Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Post

Like chicken farms, the state of dairy farms in the U.S. has been under scrutiny over the last few years. Much of the complaints around dairy farms relates to how the cows are treated. To continue to produce milk, dairy cows are impregnated and their calves are taken away immediately. Female calves are kept and grown so that they can produce more milk, while male calves are usually terminated. While some dairy farms are not necessarily involved in such a transactional treatment of cows for their milk, the practice listed above is very common place, so much so that companies like Fairlife have faced heat for how they get their milk. If you are interested, be sure to check out "Mercy For Animals", a nonprofit committed improving the treatment of animals in food production and beyond. #foodhistory #foodproduction

Avocados have exploded in popularity across the United States. But to produce all that guac, the avocado industry is gobbling, too — scarfing up vast swaths of Mexican forest, where millions of monarch butterflies migrate to spend the winter and other imperiled wildlife struggle to survive. Most avocados sold in the United States come from a single region in Mexico, where the industry burns forests and uses an enormous amount of water — 18.5 gallons to produce one avocado — in a region already suffering from extreme drought. Avocado production also brings land grabs, pollution, and violence to Indigenous and other local communities. Research from Climate Rights International has linked this devastation to importers that supply major U.S. grocery stores with avocados. Tell U.S. grocery stores to adopt avocado-sourcing policies that protect human rights and monarch habitat. While some grocery companies have anti-deforestation policies for palm oil and beef, few — if any — have them for avocados. And most corporate policies to protect human rights don't address violence to Indigenous and other local communities in their supply chains. If we demand that grocery stores source avocados responsibly, we can build a better food system. But we need to act now.               Every day more than 10 football fields' worth of Mexican forest are cleared for avocado production. If the United States keeps consuming avocados at this rate, by 2050 the land destroyed to grow them will have increased by more than 70% — at the expense of even more forests, including those of the world-famous Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. Imperiled monarchs are plunging toward extinction already. Losing their winter home in Mexico could be the final blow. Join us in urging top U.S. grocery chains to adopt an avocado-sourcing policy that protects monarchs and human rights.

If you even loosely follow the news in Minnesota, you probably already know that we once again broke the record for most food shelf visits ever, at 7.5 million in 2023. You may also know that Second Harvest Heartland is ponying up to do something about it, starting with our new #MakeHungerHistory initiative, which aims to cut hunger in half by 2030. I wrote a little something about it and hope you'll check it out: https://lnkd.in/gP8e3tTC Kudos to Allison O'Toole for setting the vision, the Board of Directors for embracing it, and all my incredible colleagues who are already working to make this a reality. It'll take a whole-of-community effort to get it done, and it won't happen without additional investments and policies that target hunger at its roots. Which is why hunger is, ultimately, a policy choice. Let's choose to end it - starting by cutting it in half over the next six years. #mnleg #hunger #foodsecurity #foodinsecurity #moonshot #Minnesota #advocacy

Happy #DairyMonth from Sunflower Economic Development Corporation! DYK the dairy industry in Kansas is not just about producing delicious milk, cheese, and ice cream – it’s a major #economic engine driving our communities forward! Here’s how: ✅ Economic Boost: The dairy industry contributes in excess of $1.3 billion annually to the #Kansas economy. ✅ Job Creation: Kansas dairy farms provide more than 12,000 jobs, from farmhands to truck drivers, veterinarians to dairy technicians, helping our communities thrive. ✅ Production Powerhouse: Kansas is home to more than 300 dairy farms, producing at least 4 billion pounds of milk each year. ✅ Community Support: Dairy farms are often family-owned and operated, contributing to the tight-knit fabric of our #rural communities. They support local schools, events, and charities, making #RuralKS a better place for everyone. ✅ Sustainability: Many dairies are committed to sustainable practices, ensuring we protect our environment while producing high-quality dairy products. So, let’s raise a glass (of milk, of course!) to our hardworking dairy farmers and the delicious, nutritious products they bring to our tables every day. Cheers to #NationalDairyMonth and the continued #growth and prosperity of western Kansas!

This is my first time to do this, and here it goes. I talk about the family we are within Farm Credit and the Cooperative spaces. I love my Cooperatives. Y'all are what make me love agriculture even more. We have always helped support the communities we are in and when able supported the broader agriculture community. I am working with several at AgSouth to identify the longer term needs to the devastation in Western North Carolina. One thing we can do right now is start coordinating efforts to make donations for winter relief in these farming communities. Please feel free to reach out to me and let's get hay and other supplies, as well as those who can transport it identified for the months to come. We will need to go through the appropriate NCDA & BEOC channels in the coming weeks. This is what I need: 1. Who can donate hay? (myself, and any who had huge hay crops this year) 2. Who can donate water tanks? (any of my coops???) 3. Who can donate vet supplies? 4. Who can donate temporary fencing? 5. Who can help transport these items? (trucking, aviation...any help here) American AgCredit Texas Farm Credit Capital Farm Credit GROWMARK, Inc. Tennessee Farmers Cooperative AgVantis, Inc. Agvalley Co Op Southern States Cooperative AgTexas Farm Credit Compeer Financial GreenStone Farm Credit Services National Cattlemen's Beef Association Mississippi Land Bank Texas A&M University Oklahoma AgCredit Farm Credit Mid-America Farm Credit East, ACA AgCredit, ACA AgCountry Farm Credit Services Farm Credit Services of AmericaKANSAS COOPERATIVE COUNCIL Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council NEBRASKA COOPERATIVE COUNCIL The Cooperative Finance Association I know in my haste, I have forgotten many...please share as you see fit.

Avocados have exploded in popularity across the United States. But to produce all that guac, the avocado industry is gobbling, too — scarfing up vast swaths of Mexican forest, where millions of monarch butterflies migrate to spend the winter and other imperiled wildlife struggle to survive. Most avocados sold in the United States come from a single region in Mexico, where the industry burns forests and uses an enormous amount of water — 18.5 gallons to produce one avocado — in a region already suffering from extreme drought. Avocado production also brings land grabs, pollution, and violence to Indigenous and other local communities. Research from Climate Rights International has linked this devastation to importers that supply major U.S. grocery stores with avocados. Tell U.S. grocery stores to adopt avocado-sourcing policies that protect human rights and monarch habitat. While some grocery companies have anti-deforestation policies for palm oil and beef, few — if any — have them for avocados. And most corporate policies to protect human rights don't address violence to Indigenous and other local communities in their supply chains. If we demand that grocery stores source avocados responsibly, we can build a better food system. But we need to act now.               Every day more than 10 football fields' worth of Mexican forest are cleared for avocado production. If the United States keeps consuming avocados at this rate, by 2050 the land destroyed to grow them will have increased by more than 70% — at the expense of even more forests, including those of the world-famous Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. Imperiled monarchs are plunging toward extinction already. Losing their winter home in Mexico could be the final blow. Join us in urging top U.S. grocery chains to adopt an avocado-sourcing policy that protects monarchs and human rights.

Even though Indiana is known for its significant agricultural output, close to a million Hoosiers deal with food insecurity, according to Feeding America. But it’s not about access to just any food, leaders addressing food insecurity want to make sure people can access affordable and nutritious food that promotes health and prevents disease. In 2020, leaders at the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation (SJCHF) helped launch Double Up Indiana, a program that allows people who use SNAP/EBT cards to double their buying power when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Participants receive a dollar’s worth of fruits and vegetables for every SNAP dollar they spend for up to $20 per day. Double Up Food Bucks Michigan, which has approximately 250 participating sites, helped the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation start Double Up in Allen County. Currently, 53 locations (farmers markets and grocery stores) across the state are Double Up participants. This includes 11 locations in Fort Wayne. While SJCHF’s efforts have helped get more fruits and vegetables into the hands of Allen County residents, hunger remains a problem in the state. To help address this the Indiana Department of Health, which helped fund the growth of Double Up in Indiana, has applied for a grant that would allow Double Up to expand to even more locations across the state. We learn more about what an statewide expansion could look like. https://lnkd.in/gWZFnSVg

I think that eliminating cruel sow gestation crates is a smart business practice.

While this picture may seem like 15 cases of apples to most, it represents something much bigger than any one of us. At Food Dignity, we invest in our local community by purchasing the surplus apples from Heller's Orchard to distribute to underserved communities in need of fresh produce. Rather than asking for free apples, we inquire about farmers' biggest risks of crop loss to prevent it and increase their profits. Our model acts as a risk buffer, taking a proactive approach to hunger relief. 🍎🍎🍎 Unlike traditional practices, our food doesn't travel thousands of miles. It goes directly from small local farms to small local nonprofits, served the same day it's harvested during the growing season. 🥬🥬🥬 By supporting our network of 43 Pennsylvania farmers, we create new markets and a food supply chain focused on equity, sustainability, systems thinking, and dignity. Food Dignity is revolutionizing hunger relief without the need for warehouses or extensive logistics. 👩🌾👩🌾👩🌾 #FoodDignity

  At Food Dignity®, we know that if we do not support our local farmers, we will lose their valuable connection to our land and our local economy. Today, our local farmer is harvesting enough arugula and salad mix for 100 households to distribute tomorrow! The produce is planted, grown, and harvested to create food equity. Hunger is not an afterthought. In other words, our clients receive the freshest produce available. The Food Dignity® Movement creates a new market for our farmers and supports a robust local food supply chain. We DO NOT require warehousing, extra staffing, trucking logistics, or market research. Our operation is lean, efficient, and effective. Together, we slash expenses, reduce food waste, and serve high quality fresh food immediately after harvest. We also eliminate individual and institutional barriers to food access. For example, we do not ask a mother running from domestic violence to take an extra bus route to a food pantry that may or may NOT be open 2 hours out of the week. We give her food onsite during her counseling sessions. Our research indicates that women stay out of abusive relationships because they have peace of mind. They know they can feed their children nourishing food with dignity. Together, our partners do the following: 1. Invests in our local Pennsylvania economy 2. Provides PA agriculture to people who need it most  3. Invests in local farmers - meaning we pay a fair price and do not ask for favors or donation 4. Increases access to fresh, healthy food, which is proven to prevent adverse health effects, including diabetes and heart disease, and improve mental health 5. Improves nonprofits’ ability to serve vulnerable populations, which leads to increased participation and funding Watch our short video (3 min video) and hear from the farmers 👩🌾 themselves in the comments! ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ #FoodDignity #FoodDignityMovement #FoodDignityBook