Eat Real
In conjunction with the national Food Day 2011, the students of the Food Policy class in the Public Policy Leadership Department of the Trent Lott Leadership Institute and the Office of Sustainability hosted the first celebration of Food Day on the Ole Miss campus Wednesday, October 19, 2011. This event was intended to raise awareness of food policy issues that are relevant to today’s society, especially in Mississippi. In addition to raising awareness of policy issues, the goal for Food Day is to serve as a promotion of local farmers, farmers markets, and the products they offer.
Presentations are now available online by clicking the links below.
Food Day 2011: Wednesday, October 19
"Farmer's Market" on the Plaza
Local farmers showcased produce, local meat, and other products from the Lafayette County area. Participating organizations included:
- Brown's Family Dairy
- Farmers' Market (Watch the Souther Foodways Alliance Oral History Interview with owner Liz Stagg)
- Old Thyme Farm
- Stan's Country Store and Meat Market
- Taylor Farmers' Market and Taylor Creek Farms
- Yokna Bottoms Farm
UM Food Day Program, Student Union, Room 405
Evolution of the Agriculture System, Dr. Joseph "Jody" Holland, Visiting Assistant Professor, Public Policy Leadership
Exploring Diversity and Pursuing Social Justice in the Agrifood System: Focus on Farm Operators, Dr. John J. Green, Director of the Center for Population Studies and Associate Professor of Sociology
Greenwood, MS Farmers' Market Oral History Project, Amy Evans Streeter, Oral Historian for the Southern Foodways Alliance
The program agenda for Food Day at Ole Miss included a broad discussion regarding agriculture and food policy issues from the historical background to the current state of the production system, food system impacts from a sociological perspective including impacts on women and minority groups, pictures and oral histories from Farmers’ Markets and Greenwood Farmers’ Market, a discussion of local farming outlets around Oxford and their products, and a question and answer session with local farmers.
What is Food Day?
Aimed at promoting healthy, sustainable, affordable, and just food systems in America, Food Day is a national grassroots mobilization backed by some of the most prominent voices for energizing the food movement. On October 24, 2011, people will gather at events big and small and from coast to coast in homes, schools, colleges, churches, city halls, farmers’ markets, supermarkets, and elsewhere to raise awareness about food issues and advocate for change. Think of it as an Earth Day for food!
Goals of National Food Day
Spearheaded by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest, Food Day is organized around six main policy goals:
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1. Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods
2. Support sustainable farms and limit subsidies to big agribusiness
3. Expand access to food and alleviate hunger
4. Protect the environment and animals by reforming factory farms
5. Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids
6. Support fair working conditions for food and farm workers
Visit the National Food Day website to learn more about this campagin!
