FAIR FOOD FIGHT NIGHT
WHERE: Cheeky Monkey Deli in St. Paul 525 Selby Avenue.
WHEN: 7pm, Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Join Fair Food Fight next Tuesday for a rousing night of good food, good drinks, and deep thinks at the hip and lovely Cheeky Monkey Deli in St. Paul.
WHAT WE’LL BE FIGHTING ABOUT
“Big Food” vs “Crop Mobs”
Big Food companies say organic, sustainable, and local food is too expensive, and the only way we’re going to feed 9 billion people is with cheap food made abundant by biotechnology, pesticides, and massively higher yields.
Are they right? I dunno. They might be…
If so, is there a place for small farmers in this “big is beautiful” ethic in American ag? Or are small, local farmers doomed to be a sad niche, and little more?
Enter John Mesko of Lighthouse Farm in Princeton, Minnesota. Mesko runs a 100% grassfed, sustainable meat, egg, and dairy operation and sells his delicious pastured foods direct to consumers in the Twin Cities. He says small sustainable farmers are the future. You can meet him at Fair Food Fight Night next Tuesday.
Are small farmers on the ropes? Hell no, says the Twin Cities Crop Mob.
This growing group of “city mice” is travelling out to the country to help small ag compete by providing a day of free labor at a local sustainable farm — clearing brush, planting seedlings, beating back buckthorn, and pulling up fence posts.
Interested in cultivating ties to the Mob? Next Tuesday, you can meet some of the Mobsters that are headed to Living Song Farm’s to work this weekend. Plus, you can even join a Crop Mob on Fair Food Fight Night.
Cool farmers, impassioned food-pols, smart alec gourmands, and Fair Food Fighters will all be gathering for the first Fight Night at Cheeky Monkey.
See you there.
UPDATE: We’ll be raffling “local breakfast” courtesy Lighthouse Farm at Fair Food Fight Night. You’ll have a chance to win 1 pound of grassfed bacon and a dozen pastured eggs, plus other prizes, too!
I wish I could come…
…but I already know who will win. While researching a Simple Good & Tasty article a few months ago, I came across a U.N. study that said the future of agriculture was not big factory farms, but little local farms because a) they could adapt more quickly to local conditions and b) they were more able to incorporate measures to work with, rather than against, the local environment–for example, farmers in Africa can let trees grow in their fields, this provides habitat for trees and tree-dwelling creatures as well as firewood for people, shade for plants, etc etc.
Now DAMN, I wish I could remember the name of that report! I DO remember that the United States and China both published their dissent/objections at the preface of the report. Thick thing, it was, too–few hundred pages. Anyone got a clue what I could be talking about??
No worries, Amy. There will be FFF Nights all summer long.
You’re probably thinking of “Agriculture at a Crossroads” (.pdf) by the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development? I haven’t read it, but I’m always seeing it cited — might have to finally digest the synthesis report.
That’s the document. Thanks, Dragon. – Amy
I’m really excited that there will be many of these, because I would LOVE to meet with other Crop Mob/ local food city mouse people, but most likely will not be able to attend this coming Tuesday. Here’s hoping you post the highlights afterwards for those of us that can’t be there…
~Lauren
You bet, Lauren! We’ll say hi to Living Song Farm for ya too.
The next Fair Food Fight Night will be Tuesday, June 22. I’m still nailing down details, but it’s going to be a doozy. So keep the date free!
I’m hoping to get more involved with Minnesota agriculture. However, my support and involvement has only gone so far as to rent Food Inc. and buy a share at a MN CSA for the summer.
Will I be totally lost if I come to this event tomorrow? And on top of that, none of my friends are into food so will it be okay if I come alone? I’m just hoping to learn and meet some people with similar interests, but I’m admitting up front I’m probably 20 steps behind everyone else!
I would love it if you came! And I don’t think you’ll be lost. This is just a meet-up for people like you, farmers, and other folks interested in local food. Should be a very fun crowd for meeting like-minded pals.
And I wouldn’t be shy about how much you know and what you’re doing. Frankly, if you’re doing a CSA and watching good food documentaries, you’re actually pretty far down the road!
I can’t make it this Tuesday, but look forward to the rundown from the event and updates on future events. I’ve mentioned this project to a few friends who also showed interest.
)
Corryn