WHAT IS A FOOD CHARTER?

"Food charters drive visions, actions, and strategies for civically engaged food systems."
- North Dakota State University

A CHARTER FOR THE WESTERN FOOTHILLS

Origin story

JOIN THE MOVEMENT FOR COMMUNITY FOOD

Sign on as a Champion!

 All Food Charter Champions receive our monthly newsletter, Community Food Beets, with council updates and sustainable food system building opportunities.

Creates community food connections

• Brings together farmers with institutions, businesses, food pantries and eaters
• Promotes alternative business models like food cooperatives, farmers markets, CSAs, bulk buying clubs and barter/trade

Encourages fair wage jobs throughout the food system
Demonstrates the value of supporting local food

• Keeps money circulating in our communities
• Values connection over convenience
• Reflects the true cost of food and tries to limit the negative impacts of the industrial food system

Regenerates soils and increases biodiversity

• Counteracts climate change through carbon storage in soils and plants
• Builds ecosystem resilience
• Promotes restorative agricultural practices such as perennial polyculture, rotational grazing, and no-till

As champions of this charter, we believe an inclusive and equitable local food system plays a critical role in the social, economic, environmental, and physical wellbeing​ of everyone and the planet. We support open community collaboration to foster access to healthy food for all, fair compensation for producers and all food workers, and the preservation and regeneration of farmland. 

By signing on as a champion of this Community Food Charter, you are helping to create a food system that:

Provides access to healthy local food for all

• Connects local growers to eaters of all socioeconomic backgrounds
• Integrates more local foods into food banks, pantries, schools and community meals
• Addresses land tenure  

Empowers local producers, and revitalizes food culture and traditions

• Cultivates community space for events, meals, and gatherings
• Honors Indigenous and New American cultures by decolonizing the food system

Promotes practical education around growing food

• Connects food growers with schools and teachers
• Creates more school and community gardens

Minimizes food waste and excess packaging

• Delivers surplus food to those in need
• Diverts waste food to animals
• Composts inedible food waste to enrich soils

Encourages accountability for environmental impacts throughout the system
Promotes healthy eating

• Shares information on preparing, enjoying, and preserving local fresh foods
• Values and supports trusted local food providers
• Provides food that celebrates diverse cultures
• Fosters healthy eating in schools, hospitals and other institutions
• Grows food everywhere!

Download the Charter:

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Community Food Matters
Norway, ME
communityfoodmattersme@gmail.com