Declare your Food Independence this July 4

June 16, 2010

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Eric Davis, Haberman, 612.372.6465, eric@modernstorytellers.com Lindsey Frey, Haberman, 612.372.6449, lindsey@modernstorytellers.com

DECLARE YOUR FOOD INDEPENDENCE THIS JULY 4

A Call for Individuals – and a National Petition to the 50 Governors and Other Elected Officials – to Celebrate Independence Day with Locally Sourced Meals  

MINNEAPOLIS (June 14, 2010) – 50 states. 50 governors. 50 first families celebrating July 4 with locally sourced food – that’s the vision of a grassroots group of individuals passionate about the healthful and economic benefits of local food. For the second year, Kitchen Gardeners International is conducting “Food Independence Day” (www.FoodIndependenceDay.org), a petition asking the nation’s 50 governors and thousands of elected officials to help declare their food independence next month by eating a locally sourced meal on Independence Day.

With support from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) Food and Society Fellows, the goal of the campaign is to educate and encourage consumers to source local and sustainable ingredients for their holiday meals. And, by requesting that their elected officials do the same, locavores are able to show, not just tell, officials why they think policy that supports local food systems is smart, healthy and patriotic.

The petition is accessible via www.FoodIndependenceDay.org and asks elected officials to “Whet our appetites by publishing your planned menu in advance of the holiday. Share your recipes and the names of the local farmers, fisherfolk and food producers whose ingredients you’ll be using. And, tell us why local food matters to you.

“As residents of your states and by our signatures below,” the petition continues, “we pledge to join you in this celebration of edible independence by eating healthy and delicious foods from our own local farms, gardens, and communities.”

This is the second year Kitchen Gardeners International and IATP have joined to encourage Food Independence on Independence Day among individuals and elected officials. Last year, 10 governors shared their local 4th of July menus, and more than 5,000 individuals signed the petition and pledge. Including last year’s signatures, more than 6,000 have already signed for 2010.

“Food Independence Day easily illustrates that eating local foods is patriotic, whether you’re buying them from producers in your area or growing some of your own. They’re good for our local farmers, our economies, our health, and our nation,” said Erin MacDougall, an IATP Food and Society Fellow and the Healthy Eating and Active Living Program Manager for Seattle and King County Public Health in Washington State. “Through this effort, we hope to foster enough interest and momentum that our 50 governors, their families and communities across the nation will take note and enjoy their July 4 celebrations by feasting on local produce, meats, beverages and desserts from their region. In doing so, we hope they set an example for and encourage their constituents to do the same.” For more information and to sign to the petition, individuals can visit the Facebook site accessible through http://foodindependenceday.org/.   Once on the site, participants can share details, photos, menus and locations of their own locally sourced 4th of July meals. Organizers will submit the petitions to governors the final week of June, in the days leading up to their July 4 holiday.

About Kitchen Gardeners International KGI is a nonprofit network of over 10,000 gardeners from 100 countries who are working together to help individuals, families, and communities achieve greater levels of food self-reliance through the promotion of kitchen gardening, home-cooking, and sustainable local food systems. In doing so, KGI seeks to connect, serve, and expand the global community of people who grow some of their own food. For more info, see: http://www.kitchengardeners.org/.

About the IATP Food and Society Fellows The IATP Food and Society Fellows Program provides fellowships to professionals in food and agriculture from across North America, enabling them to use mass media channels to inform and shape the public agenda. The goal of the program is to create sustainable food systems that promote good health, vibrant communities, environmental stewardship, worker justice and accessibility for all. Fellows come from many disciplines—chefs, farmers, nutritionists, activists, public health professionals, fishers, policy experts and academics. www.foodandsocietyfellows.org

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