2008 Farm Bill Campaign for Food Justice

URGENT: February 8, 2008 from the CA Food and Justice Coalition
Two Important Farm Bill Actions: please circulate widely

1. Sign On Letter for the 2008 Food & Farm Bill

If you’ve already signed on… Spread the word to other CA groups that you think should too....

1. San Francisco Farm Bill Speak Out on Feb. 13th – We Need YOU There!

1. Sign on Letter – Deadline Fri. Feb 8th
Please Respond & Sign On TODAY
Deadline Friday, Feb. 8th 5 pm.
Please circulate widely
Congress (and CFJC) have been working on the Farm Bill for the last year. The Senate and House both passed their farm bills in 2007. Now representatives from both houses are cobbling together a final Farm Bill from the two different versions. California representatives Joe Baca and Dennis Cardoza are likely to be on the conference committee and Rep. Nancy Pelosi will again have influence as Speaker of the House. Below is a sign-on letter for organizations and individuals that CFJC and a delegation of food justice advocates will deliver following the Speak Out on February 13th. Details below and at http://www.foodsecurity.

We're calling on them to

1. Pass a farm bill now
2. Negotiate a final farm bill that includes commodity reform &
3. Support at risk provisions that help rebuild local food systems that increase access to healthy food and expand markets for small and minority farmers.

View a Copy of the Letter Below

Please Sign on TODAY. The more we speak out together the bigger impact we have!
To sign on email Aleta@foodsecurity.org
For Organizations: Send your name, organization, email, mailing address & phone number
For individuals: Send your name, email, mailing address & phone number
Please See a Copy of the Letter Below

2. Farm Bill Speak Out – San Francisco Feb. 13th

Speak-Out and Eat-In For A Fair and Healthy Farm Bill Now!
Food Justice Activists Call on Speaker Pelosi and others to
Give Us A Food and Farm Bill We'll Love for Valentine's Day
Wednesday Feb. 13th, 12pm
@ Heart of the City Farmers' Market at UN Plaza

This Valentine's Day Season, come join together with CFJC and other food justice activists as we speak out on the farm bill. We'll be gathering to call upon House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative Joe Baca and Dennis Cardoza, who are likely to sit on the Farm Bill conference committee, to pass a Fair and Healthy Food and Farm Bill as soon as possible that stops subsidizing corporate agribusiness at the expense of public health and invests our tax dollars into creating a sustainable, healthy, community-driven and just food system!

Speakers Include: Bryant Terry, eco-chef, author, and Food and Society Policy Fellow; the California Food and Justice Coalition; Shyaam Shabaka, Founder and Director of the Eco-Village Farm Learning Center & President Food First; Local Farmers; Community Anti-Hunger Advocates; Peggy da Silva, Veritable Vegetable, the oldest organic produce distributor in the U.S.; and representatives from San Francisco's Alemany Farm and Berkeley’s Ecology Center.

We live in an era of global food insecurity and chronic hunger, where 800 million a day go hungry. Small farmers worldwide are struggling to survive in a consolidated agricultural industry and poor communities in the United States have little access to affordable, healthy food. Soil erosion, water and air pollution and pesticides threaten our health and our farmland. Congress has been working to rewrite the Farm Bill for nearly a year and it's critical that we get a new Farm Bill as soon as possible that begins to correct these elements of our broken food system.

The passage of the 2007 Farm Bill through Congress has been marked by never-before-seen public demand for reform, which has compelled California's legislators to begin to support critical commodity reform measures as and increased investment in local food systems. In the final stages of this campaign we must continue to draw attention our farm bill priorities and concerns.

SO MUCH IS STILL AT STAKE! Our Representatives are cobbling together a Farm Bill from the different House and Senate versions, and deciding how much money to allocate to each program. Neither of these bills include significant reform of commodity programs, but Speaker Pelosi has the opportunity to use her power to negotiate for meaningful reforms that will begin to transform the food system – like limiting subsidy payments to people who are actually farming - right now wealthy urbanites in New York City can get subsidy payments! We also need to ensure that our representatives on the conference committee are making funding for vital food and farm justice programs, like the Community Food Projects Grants Program, which gives grants to small food justice organizations like the Ecology Center, and the Minority Farm Outreach Program, which helps minority farmers fairly access Federal farm programs, a priority in their negotiations. Go to"http://www.cafoodjustice.org <http://www.cafoodjustice.org/> for more information on how this Farm Bill affects you.

This event is an opportunity to listen to, connect with, learn from, and get involved in important local programs and campaigns to improve the bay area's food system. We encourage you to bring a friend and a hearty lunch that reflects the kinds of foods you think our Farm Bill should support. After the speak out we walk to Speaker Pelosi's office along with a delegation of advocates that will meet with Speaker Pelosi's staff to deliver our message.

Get involved in creating this event: jessicabell@cafoodjustice.org, 510 704 0245, http://www.cafoodjustice.org <http://www.cafoodjustice.org/> .

Come to a Banner & Sign Making Party leading up to the event: Sat. Feb.9th, 12pm – 4pm, 3208 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley. We'll be making a big banner as well as signs with love hearts on them.

The Heart of the City Farmers Market is at 1182 Market Street, San Francisco, next to the Civic Center BART Station. More info at: http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/863197

Background (more at: http://www.foodsecurity.org/california/Farm_Bill.html#latest)
With the Senate and House versions of the new farm bill passed in 2007, the next step is for the differences between the two bills to be negotiated and resolved so that one final bill can be voted on by both Chambers and sent to the President. These negotiations are carried out by a joint committee of House and Senate agriculture committee members called the "conference committee". Though the committee appointments have not yet been officially announced Reps Joe Baca (D-43) and Dennis Cardoza (D-18) are a sure bet for the committee, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-8th) will once again have an opportunity to influence the bill as Speaker of the House. While there are many substantive differences between the bills to work through, the most notable deal with way the two bills are funded. The Bush administration has put out a veto warning because of their objection to what they call tax-based funding strategies and the lack of commodity reform – which they are in favor of because of their conflict with international trade rules. In the face of the veto threat some are talking about (gasp...) extending the 2002 farm bill, or (double gasp...) reverting back to the original law from the 1940's. Going back to original law would eliminate all the vital programs that have been adopted in the decades since – including Community Food Projects, Minority Farm Outreach & Conservation and Nutrition Programs. It would also cast aside a years worth of work in congress and at the grassroots on a new Farm Bill.

The sticking point in negotiations is money - the President doesn't like how the House and Senate are paying for their additional spending and Congress can't find another way to pay for their programs. But their are options. Neither bill includes any significant reform of existing commodity programs. Reforming these programs would not only restore fairness to U.S. Food and Farm policy, but would free up resources that could be better spent on local food, nutrition, small farm and conservation programs. Fixing the commodity programs would help resolve the presidents veto threat too – they don't like the commodity programs either!

Join with us on this letter and on Feb. 13th as we call on Speaker Pelosi and her CA colleagues on the conference committee to "Pass a Healthy Food Bill Now" for valentine's day.

SIGN ON LETTER

RE: Act Quickly to Pass a Healthy and Fair Food and Farm Bill that Increases Access to Healthy Food and Strengthens Local Food Systems

We the undersigned organizations representing diverse nutrition, agriculture and community interests in California, urge you to act quickly to pass a Farm Bill that includes provisions that will restore fairness to America's food and farm policy; improve access to healthy, affordable foods in low-income and underserved communities; and expand market opportunities for California's small and mid-sized farms.

The 2008 Farm Bill is an historic opportunity to link the needs of undeserved communities, or "food-deserts", with California's struggling small and midsized specialty-crop growers. The House and Senate bills contain multiple provisions (detailed below) that promote links between rural producers and underserved urban communities. Collectively these programs support a systemic approach to improving community health and strengthening local food systems that also create jobs and increase economic security in rural and urban communities.

As we create new opportunities to improve community health and local food systems, we must also reform commodity programs that exacerbate America's health problems by flooding our communities with an abundance of "cheap" highly processed, calorie dense and nutritionally deficient foods. Left as they are, these programs will continue to drive family farm loss by pushing up land values and consolidating market power towards the largest growers. Without a meaningful cap on these payments and closed loopholes, they will also continue to compromise the food sovereignty of other nations, resulting in poverty and hunger worldwide.

In the interest of food insecure communities and the farmers who are poised to serve them we strongly urge you to champion the inclusion of the following provisions in the Farm Bill:

• Meaningful commodity program revisions that begin a process of reform. The administration veto threat opens an opportunity to negotiate a "more reform-minded Farm Bill", as you called for in the Des Moines Register last November. Californians consistently express overwhelming support for meaningful commodity program reform. We strongly urge you to join with Senators Boxer and Feinstein who supported reform in the Senate Farm Bill, and work to make commodity reform the greatest food justice victory of this next Farm Bill.

• Mandatory funding for Community Food Projects Grants program at $10 million annually, as provided in the Senate bill [Sec. 4801]. This highly successful program has financed 32 local initiatives in California, and 240 nationwide, that increase access to healthy, local foods in communities with high incidences of nutrition-related diseases and food insecurity, while also providing new markets for small farmers. Despite widespread support among members, the House bill failed to provide mandatory funding. With the funding for this program in jeopardy USDA has suspended grants under this program, leaving dozens of eligible California applicants, including San Francisco's Alemany Farm, on hold.

• Expand the use of USDA Rural Development Business and Industries Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to support enterprises that increase access to local food in underserved communities [Senate bill Sec. 6017]. The House and Senate bills both add a no-cost provision that allows this existing USDA program to finance enterprises that market local agricultural products into nearby urban and underserved communities. The final farm bill must include language that allows funds to be used in urban areas when doing so would directly benefit rural producers. Such enterprises could include urban-based distribution or processing centers that would give rural producers increased access to urban markets, while creating jobs in urban areas that support the local food system.

• Creation of a Healthy Food Enterprise Development Center with mandatory funding [Senate bill Sec. 1843]. The Center would be established through USDA to provide technical assistance and planning grants to support the development or improvement of enterprises for processing and marketing locally produced agricultural products in underserved communities. Language from the House bill should be included that includes socially disadvantaged producers in the list of eligible entities.

• Mandatory annual funding for the Outreach for Minority Farmers and Ranchers program at $15 million [House bill Sec.11201]. This is a critical program for ensuring that minority and limited resource farmers have equal access to USDA programs. Similarly, the final bill must include Senate language that requires states to consider the needs of socially disadvantaged producers when allocating Specialty Crop Block Grants. USDA estimates that at least 12% of specialty crop producers in the U.S. would be classified as socially disadvantaged. The unique marketing and research needs of these producers must be fairly considered in the allocation of state block grants.

• Adopt the strongest Food Stamp Program improvements in the House and Senate bills, including House Farm Bill language that allows Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE) to support public health approaches. Investments in the Senate version of the nutrition title will increase food stamp eligibility among working poor families and the improvements in the House version will strengthen the buying power of food stamp recipients to purchase healthier foods and allow FSNE to promote improvements to environments where food choices are made.

Together, these provisions will increase availability of locally grown and healthier foods in underserved communities plagued by high levels of nutrition-related disease, while preserving our nation's farmland by creating profitable, nearby markets for small- and mid-sized farmers and ranchers. We would greatly appreciate your support.

Sincerely...... YOU & Your Org w/ Hundreds of Others

Please Sign on TODAY. The more we speak out together the bigger impact we have!
To sign on email Aleta Dunne at Aleta@foodsecurity.org
For Organizations: Send your name, organization, email, address & phone
For individuals: Send your name, address, email & phone
Please See the Full Letter Below

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The California Food and Justice Coalition is a statewide membership coalition committed to
the basic human right to healthy food while advancing social, agricultural and environmental justice.
We are partners of the national Community Food Security Coalition, and 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 c/o CFSC
P.O. Box 209, Venice, CA 90294 ® 310-822-5410 ® FAX 310-822-1440
http://www.CAFoodJustice.org <http://www.cafoodjustice.org/>
email: info@CAFoodJustice.org

January 9, 2008

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has included an amendment in the Farm Bill to authorize $10,000,000 to establish a pilot program for community school gardens.

The Farm Bill passed the Senate by a vote of 79 to 14 on December 14, with the school garden amendment intact. The Farm Bill is now headed to conference committee where the Senate and House will determine the final version of the bill which goes to the President.

Time is now of the essence to ensure that the school garden amendment is included in the final version of the Farm Bill.

Letters, emails, and phone calls from ACGA members to their representatives in the House can help make the difference when the House and Senate conferees meet.

For reference, the text of the school garden amendment is reprinted below.

TEXT OF SANDERS AMENDMENT TO THE SENATE FARM BILL AUTHORIZING FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOL GARDENS INCLUDED IN THE HARKIN MANAGER'S AMENDMENT PASSED BY U.S. SENATE - DECEMBER 14, 2007

(3) PILOT PROGRAM FOR HIGH-POVERTY SCHOOLS.--

(A) DEFINITIONS.--In this paragraph:

(i) ELIGIBLE PROGRAM.--The term `eligible program' means--

(I) a school-based program with hands-on vegetable gardening

and nutrition education that is incorporated into the curriculum

for 1 or more grades at 2 or more eligible schools; or

(II) a community-based summer program with hands-on

vegetable gardening and nutrition education that is part of, or

coordinated with, a summer enrichment program at 2 or more

eligible schools.

(ii) ELIGIBLE SCHOOL.--The term `eligible school' means a

public school, at least 50 percent of the students of which are

eligible for free or reduced price meals under this Act.

(B) ESTABLISHMENT.--The Secretary shall carry out a pilot

program under which the Secretary shall provide to nonprofit

organizations or public entities in not more than 5 States

grants to develop and run, through eligible programs, community

gardens at eligible schools in the States that would--

(i) be planted, cared for, and harvested by students at the

eligible schools; and

(ii) teach the students participating in the community

gardens about agriculture, sound farming practices, and diet.

(C) PRIORITY STATES.--Of the States provided a grant under

this paragraph--

(i) at least 1 State shall be among the 15 largest States,

as determined by the Secretary;

(ii) at least 1 State shall be among the 16th to 30th

largest States, as determined by the Secretary; and

(iii) at least 1 State shall be a State that is not

described in clause (i) or (ii).

(D) USE OF PRODUCE.--Produce from a community garden

provided a grant under this paragraph may be--

(i) used to supplement food provided at the eligible school;

(ii) distributed to students to bring home to the families

of the students; or

(iii) donated to a local food bank or senior center

nutrition program.

(E) NO COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.--A nonprofit organization

or public entity that receives a grant under this paragraph

shall not be required to share the cost of carrying out the

activities assisted under this paragraph.

(F) EVALUATION.--A nonprofit organization or public entity

that receives a grant under this paragraph shall be required to

cooperate in an evaluation in accordance with paragraph (1)(H).

(G) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.--There is authorized to

be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $10,000,000.

2007 Update provided by the California Food and Justice Coalition:

July 27, 2007 - Farm Bill Passes House of Representatives The House of Representatives passed their version of the farm bill this afternoon, 231-191. Despite enormous public outcry for reform and some modest increases for nutrition, conservation and specialty crop programs, the bill mostly keeps intact a food and farming system that has failed our country. Speaker Pelosi has said this farm bill "signals change and shows a new direction in our farm policy," but most of it seems like a lot of the same, with just enough improvement to get the votes needed to get out of the House. Community Food Projects is one of the many programs that fell through the cracks. Despite near heroic efforts from all of you and many of our California Representatives, CFP received no mandatory funding in the House Farm Bill. You can read more about how it all went down on the California Food and Justice Coalition website (click here).

La campaña del Proyecto de ley agrícola de 2007 para la justicia en la comida (2007 Farm Bill Campaign or Food Justice)

Las últimas nuevas proveídas por la Coalición californiana de la justicia y la comida.

27 de julio de 2007- El Proyecto de Ley agrícola es aprobado por la Casa de diputados de EEUU. La Casa de diputados aprobó su versión del proyecto agrícola esta tarde, 231-191. A pesar de la enorme protesta pública para la reforma y algunos aumentos modestos para programas del nutrimiento, la conservación y cultivos especiales, el proyecto más o menos mantiene intacto un sistema de comida y agricultura que ha servido mal a nuestro país. La Presidenta de la Casa Pelosi ha dicho que este proyecto agrícola "señala cambio y muestra una dirección nueva en nuestras prácticas agrícolas," pero la mayor parte parece más de lo mismo, con sólo suficientes mejoras para obtener los votos necesarios para pasar de la Casa. Community Food Projects (Proyectos alimenticios comunitarios) fue uno de los muchos programas ignorados. A pesar de los esfuerzos casi heroicos de todos Uds. y muchos de nuestros diputados californianos, CFP no recibió los fondos mandatorios en el Proyecto Agrícola. Se puede leer más sobre cómo llegó a ser todo esto en el sitio electrónico de la Coalición californiana para la comida y la justicia (marque aquí).