A Movement for a Fairer Food System
By Harry Rhodes, Executive Director
At Farm Aid 2025! From left: Anna Pesek (a FACT farmer), FACT Board member Chris Muse, and FACT's Samantha Gasson and Harry Rhodes.
Over the last couple of months, I have attended several gatherings with people from throughout the US who believe that we can, together, create a more just food system, one that supports farmers and food workers, and believes that all people should have access to healthy food.
I attended Farm Aid’s 40th Anniversary in late September. Farm Aid brings together farmers to discuss ideas for creating a farming system that truly supports independent farmers and not industrial farming. These conversations were followed by the Farm Aid Festival led by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and Margo Price, along with many talented performers. Thousands of people attended this festival, coming together to celebrate farmers and good food. It felt great to be gathered together with so many people who care about the food that we eat, the people who work hard to get that food to us all, and who believe in the strength of community.
In mid-October, I gathered again with a community working to create a better food system. I attended the HEAL Food Alliance Summit. HEAL believes that all people have the right and means to produce, procure, prepare, share, and eat food that’s nutritionally and culturally appropriate, free from exploitation of themselves and others, and to be in their full power in harmony with the rest of nature.
It is powerful to gather together with people who believe in the strength of community and organizing to stand up to the policy makers who have long ignored the needs of food and farm workers and support small farmers who are growing food for their communities. We talked about HEAL’s strategic plan and its path forward in difficult times.
Last week, I gathered in Washington, DC, at George Washington University for the inaugural Food and Agriculture Policy Summit, sponsored by Food Tank, Global Food Institute, Culinary Institute of America, and Chef Jose Andres. The focus was again on ways to create a different, more just food system. Some of the key points of this gathering, which featured many inspiring speakers, were:
Access to food is a fundamental human right. No one should have to wonder where their next meal will come from.
Business-as-usual is not an option as we approach 10 billion mouths to feed.
Personal and planetary health are integrally entwined.
We cannot “food bank” our way out of the food security epidemic.
Farmers and chefs must be front and center in policy conversations.
Public food purchasing is a powerful lever for systems change—especially in schools, where over seven billion meals are served each year.
I am encouraged by all these gatherings. At a time when it seems like all we hear is bad news, when SNAP benefits are being cut off and people are in danger of going hungry, it is uplifting to see so many people who are part of a movement to create a better food system. People are calling on our leaders and citizens throughout the country and saying that we need to listen to the farmers and the farm and food workers, many of whom are migrant workers. We need to respect and honor the people who bring us our food. We need to make sure that all people have access to good, healthy food. We need to respect the earth that produces our food.
This movement is happening now, throughout the country. FACT is part of that movement, working to support thousands of humane farmers throughout the US to make sure that all animals raised for food are treated humanely. We are proud to be part of this movement and look forward to seeing where it will lead in the days ahead.