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Hunger In The Friendly City
COMMUNITY GOALS FOR THE HARRISONBURG FOOD SYSTEM – Link to Source
• Food is reliably affordable to all households.
• Food is convenient and accessible to all households.
• Food is healthy and humanely raised.
• Food available reflects the needs of our ethnic and cultural communities.
• Food is locally produced to support the local economy.
• Food systems are resilient, meaning they are reliable in the face of environmental and economic challenges.
• Food and farming jobs provide living wages and safe working conditions.
• Food and farming training opportunities provide career paths for youth and adults who have experienced food insecurity.
• Policy and regulations promote farms, gardens and food-based businesses across the city through regular community engagement.
• All cultural food-based practices are celebrated as a welcomed part of the overall community.
• An equitable food system prioritizes the concerns of people who are ‘food insecure.’
FAQ – Link to Source
What's Harrisonburg's food insecurity
In a report released by Virginia State University in 2014 called Food Deserts in Virginia, Harrisonburg ranked 4th out of 8 cities with reported high levels of low-income residents. According to the report:
• 18.4% of Harrisonburg residents are food insecure (8,860 people)
• Harrisonburg represented the highest number of low-income residents (31.8%) and percentage of the population eligible for SNAP benefits (37.3%).
What is an equitable food system?
A food system is comprised of all the elements that it
takes to grow, process, transport, sell, consume, and
dispose of food. In an equitable food system, food
for all residents is:
• Affordable
• Convenient
• Healthy
• Culturally relevant, and
• Reliable
An alternative to the industrialization of America’s food system?
Many localities are advocating for community-focused food systems that emphasize the values and priorities of local residents and businesses. A food system that is “community-focused” and “equitable” looks first to the residents that experience the most insecurity in meeting their day-to-day food needs and seeks to
find approaches to increase their access to resources so that they can meet their daily, monthly, and long- term nutritional needs.
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Our Community Place
//Phone
Office: 540.442.7727
Community Center: 540.208.7552
//Address
17 East Johnson Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22802