Today, October 24, is National Food Day! The organizers of National Food Day have partnered with groups across the country to have thousands of events that are oriented toward pushing for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, human way. One of the six principles that Food Day has adopted is to “Support fair conditions for food and farm workers.” Citing a 2011 report produced by the United Farm Workers and Bon Apetit Management Company Foundation, they suggest that we should be working to improve the conditions of agricultural and food-processing workers through increasing the enforcement of existing regulations and the unionization of the industries’ workers.The other principles include reducing diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods; supporting sustainable farms and limiting subsidies to big agribusiness; expanding access to food and alleviating hunger; protecting the environment and animals by reforming factory farms; and promoting health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids.
Today and everyday, National Farm Worker Ministry honors farm workers for the essential work that they do in providing the food that we eat.
To learn more about National Food Day and its support of farm workers, visit the National Food Day website.