A group of panelists discussed the impact of food on the local community Thursday evening in St. Petersburg. Key themes included health, education and access challenges.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The panelists were 15th Street Farm founder Emmanuel Roux, Homegrown Hillsborough food system program coordinator Monica Petrella, Florida Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association co-founder Howard Gunn Jr. and St. Petersburg Free Clinic CEO Jennifer Yeagley.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gunn emphasized that it\u2019s important to know \u201chow the food gets to the table\u201d; it\u2019s critical to understand \u201cexactly where the food is coming from.\u201d He explained that farmers sometimes have a difficult time \u201ctrying to convince the public\u201d that \u201chealth is your wealth.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Education is key, Gunn added. People should learn about farming systems. Some growers may use fertilizers or chemicals to aid in the process, which can be ultimately harmful to eat. \u201cKnow your farmer,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gunn cautioned the audience about purchasing processed food. Diet can lead to \u201cpreventable\u201d health problems such as heart attacks, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. \u201cWe don\u2019t live to eat,\u201d he explained. \u201cWe eat to live.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roux agreed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very simple,\u201d he argued. \u201cYou are what you eat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A local food system is key. Supporting regional farms can not only have a major economic impact, but can help make nutritious food more accessible. \u201cWe have tremendous potential to expand,\u201d Roux said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He recommended exploring underutilized land to encourage more farming in the bay region. Community members could make an inventory of available real estate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI can assure you that the farmer in Central Valley, California who grows 150 acres of broccoli doesn\u2019t give a hoot about the health, educational and social impact of his broccolis,\u201d Roux added. \u201cBecause he cannot. On the other hand, the farmers who are in the community are entrapped with the consumers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 15th Street Farm, a St. Petersburg-based nonprofit, has helped create more <\/a>than 15 school gardens.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cWe live in a society where we are disconnected from nature,\u201d Roux said. \u201cFood magically appears in the supermarket and magically disappears when you flush.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n He argued that every school should have a garden to help educate students about farming. This would allow them to experience it firsthand.\u00a0<\/p>\n