JUSTICIA ALIMENTARIA Y AMBIENTAL

JUSTICIA ALIMENTARIA Y AMBIENTAL

By Maricella Fuentes

Inequalities exist within our food system today. The US Department of Agriculture estimates that 13.7 million households in the US were food insecure in 2019. This means predominantly low-income and families of color lacked consistent access to enough food. Families face the uncertainty of not having enough food due to economic hardships including layoffs and emergencies. These types of situations force families to choose between paying bills and buying food.

In juxtaposition, there is an abundance of food being wasted. In fact, 30 to 40 percent of food goes to waste. Most of it ends up in landfills where it produces methane - a greenhouse gas. We also must account for the resources used to produce these foods including the 80 percent of California’s water used for agriculture illustrates that there is a great waste of water used for food that later ends up in landfills.

“There is an abundance of food being wasted. In fact, 30 to 40 percent of food goes to waste.”

Social inequality highlights the importance of achieving food and environmental justice. Food justice aspires to close these inequality gaps within our food system. It ensures that communities can exercise their right to produce, distribute, and consume food in order to mitigate food system inequalities. This movement intersects with environmental justice as food manufacturers and farms create significant amounts of air pollution that contains hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and methane. Environmental justice aims for fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. With work that reflects these goals and values, I’m hopeful that we can make a more just world for everyone, even for lives in East San José.

“ Food justice aspires to close these inequality gaps within our food system. It ensures that communities can exercise their right to produce, distribute, and consume food in order to mitigate food system inequalities. ”

San José does suffer from its own food inequalities. The city is filled with an abundance of high-calorie, unhealthy food options such as fast food, convenience stores, and liquor stores. Research shows that food swamps are a strong predictor of obesity rates. However, there are also food sovereignty projects in San José. Food sovereignty aims to give people the right to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. Veggielution accomplishes this with our urban farm and with our farm boxing project that provides fruit and vegetables to families in need during the pandemic. Saturdays on the farm are when people can come out to volunteer, learn about specialty crops, and buy fruit and vegetables. Also as Climate Action Corp a fellow, I joined the team to help mitigate food waste on the farm and to educate the community on food preservation. My wish is that this work will empower the community to make meaningful changes to their health and to create more sustainability. While there is much more to do to acquire complete food and environmental justice, these projects are important steps to achieve them.

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