Food Day at UM: Tea in Our World
The most popular drink in the world after water, tea is thought of as a social drink that calms the mind, body and soul. How did it become one of the most global commodities in the world? Why do we se...
World Food Day 2020
Every year on Oct. 16, more than 150 countries celebrate the birthday of FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization, an agency of the United Nations founded in 1945 that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
This year’s theme is Food Heroes. "Behind our food, there is always someone who produced, planted, harvested, fished or transported it,” notes the FAO. “This World Food Day, we take the opportunity to thank these #FoodHeroes who, no matter the circumstances, continue to provide food to their communities and beyond – helping to grow, nourish and sustain our world. "
World Food Day is more relevant than ever as COVID-19 has impacted communities globally and locally, with massive increases in unemployment and food insecurity, particularly in Black and Brown families, according to Common Threads, the national nonprofit that provides cooking and nutrition education to children and families encouraging healthy habits that contribute to wellness.
Common Threads is teaming up with chefs from their network to share recipes and resources to help families make healthy family meals. Participants joining this campaign so far include Gail Smith, chefs Art Smith, Michelle Bernstein, Lorena Garcia, Jernard Wells, Anita Lo, Adam Richman, Ming Tsai, Bill Kim, Rick Bayless, Ingrid Hoffmann and Jenn Louis.
South Florida participants joining this campaign and providing recipes include Brian Nasajon (Tortilla Espanola); Lindsay Autry (Egg Salad Toast); Lorena Garcia (Creamy Carrot Coconut Soup); and Ingrid Hoffmann, who will make Chipotle Turkey Chili on Instagram Live at 5pm Friday. See it here.
University of Miami Food Day
This year, the UM Office of Civic and Community Engagement’s Food Day, typically a day that includes a food fair, keynote speaker and screenings of food justice movies, will be celebrated virtually. Art Friedrich, of Urban Oasis Project and creator of Project Maracuya, will deliver the keynote lecture, "Watering the Deserts: Getting Fresh Food to Underserved Neighborhoods with Urban Oasis Project.”
In addition to South Florida’s rich agricultural history, “Miami also has a deep history of exploitation of land and labor, as well as systemic racism and redlining, poverty and gentrification, hope and promise,” Urban Oasis notes, adding that communities of color often have less access to fresh foods through grocery stores. Urban Oasis Project seeks to highlight these problems, advocate for change, and create some solutions through farmers markets, building gardens, Fruit and Veggie Prescriptions and, since the pandemic began, through Project Maracuya’s free produce boxes for families in need.
He’ll be joined by Project Maracuya coordinator Ashley Varela and operations manager Chantelle Sookram on the Zoom lecture Oct. 21.
Other activities include Spilling the Tea on Food Sustainability, a panel discussion via Zoom with ECO Agency, Food Recovery Network, Plant-Based Canes, and CommUnity Garden on the importance of food sustainability. Register here for this free event.
Photo 1: Chantelle Sookram of Urban Oasis Project
Photo 2: Previous Fruit Crunch at UM Food Day
What You Can Do for World Food Day
• Common Threads is asking for a donation to support their efforts to provide cooking and nutrition education programming and resources to children and families. Visit here.
• Contact your senators and house representatives, asking them to continue supporting critical programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps.
◦ House of Representatives: (202) 224-3121
◦ Senate: (202) 224-3121
• Join in on the UM Food Day Zoom call with Urban Oasis Project on Oct. 21 from 12:15-1:15pm. Register here.
• Post a fruit-crunching selfie on Instagram with #FoodHeroes and tag @umiami_civicengagement as a part of our Tropical Fruit Crunch to raise awareness on healthy eating.
• Download the World Food Day 2020 Activity Book: Food Heroes, a free educational tool for for young people.
Food Day at UM: Tea in Our World
The most popular drink in the world after water, tea is thought of as a social drink that calms the mind, body and soul...
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