Let’s Talk Food

Where does our food come from? Are our children eating healthy food? Is everyone able to get enough food? How can we make our local food systems stronger?

A series of Let’s Talk Food forums held during 2003 in Eugene and Springfield, Veneta, Elmira, Oakridge, Junction City and Cottage Grove brought residents together to discuss these questions and assess access to food in their communities. The project was sponsored by FOOD for Lane County and the Lane County Food Coalition and funded by a two-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Almost 200 people – including farmers, public officials, people who have experienced food insecurity, parents and retailers - participated in group meetings designed to develop a community dialogue. Together they identified ways to improve their communities’ food systems. These discussions prompted donations by organic farmers to community food pantries as well as projects to develop new markets for farmers.

The Community Food Forum project has resulted in local action groups in Eugene, Springfield, Oakridge, Cottage Grove, Veneta and Junction City. Oakridge participants are focusing on expanding their food pantry’s refrigeration capacity, and participants in Junction City have located a site for a community garden. An action group in Eugene worked in Sheldon High School with students and the Eugene public school district to organize a pilot project for a local, organic salad bar.