Wal-Mart, a blessing and a curse for local food

News came out today that Wal-Mart, the uber-megastore-to-end-all-megastores, has released a plan to address its global sustainability goals. Everyone knows that Wal-Mart makes or breaks the market of consumed goods. As the world’s largest public corporation it owns 8500 stores in 15 countries with 55 different names. Wal-Mart employs more than 2.1 million people worldwide and 1.4 million here in the Unites States. Last year alone, Wal-Mart brought in over $400 billon. No matter your stance on this ever-present retailer, there is no doubt that they control the ebb and flow of many consumer goods.

As of today, they intend to spearhead the local food movement and sustainability on a global scale.
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The Oregon Sustainability Experience

Sustainability is all the rage.

Last week I boarded a bus with 30 professionals, grad students and other food politic wonks to explore the pieceses of an ever-increasing sustainable food system here in Oregon. Coined “The Oregon Sustainability Experience,” the week-long adventure drove us all over, visiting multiple participants and benefactors to the evolving sustainable food systems across Oregon. From Portland to Hillsboro to Monmouth to Corvallis to Philomath to Tangent to Junction City to Salem to Brooks to Woodburn and then back to Portland, we invested 40+ hours to investigation, analysis, reflection and immense discussion on the various topics that be.
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Food Revolution – One Class at a Time

Last night I stood in a mostly empty gymnasium inside a catholic church in NE Portland. Sitting down beside me were 18 men, women and children who had all escaped the comforts of beautiful summer weather to sweat in a large, metallic industrial kitchen. What might seem like a desperate attempt to reach out, was in fact a meaningful experience for all who attended.
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Drink Soda, Get Fat or “Don’t Drink Yourself Fat”

New York City’s public health department is taking the war on obesity to a whole new level! The video produced by the health department has the clearest of clear messages – “don’t drink yourself fat.” (Check out their provocative ad here.)
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An Intentional Local Food System

The overlapping interests of a just food system.

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