmers produce almost 80% of the food in the global supply chain, yet these people are rarely consulted about major issues like international trade law, climate change talks, or how wealthy countries administer foreign aid programs. We work with people directly affected by these laws and policies. And we wage campaigns to convince decision makers to respect the views of these communities.
Food connects all of us, no matter where we live. But the power to control the resources behind our global food supply sits neither with the millions of farmers who produce food, nor with the billions of consumers who eat it.
Instead, companies and governments control the global food system—and they often determine who eats and who doesn’t. As consumers and voters, we have the power to change this. GROW is Oxfam’s campaign to build a better food system: one that sustainably feeds a growing population and empowers poor people to earn a living, feed their families, and thrive. With supporters in more than 50 countries, GROW aims to make sure everyone has a seat at the table. We’re taking action to end the injustice of hunger, making smarter choices in our own lives, and calling on companies and lawmakers to change the policies that keep people from accessing the resources they need.
You can play an active role in this campaign by stopping at our booth and talking with our volunteers. We will be sharing recipe cards from celebrity chefs on Oxfam’s Five Principles for Feeding the Planet: Save food, Shop seasonal, Eat less meat, Support farmers, and Cook smart.
Check them out here!
We are thrilled to once again be a part of the Boston Local Food Fest and hope that you will stop by and say hello, sign our petition, and take some GROW recipes! You can also learn about volunteering with our local Boston Oxfam Action Corps here or consider donating here.
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