We, the people who live work and play in Elgin County and in the City of St. Thomas value a healthy and sustainable community for all. One very important determinant of creating a healthy and sustainable community is food.  Food is a foundation for strengthening the economy, improving health, and building a vibrant community.  To support this vision of a sustainable healthy community, we strive to ensure that everyone has an adequate supply of safe, accessible, culturally appropriate food that meets their dietary needs. We believe that this vision is only possible through collaboration and partnership.

We agree with the United Nations Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights acknowledges the right for all to have access to adequate food. Furthering this basic tenet, we will work together to build a vibrant, sustainable, food secure community. We believe health, education, sustainable economic development, environment, culture and social justice are key priorities as we create a just and sustainable food system for all.

Because we value Health, we support…

• Public policy that recognizes food’s contribution to physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing.

• Making local food readily accessible for our rural and urban residents.

• Strategies to prevent and manage chronic disease through access to affordable healthy food.

• Local foods for their higher food safety standards, less distance travelled, less spoilage, less damage to the product and fresher, more nutritious food.

• Strategies to promote and implement safe food handling practices to prevent food borne illness.

• Food production methods that protect sources of drinking water.

Because we value Education, we support...

• Initiatives that develop food skills.

• Programs that train future farmers, growers and gardeners.

• The integration of food literacy and gardening into school curricula.

• Public education and the relationship between our health, the environment, and our food choices.

• Educating people about the impact of local food choices (power of the individual).

• The need to understand benefits of buying local food.

• Education about the high standards to which Canadian food producers must comply.

Because we value Sustainable Economic Development, we support …

• Prioritizing production, processing, distribution, and consumption of local food.

• Promoting our region as a food, agricultural, and culinary destination.

• Advancing food and agriculture research and innovation for alternative food systems.

• Buying local and minimizing fuel consumption.

• Diversification of the locally grown food.

Because we value Environment, we support…

• The preservation of local farmland that protects watersheds and wildlife habitat.

• The growth of food production methods that sustain or enhance the natural environment in both rural and urban settings.

• Decreasing carbon foot prints, CO2 emissions, and fuel consumption that comes with shorter distances to transport foods.

Because we value Culture, we support…

• Celebrating and promoting respect for traditional, cultural, and spiritual food diversity.

• Promoting the dignity and joy of growing, preparing and eating food.

• Strengthening links between the farm and the table.

Because we value Social Justice, we support…

• Identifying healthy food as a social right and ensuring access regardless of income.

• Championing a fair wage for the production of local food, and a safe and respectful environment for all food workers.

• Helping to ensure land access for the growing of local food.

• Advocating for income, education, employment, housing and transportation policies that support access to healthy, sustainable food.

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