NM Celebrates World Food Day by Standing with Farmers Here and Abroad

Another World Food Day has come and gone, and the NM Oxfam Action Corps was honored to join groups across the world working to end hunger. It’s inspiring to know we’re part of a global movement, with major events sponsored by Oxfam affiliates in over 16 countries. In Brazil, 10,000 signatures were delivered to Coca Cola, Pepsi, and ABF while in Spain there was an international meeting of women leaders on the right to food and land. Meanwhile, Mexico held a bike tour for food security, Japan hosted a dinner with celebrity chefs, and Nigeria launched a new song on the Maputo Declaration. Oxfam chapters and partners across the United States also participated by hosting 1,000 World Food Day Dinners.  

Like last year, the NM Oxfam Action Corps put on a community dinner to celebrate and discuss ways to make our food system more just. We partnered with six different nonprofits, received donations from almost twenty farms, and put a dozen volunteers to work in shifts from 10am to 10pm. The event was a community effort in every way, but above all I’d like to express my gratitude for the farmers from the Downtown Growers Market. We asked for leftover produce from the Saturday market to make the meal, and almost all the farmers present chipped in with whatever they could give. By noon my trunk was overflowing with produce and looked like an homage to fall with all the eggplant, squash, pumpkins, peppers, sweet potatoes, greens and tomatoes.

      When I arrived at the church with the last of the donations, the first volunteer shift was already hard at work. From the minute I walked into the building, I could sense the energy and warmth. Everyone was hard at work chopping, coring, stirring, and yet smiling. Even though I’ve worked with Kathy for over a year now, I’m still in awe of her ability to create dishes without a recipe, delegate tasks with ease, and keep everyone engaged and having a good time.

The energy and enthusiasm was contagious, and still at full force when our dinner guests arrived.  With over 75 attendees, the room was at capacity. In attendance were farmers, nonprofit leaders, students, retirees, and families, all adding their diverse voices to the discussion. It was very gratifying to see everyone enjoying the food and we couldn't have asked for better speakers.

Cecilia Rosacker from Cecilia’s Organics spoke first about her experience growing up on a farm and making do with what they had. She then shared stories about passing traditions down to her children, as she now operates her own farm. In addition to farming, Ms. Rosacker directs the Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust. The land trust is comprised of farmers that help protect New Mexico's natural resources and preserve working farms, ranches, wildlife habitat, and open space. A leader in the farming community, Ms. Rosacker shared about the struggles with zoning and the fight to preserve farmers’ land in New Mexico. She asked people to join the cause, and presented her case with a compelling mix of humor, warmth, and resolve.

Henry Rael, Executive Director of Valle Encantado, picked up where Ms. Rosacker left off by saying he had a completely different experience growing up. As he explained it, he grew up “a product of the broken food system.” However, as an adult, he considered the countless empty lots with broken glass and trash in his neighborhood and began to wonder about ways to rejuvenate the land.  With that idea, Valle Encantado was born, a community organization the promotes sustainable development in the South Valley. A grant provided tools, training, and farming instruction to empower locals to become farmers. To make the business profitable, they partnered with other farms in the area to form the Agricultura Network. Mr. Rael explained how one farm couldn't produce enough for restaurants or schools, but together they made deals such as supplying all the lettuce to Albuquerque Public Schools. Mr. Rael was also a compelling and inspiring speaker, and I left wanting to know more.    

From protecting working farms to reinvigorating previous farmland, it was inspiring to hear how people from opposite backgrounds are working towards the same mission from different angles. Their stories from New Mexico also related well to the global scene where farmers are being unjustly forced from their land. Kathy and I explained how land grabs are land deals that often force farmers from their land, deals that happen without the free, prior, and informed consent of communities.

Attendees learned that Oxfam's research revealed how Coke, Pepsi, and Associated British Foods are sourcing from sugar companies that 'grab land.' In addition to evicting farmers from their homes, the majority of foreign investors grow crops for export instead of feeding local communities. This is a big concern since two thirds of these agricultural deals occur in countries with serious hunger problems.

At the end of the dinner, we asked people to take action here in New Mexico. Recommendations included shopping at the Growers Market and places that source local, following the GROW Method, and supporting causes and organizations like Valle Encantado and the Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust that are moving our food system in the right direction. We also stressed the importance of supporting farmers worldwide. People were inspired to take action right then and there by signing the petition, posing for photos with our Stop Land Grabs Sign, and adding their voice to the cause through social media.  (Want to help? Add your name to the petition here. 250,000 have already signed and in the few weeks since our dinner Coke has agreed to change their policies!) Everyone left with a full stomach and a greater understanding of how our actions can support farmers here and abroad.

   

I didn't know it was possible to top last year's dinner, but this year's event went above and beyond. I couldn't have asked for a better night, and have countless people to thank. I owe a great deal to so many people and groups, but I’d like to especially recognize Kathy Chavez, who took charge in the kitchen and was a fantastic coordinator and chef. 

By Jasmine McBeath

THANK YOU!

Donors

Amyo Farms

Bee’s Honey

Brown Family Farm

Bosque Baking Company

Chispas Farm

Erda Gardens

Granja Para Mañana

Harvest Gifts

Los Jardines de Moktezuma

Macias Farm

Magos Farm

Montoya Farms

Red Tractor Farm

St. Thomas of Canterbury Church

Sunflower Sprouts

Tortilleria Cuauhtemoc

Valle Encantado

Wagners Farm

Vida Verde

Collaborators

Bread for the World

Community Bricolage

Food Corps

Foodology

Nourish International

Oxfam Action Corps

Valle Encantado

Community Chef

Kathy Chavez

Guest Speakers

Cecilia Rosacker

Henry Rael

Organizers

Kathy Chavez

Jasmine McBeath

Volunteers

Ashton
Kendall
Kim
Luis
Margo
Natalie
Pat
Paulina
Pauline
Rochelle
Russell
Ryan
Sonia
Tyler