New England Farm Union
added 07/26/10
Preserving New England’s Capacity to Feed and Fuel Itself
by Annie Cheatham, President,
New England Farmers Union
What will it take to change America’s food and farming system so that local, family-owned farms and fisheries can flourish? What will it take to ensure that all our food is safe from harmful bacteria? What will it take to protect farmers and fishermen from unfair health care systems? What will it take to preserve New England’s capacity to feed and fuel itself?
These are questions that the New England Farmers Union (NEFU) is asking its 900 farmer and food co-op members every day. Our short answer is that it will take passionate advocates who care about where their food comes from and how that food is grown and processed. It will take food co-op members who want to become food activists.
NEFU and National Cooperative Month
During National Cooperative Month, what better time to announce that one of our nation’s oldest cooperative farm organizations, the National Farmers Union (NFU), has decided to invest nearly $1.5 million over 5 years in New England Farmers Union? NFU has progressive policies developed by its members in 25 states, including:
- sustainable dairy policies including supply management,
- climate change rules that reward farmers for ecological services,
- health care for rural Americans,
- food safety regulations that don’t penalize small producers,
- specialty crop support for fruit and veggie growers,
- support for “buy local” initiatives and farm-to-school programs, and
- more funding for conservation and farmland protection.
A dairy farmer in Vermont who is part of the Cabot Cooperative, recently said, “I don’t fit in with organic organizations because we are conventional farmers. And I don’t fit in with the other national agriculture organizations because they are too conservative. I am so happy that National Farmers Union is coming to New England. Its values and positions are ones that I can support.”
What You Can Do
You are a member of a food cooperative. You want to “buy local” and “sell local.” You want a local food economy to thrive, for food to travel as few miles as possible, for farmers to be paid well, and for all of us to eat good, healthy food. The launch of the New England Farmers Union makes it possible for you to amplify the voice of New England agriculture – the farmer and the consumer – so that policymakers look east as well as west when they write farm and food policies. We have a story to tell. We are drawing attention to the great work we are doing in New England on sustainable agriculture. With your help, we can realize our vision of preserving New England’s capacity to feed and fuel itself.
Learn More
NEFU invites you, a dedicated member of a food co-op with a strong commitment to local food and sustainable farming, to join the organization’s efforts and bring your local voice to the national table. Learn about New England Farmers Union’s programs, membership, and advocacy at http://www.NewEnglandFarmersUnion.org/join.html.
