In Search of Good Food
Submitted by Antonio Roman-Alcala on Wed, 10/24/2007 - 15:36.
Last updated on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 13:22.
Vital Stats
ongoing project
Project Video
The Problem
As a gardening activist living in an urban wonderland located in one of the most agriculturally productive regions in the world, where options for diverse cuisine abound, I have often found myself wondering “where is all this food coming from?” Are most people in the city eating sustainably produced, locally and ecologically grown organic foods? This doesn’t seem likely. While much headway has been made in the mainstreaming of organic foods, what exactly is the state of California’s emerging “sustainable” food system?
Why It's Important
After mulling about the idea for a food system tour, I linked up with filmmaker Jesse Sabin and, with the fiscal sponsorship and support of the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC), I have decided to make a documentary film on the topic. Jesse and I will be traveling the state during the first 3 months of 2008, interviewing players in this food system. Included will be farmers, farmer’s market organizations, watershed and farm-land advocacy groups, university buying departments, educational organizations, non-profits of all sorts, established and emerging grassroots groups, government regulators and politicians, county extension agents, and the many others who form various arms of this movement to ensure an ongoing supply of healthy, ecologically and locally-produced, economically affordable food for all Californians.
The Plan Of Action
The questions asked will generally be these (but each interview will of course be tailored to each interviewee’s unique position):
- 1) What do you do?
- 2) How do you envision California’s “sustainable food system”? Can such a food system reliably produce enough food to support our urban populations?
- 3) What role do you see yourself or your organization playing in such a food system? What is your capacity? What are your limitations?
- 4) What might help you fulfill that capacity with your project?
- 5) What methods/strategies have and haven’t worked for you?
- 6) What are the obstacles you see facing the realization of the sustainable food system?
- 7) Who do you see as having much influence over the food system?
- 8) What information would you like consumers to be more aware of?
My intention is multi-faceted: to gather information on the food system; to seek ideas on how to improve and apply sustainable practices and models (from those already doing it themselves); to gather information on what emergent organizations need to build their capacity (and pass this info onto the California Food and Justice Coalition, who will use it to direct their organizational-support programs), and finally, to gather footage to use in the film, entitled “In Search Of Good Food”.
How Can Others Get Involved?
If you, your organization, or someone you know would like to be included in this film, please contact me as soon as you can. Thank you,
Antonio Roman-Alcalá
[personal info edited out by DS staff]
insearchofgoodfood@gmail.com
Project Updates
06/17/09
Update: 4/10/08-Antonio and Jesse will speak with people and groups including farmers, farmer’s market organizations, watershed and farm-land advocacy groups, university building departments, educational organizations, non-profits, government regulators and politicians. In the first few months of 2008, they will tour California to ask these groups questions ranging from their visions of California’s “sustainable food system” to what role they see themselves playing as the food industry continues to grow in light of a greater presence of organically and locally grown foods. 
Location
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Comments
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This is an awesome project! Food security and sustainability issues are very important issues that not enough people are informed about. I am glad that you are striving to spread awareness about them.