This article talks about the role of municipal governments in shaping urban food systems. It addresses how local governments are pivotal in influencing food accessibility through zoning regulations, urban planning and food prices. Federal governments have placed some guidelines, but local governments are in a better position to directly affect food access. Horst talks about how municipal governments can promote local governments by providing policies that encourage the growth of local food economies by supporting farmers.
Horst also provides case studies to show how municipalities are addressing food justice. She talked about how Portland, Oregon is an example of a city that embraced urban agriculture and community involvement in the food system. They encourage community gardens, urban farms and more farmers markets throughout the city.
Horst also talks about the challenges they face to integrating food justice into urban planning. She talks about how local governments may face opposition from business interests. Like big grocery store chains and big agriculture. They resist these ideas like farmers markets because that would cause them to lose some business. They also face funding issues because the municipal governments have limited budgets and resources, so this makes it difficult to sustain food justice programs over the long term.
I agree with some parts of this article but disagree with other parts. I agree we need to try to incorporate more farming and gardens into the urban lifestyle. I think everyone should try to have their own little garden. Even if its small we can still grow some of our own food. Gardens are pretty cheap if you have the room and then this could help fix some of the food security issue. I also think just because people live in the city doesn't mean we can't make room for farms and community gardens. I think it should be required for there to be farms in and around cities to help people get access to fresher and healthier foods. I don't necessarily disagree with some parts of the article I just think it's unrealistic. I think everything has become monopolized and big ag and big grocery chains don't want people to have their own gardens and grow their own food. This would mean they would lose a lot of business and with a loss of business is a loss of power.
2 comments:
I definitely agree with you in that I think everyone should have a garden if they're able to. Even just having planter pots with small vegetable or herb plants would be feasible especially for people living in cities. I can be very empowering for people to be able to grow their own food, even if it is just a little. I remember as a young kid helping my dad grow our garden in the backyard - I think it is important for children to have this exposure to see how the food they eat grows.
I also agree with having more gardens in our communities, especially in cities. I recently read an article about green roofs which can be beneficial in cities where there is not a lot of extra space. Be able to have access to even some nutritious foods is important.
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