Food Actions: Ban GMOs in Santa Fe; Use 1% of Albuquerque Public School Budget to Buy Locally

No GMOs in Santa Fe
 Healthy-food advocate Ethan au Green, South West organizer for Real Food Challenge, invites you to  join farmers, consumers and sustainable food advocates as they ask Santa Fe's Food Policy Council to take meaningful steps toward labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food, banning GMO crops in Santa Fe, and increasing local organic / non-GMO food production.

Thursday, April 24, 9 to 11 am
Location: The Food Depot meeting room
1222 Siler Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505

The mission of The Santa Fe City and County Advisory Council on Food Policy (the Council) is to create and maintain a regional food system that nourishes all people in a just and sustainable manner.

For over a year, the Food Policy Council has avoided taking a clear policy position on the production and labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods, despite instructions by a unanimous resolution of Santa Fe City Council, introduced by Councilor Patti Busheei, to develop policy recommendations for labeling retail GE food sales and banning crop-based agricultural GMO production within Santa Fe.

At the previous Food Policy Council meeting in March 2014, indigenous farmer and Council member Emigdio Ballon insisted that it is time for the Council to stop delaying and determine a clear position on this crucial issue of public concern, particularly in light of widespread opposition to plans for 93 acres of city-owned land to be leased to a Washington-based corporation for genetically engineered poplar trees in Espanola, NM.

Following Mr. Ballon's plea for urgency, the Food Policy Council agreed to dedicate much of the April meeting to discussing final determination of policy recommendations for Santa Fe's stance on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Please join farmers, consumers and sustainable food advocates as we ask the Santa Fe Food Policy Council to adopt a strong position in favor of meaningful steps toward GE labeling, banning GMO crops in Santa Fe, and increasing local organic / non-GE food production. Join Facebook Event

Urging Albuquerque Public Schools to Buy from Local Farmers

The Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) is planning a conversation around a proposal to the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), asking for 1% of all food purchasing budgets to be set aside for purchasing from local producers.  APS is the largest purchaser of food in the state of New Mexico, and just 1% of their general purchasing budget could help establish a secure market for farmers.

Former State Senator Eric Griego will be joining the conversation to help strategize and answer questions folks might have along the way.  The dinner meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, at 5:30  at SWOP, 211 10th St. SW, Albuquerque  RSVP on Facebook 

"As we continue to work with farmers and food insecure communities along the Rio Grande we have identified a need for inclusive policy such as these," said organizers of the SWOP campaign.