Andrew Hathaway’s Post

Celebrating National Farmers Day: Honoring the Backbone of Our Food System Tomorrow, October 12, is National Farmers Day! It is the opportunity for all of us to recognize the hardworking people that are the backbone of our global food supply chain: farmers. They grow the food, commodities, and raw materials that sustain us, from local produce to large-scale agricultural crops. Without their dedication, our access to fresh and nutritious food would be far more uncertain.    Honor farmers by showing your appreciation to the people who put food on our tables.  Here are a few ways you can celebrate National Farmers Day:   Support Local Farmers Markets: Buying fresh produce directly from farmers at local markets is a great way to contribute to their livelihoods. You not only get access to fresh, seasonal produce, but you also strengthen your local economy and reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance food transport. Visit a Farm: Many farms have festivals this time of year, they offer tours or even volunteer opportunities. Visiting a farm allows you to gain a greater appreciation for the hard work that it is required to feed this great nation.  It's a chance to learn about the challenges farmers face and how modern agriculture impacts the environment and our food supply. Thank a Farmer:  A simple gesture can mean a lot.   Thank a local farmer in person, write a note, or you can share your appreciation on social media.  Acknowledgment of their hard work can go a long way in showing how much they are valued.

Last week we teamed up with Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania, along with Feeding Pennsylvania, for the first “Connecting Farmers & Food Banks” panel discussion. We explored how state and federal agricultural programs can boost Pennsylvania’s food system by supporting farmers and producers while tackling food insecurity in our communities. Through programs like the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS) and Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA), farmers can overcome common supply chain challenges to ensure they are getting fairly paid for the food they grow and that fresh food is making its way to folks who need it. Swipe to hear how PA farmers have benefited from programs like PASS and LFPA. ➡️ Following the event, Pasa Executive Director, Hannah Smith-Brubaker shared: “We believe attendees left feeling connected with peers, informed about potential opportunities, and inspired to create new distribution channels and partnerships to strengthen local and regional food systems." If you’re a farmer or producer curious about opportunities to achieve this mission, reach out to Tom Mainzer, Director of Agricultural Partnerships at Feeding Pennsylvania, at tmainzer@feedingpa.org. . . . #knowyourfarmer #knowyourfood #knowyourfarmerknowyourfood # regenerativeagriculture #farmtotable #smallscalefarming #localfarmers #regenerativefarming #locallygrown #supportlocalfarmers #farmtofork #foodjustice #fodsovereignty #foodsecurity

As the U.S. loses 2,000 acres of farmland a day, it’s more important than ever to support our local farmers, ranchers, & food producers. Farmers, market staff, and other experts share why #farmersmarkets are essential parts of America’s #foodsystems in @ediblestories. https://bit.ly/461kleY

STEP FOUR Define our impact! This was the front page of the Scottish Farmer 9 years ago; we had been forced out of dairy and it was a nightmare come true. 6 days ago, twelve farming families in SouthWest Scotland went through their own nightmare as a letter arrived from one of Europe's largest dairies who buy their milk. After a 'review' of their operations, the dairy decided that they no longer wanted the milk from their family farm - so in 12 months, the milk tanker wouldn't be coming anymore. This is not just statistics, or a news story - this is the livelihoods, the futures and the dreams of 12 families, 12 herds and 12 local communities RIGHT HERE in our home nation. What is going on, dairy? Modern dairy has decimated the family farm, it's focus on making products that are homogenised, standardised and 'efficient'; putting faceless brands on the front and wrapping them all up in waste-inducing packaging has lead to this. This year alone, over 350 dairy farms UK wide have given up - they join the more than 20,000 stopping since I was born!! Other dairies may pop in and be able to help these farms (and we really hope they do), but this is not the secure end of a story. This is not a 'new' thing, or a one-off - this is the reality of an industry that has failed it's food producers - and continues to do so. That's why we are building Mossgiel to be something different - one that values milk as the superfood that it is, the small scale farmers for the incredible work they do, the amazing animals that turn grass into milk and the fight back against a reductionist mindset of BIG company boardrooms and poor marketing departments. Our mission is not to hide and be 'another' dairy - our mission is to show how absolutely amazing dairy can be when we actually think about every step; from farm gate to dinner plate! Are you one of the 12 farmers affected by the big dairy decision to stop buying your milk and would consider a supported move to organics?? We'd love to speak to you - we have a mission to fulfill, and looking for partners to help us fight back. #Mossgiel #Mission #Dairy #Organic

At Harvest, we are proud to work with some of the finest local growers and producers, from small specialists to award-winning farms and market gardeners. We stock a whole range of fresh and ambient products from Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight. These are some of the reasons why eating local produce can be good for you and your community: ✅Freshness and nutrition: Locally grown crops are harvested at their peak, often arriving at the market within 24 hours of picking. So you can be sure you’re getting the freshest produce from farm to table.  ✅A safer food supply: Local food is less likely to be contaminated during transport. ✅Supports the local economy: Buying local produce supports local growers and the community. ✅Beneficial for the environment: Local food doesn't have to travel as far, reducing the carbon footprint of food transportation. Small-scale local production also helps to eliminate the waste of unneeded products made to adhere to overseas minimums. ✅An investment in the future: Supporting local agriculture helps to preserve farmland and green space. ✅Knowledge and engagement: Local food can encourage you to learn more about the origin of your food and the production methods used by the farmers. You can also talk to the producers directly and get information about their practices. Check out our local suppliers here: https://lnkd.in/eZrGMe4W

After meeting many regular agricultural farming families, meeting folks wanting healthy food-no GMOs--folks liking farm to table menus, culinary establishments, attendees of local farm markets, interfacing with former farmers of the Netherlands who had managed prior to those now in charge of their governments-helping to make their country become a prime world food producing nation-and earlier in life meeting with Congressional staffs re fighting world hunger, etc I see a dangerous precedent in current policies being dictated from folks carefully placed in strategic positions to control systems which could orchestrate political, ideological hostilities vs basic necessities--such as food production and mass starvation...https://lnkd.in/ekBDaeuD

The Importance of Local Food Systems 🥕 Local food systems support local economies, reduce transportation emissions, and provide fresh, nutritious food. Farmers markets and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs are great examples. Let's celebrate the farmers who contribute to local food systems. 🥕🏡 #LocalFood #FarmToTable

We're thankful for the Hmong farmers who lead the Twin Cities’ local food economy, comprising over 50% of the growers at the more than 70 farmers markets in the metro, many of which they helped revitalize or start, greatly increasing the region’s supply of nutritious, affordable food. 🍅 👨🏼🌾🥕👩🏽🌾🌻 Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA), whose farm is located in rural Dakota County, is working to advance the economic, social, and cultural prosperity of Hmong American farmers through capacity building, cooperative endeavors, and advocacy work to build a pathway to inter-generational community wealth. This is especially important in Minnesota, where only 1% of farmers are people of color, despite people of color making up 22% of the state’s population. “We have to support farmers, not just in being stewards of the land, and not just from a food production perspective, but from an economic perspective as well,” says Janssen Hang, executive director of HAFA. “And from a social, cultural, racial perspective, too, because these are underserved communities.” HAFA and other pioneers are creating a blueprint for how advancing sustainable agriculture and climate action go hand in hand with building generational wealth and racial justice. 👀 Watch our new video and read more about their work to grow a just and resilient food system in the Midwest: https://lnkd.in/gjqTTgyK 🫱🏾🫲🏼 A huge thank you to our other incredible partners like The Food Group, Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, and Midwest Farmers of Color Coalition who are also working hard to uplift historically marginalized farmers and elevate land stewards to their rightful position as climate leaders. 🎥 Line Break 📝 Lauren Boritzke Smith #climateaction #agroecology #regenerativeagriculture #sustainableagriculture #foodsystems

I have come to understand that there are interesting twists along each one's path. In one moment you're feeling overwhelmed and in another instance, you're all happy. Finding a balance requires wisdom and tact. The days when things seem to be slow and yet there's appreciable success if you look within. There is great virtue in treating your life's journey as a farmer would treats his tender vineyard. The farmer doesn't rush the vines to grow and is patient with the process. The farmer pays attention to his crops and celebrates each little milestone he sees. The farmer cherishes each farm activity and acts with dedication. There is no end goal for the farmer except to take care of his vine and make it blossom to maturity. Now treat your life's journey with the same focus and dedication a farmer would tend his vineyard. Cultivate discipline, commitment and resilience needed for the long haul. You will reap the rewards of your sacrifice and investments in due time. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. As the prices of food keeps going up, we tend to value food more. If you ate yesterday, celebrate a farmer in the comment section 😊 Agriculture is everyone's business as hunger is no body's mate 😅 As a food security expert, my goal is contribute my competencies in strengthening food systems for smallholder farmers and communities to thrive. #elevateyourprofessionalpresencewithAmaka #PhD #foodsecurity #agriculture #hunger #sdgs Amaka Ifeduba