September 2011 Blog Posts

It’s a new era in Washington DC farm policy discussions. Not only because there is less money to pay for USDA programs than anytime in recent memory but also because it looks as though commodity payments – the basis of farm support since 1996 – are going to disappear.

The Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan (ROC-Michigan) and Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC-United) marked the 10th anniversary of September 11th with the gala opening of COLORS-Detroit, a restaurant that will train hundreds of Detroiters to work in the restaurant industry. In addition to training, ROC promotes living wages, access to fresh and healthy foods, and the support of good food social enterprises owned by ROC members. ROC-United and restaurant workers displaced by the September 11th attacks established the first COLORS restaurant, which is worker-owned, in New York City in 2006. ROC-United has 8,000 members in seven cities nationwide.

The Philadelphia food scene is bursting with individuals and organizations making incredible strides toward a more just and sustainable food system. The Fair Food book tour set out to meet them all.

Cracks in produce supply chains signal local food potential Joe Pirrone knows what’s driving growth for his packing and shipping business. Mike Pirrone Produce — named after Joe’s father, who started the business — markets vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, from 55 nearby farms, including Pirrone’s own 1,300-acre operation. The company is expanding its southeast Michigan plant to capitalize on what Pirrone says is “tremendous opportunity” in the market for fresh and local.