Food shed, food equity, food mile, food security... whatever happened to just plain food, the noun?  

To begin with, there is no such thing as “plain food” anymore. Concerns about production, cost, availability, nutritional content, and its overall impact on public health and the environment have put food at the fast-growing intersection of U.S. public policy and grass roots initiatives. 

At KCRW we are taking a look at food system reform and helping some local stakeholders figure out how to take a comprehensive approach toward a more healthy, sustainable, prosperous and equitable food system. There are already a number of innovative and energetic efforts underway in our area, among them:

·         Crabtree Farms 

·         The Chattanooga Market  

·         Sequatchie Cove Farm

·         Greenlife Grocery  

·         Main St. Farmers Market 

·         Signal Mountain Farm

·         Hamilton County Step One Program 

·         Chattanooga Area Food Bank

These efforts - and many others - share a common belief: that everyone should have access to healthy, affordable food; and that its production, distribution and preparation should reinforce principles of community, sustaining and replenishing rather than diminishing the natural environment. These ideas aren’t new of course, but their proponents are more effectively standing up and challenging agri-business practices and government policies that deliver us cheap-but-unhealthy food that contributes to alarming childhood health trends and a damaged landscape.