That all residents of the North Okanagan have access to healthy food produced, processed and distributed through a sustainable food system.
That a reliable source of nutritious food is a human right and that this charter will work towards a regional food system that is:
Accessible– everyone can attain enough nutritious food from a reliable source, without stigma or discrimination
Healthy– wellbeing and vitality are fostered through the availability of high quality nutritious foods and the promotion of healthy eating
Self-reliant– residents have opportunities to produce food for themselves. Agricultural land and food production capacity is protected and retained for future needs
Culturally Sensitive– respects the cultural food traditions and personal choice of all members of our community
Economically Viable– those who produce food for a living can earn a fair wage
Environmentally Sustainable– soil integrity, sensitive eco-systems, and bio diversity are preserved through planning, policy and good stewardship. The land, water, or air is not compromised for future generations.
Resilient– is prepared to withstand or adapt to changes in climate, economic instability, or disruptions in the water or food supply
Community Driven– community members have a voice in the policies and planning that influences their food system
Celebrated– local food is enjoyed and shared through promotions, festivals and events
Collaborative– communities, organizations, and individuals will work cooperatively to achieve this vision
Commitment to Action
Additionally we, as organizations and individuals, may choose to demonstrate this commitment as it falls within our personal abilities and organizational mandates by actively participating and partnering in a number of ways.
20 Ways we can demonstrate our Commitment to Local Food Sustainability
- Advocate for income, employment, housing, health, and transportation policies that support access to healthy and local food and reduce the need to resort to emergency/charitable food provision
- Support nutrition programs and healthy eating strategies that prevent diet-related disease and promote healthy development and learning in children -including support for breast-feeding families
- Support community food programs that increase access to fresh foods such as food recovery programs, gleaning and Good Food Box co-operatives
- Help provide opportunities for developing food skills through more community kitchens, food preparation and preservation workshops
- Support the development of community gardens, urban agricultural projects and farm markets that provide convenient access to healthy and affordable foods at the neighborhood level
- Promote and support household food production and backyard garden sharing opportunities
- Support training and income-generating programs that encourage farming, agri-tourism and food enterprise within a community economic development model
- Work with consumers, institutions and community organizations to promote healthy food purchasing practices or policies that support local farm and food businesses
- Support and develop composting programs to use waste in renewable ways
- Help create farmer-consumer links through a farm fresh guide, and a year-round or extended season farmers market with adequate infrastructure. Investigate a farmers wholesale market to provide for volume buyers
- Consider forming farming and food co-operatives and community food storage facilities
- Ensure the retention of the Agricultural Land Reserve while advocating for policies that support farmers to remain or become viable – i.e. extension services
- Conduct a farmland and infrastructure inventory to match farmers and new farmers with available land and resources
- Encourage farm trusts, land-use covenants and other ways of securing food producing lands near urban centres
- Provide for skill-based courses and student participation in food production through educational institutions
- Encourage food production practices that conserve water and soil integrity and reduce the need for chemical inputs
- Encourage and prepare for disruptions/adaptations in the food and water supply through drought management, adaptive farm practices, personal and community food, water, and seed storage
- Support events that celebrate the region’s diverse agricultural and food assets
- Help foster a civic culture that inspires support for the vision and guiding principles found in the charter.
- Ensure the continued implementation of the charter by actively participating in food programs, projects, plans, policies and councils that provide a voice to the issues that impact our food system.