We are grieving with the friends and family of George Floyd and our Black community members who have faced injustice for too long. Our hearts are with friends, neighbors and small business owners who have been impacted by the events of the last week, with peaceful protesters who were injured in their efforts to be heard and with our country as we work together for much needed justice, equity and peace.
Food systems work is about the people of our communities, building connections and supporting one another. At the same time, our nation’s food system has been built by exploiting the labor, expertise and resources of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC).
Everyone deserves equitable access to healthy food and fair wages for their work. Mill City Farmers Market is committed to helping grow a just, local and sustainable food system by collaborating with leaders in communities of color. We remain committed to ensuring that BIPOC farmers in our region have equal access to resources, markets and visibility. A just food system can’t be achieved without racial equity.
We recognize MCFM is and has historically been white-led, and we acknowledge that we hold undeserved privilege as such. As an organization, we seek to do better, learn more, listen more and serve our community more equitably to support our BIPOC neighbors, farmers, business owners and community members because we believe Black Lives Matter.
We are currently reading and following the resources below. Thank you
- Farming While Black BOOK by Leah Penniman, Soul Fire Farm
- Black, White and Green BOOK by Alison Hope Alkon
- Whiteness and Farmers Markets’ ARTICLE by Alison Hope Alkon & Christie Grace McCullen
- The White Lies of Craft Culture’ ARTICLE by Lauren Michele Jackson
- “If They Only Knew”: Color Blindness and Universalism in California Alternative Food Institutions ARTICLE by Julie Guthman
Find these readings and more from Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems’ Bibliography on Structural Racism in Food Systems