We see you. And we thank you.
The strength of our food system is us. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, members and leaders of the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council have been mobilized, masked and serving; from innovating and expanding emergency food operations, advocating for protections and federal stimulus that reaches those who need it most, sowing the seeds of future healthy meals, cooking and delivering restaurant food and groceries, and keeping our local food infrastructure safely open. We have connected on hundreds of calls with government, nonprofits, farmers and businesses, with state and national officials and orgs to learn and share guidance, ideas and resources.
We see you. And we thank you.
While we as good neighbors mobilize charitably in this time of extraordinary need, we know that COVID-19 has exploded the truths of injustice and inequity that existed across our food system long before. As we’ve laid out in the State of the Food System in Allegheny Report and what hundreds of Allegheny County residents have told us as we compiled the Greater Pittsburgh Food Action Plan, we must re-imagine the system that supports our local food systems and guarantees everyone life-sustaining food.
We know that the impact of this crisis is not being distributed equally, with low-income families, low-wage workers and people of color bearing the most significant economic and health impacts. Food processing, service and grocery workers are at greater risk of viral exposure. Local family-owned farms and restaurants will have a much harder time “bouncing back” than large agribusiness and national chains. Undocumented farm workers who harvest many of America’s crops still lack basic rights and protections and do not quality for aid despite paying taxes.
Together we can push through this crisis and build a more just, equitable and sustainable food system for Pennsylvania. To date, PFPC’s response to COVID-19 has included:
Creating a Food Systems Resources page on our website with information about how to access food, grant opportunities, and volunteer needs, among other topics.
Advocating for policy at the city level to keep our farmers markets and community gardens open for essential business and to invest in our community food system infrastructure to expand local food production; at the state level we have pressed that PA work with the USDA to bring Pennsylvania into the pilot program to use SNAP for online purchases as well as pass legislation to provide driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants working across PA’s food system; and at the national level we have joined efforts led by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition to demand that federal stimulus (CARES Act) reach local and regional food systems.
Connecting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) donations to food service providers.
Connecting Council members online in member and working group meetings and one on ones to share updates, resources, and needs from restaurant support, school meal changes, SNAP changes, small business information and more.
Convening a Regional Farmers Market Network to streamline communication, information sharing and guidance that will be necessary to ensure safety and robust sales for the upcoming market seasons.
GET INVOLVED: PFPC MEMBER CALLS TO ACTION
While many are stuck at home, there are important ways you can ACT NOW to strengthen our local food system:
SNAP SIGN ON LETTER: Sign your organization onto this letter to PA Department of Human Services requesting they apply for a waiver from the USDA to begin online SNAP purchasing (closes TODAY, April 20th).
PITTSBURGH URBAN AG LEGISLATION: Join the Urban Agriculture Working Group to discuss how Pittsburgh can best invest in urban agriculture to expand food production in our cities (Tuesday, April 21st @ 5pm).
FARMERS MARKET SIGN ON LETTER: Sign your name, organization or business to this open letter asking the City to open farmers markets which as essential businesses (by Thursday, April 23rd)
JOIN PFPC by subscribing to the PFPC mailing list, following us on social media and attending upcoming online meetings (view our calendar here).
