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Miche Warwick: What is food security in the Kootenays?

The World Food Programme defines food security as existing when all people have adequate access.

The World Food Programme (WFP) defines food security as existing when all people have adequate access at all times to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.

In this definition food security considers three elements: availability, meaning that a sufficient amount of food must be available consistently; accessibility, meaning that people must be able to acquire an adequate amount of food through purchase, home production, barter, etc.; and utilization, which means that food must have a positive nutritional impact on people.

In simpler terms, food security can be stated as having consistent access to a sufficient amount of nutritious food, but how does this happen? How does a community ensure its residents can always access adequate amounts of healthy food?

Food security is reinforced through many community mechanisms and initiatives, and to paint a picture of the multi-faceted structure that makes up, and enables our local food system to continuously become more food-secure, consider that here in the Kootenays we have: More than 20 operating food banks;

* 21 BC Association of Farmers’ Market registered farmers’ markets;

* More than 15 active local food-focused organizations;

* More than 1150 farmers, as per the 2016 Ag Census;

* Thousands of value-added producers, restaurants, food trucks, catering businesses, and grocery retail outlets;

* Active Community Gardens in at least 16 communities.

There are also communities that have created and adopted food charters.

Revelstoke and Kaslo have both developed comprehensive food charters that place emphasis on supporting the economic, ecological and social well-being of their communities through net-positive initiatives. Most recently, Rossland joins this cohort with a new food charter of its own.

Rossland’s food charter embraces a community strategy that focuses on access to regional food; food education; prosperity for farmers; success for at home food growers; and increasing resilience to change. This food charter was created by Rossland’s new Food Security Task Force.

At a regional level, the three Regional Districts (RDEK, RDKB, and RDCK) have all adapted Agricultural Plans that recognize the importance of agriculture to the well-being of our communities. These plans identify current agricultural challenges and opportunities, as well as goals and strategies for implementing greater institutional support for initiatives that strengthen food security.

A top-identified priority is the need for extension services for commercial growers, and to this end, a contract has recently been awarded that will provide this service to the Kootenay-Columbia region. Extension services will build a more food secure region by supporting commercial growers and local food production.

The big picture, is that food security exists because of the work of an intricate and action-oriented network of diverse stakeholders.

Multiple levels of government collaborate with innumerable organizations who are often operating on the die-hard passion of volunteers, along with, of course, the folks behind production — farmers; producers; food services; and grocery retailers.

In the Kootenays, what food security looks like, is a dynamic, vibrant, committed web of folks who’re fueled by a common passion to make sure Kootenay communities always have access to good food — wholesome, nutritious, and locally produced in ways that our region can be proud of.

Miche Warwick is the founder of the Rossland Mountain Market Society and the Editor of the ‘Eat Kootenay Local’ seasonal food + farm newsletter. She regularly contributes articles to ag-focused publications across North America and engages eaters with the food on their plates through her Kootenay-based food blog: eatgrowflourish.com.