If We Elect Policymakers Who Are Citizens Eaters Like Us

Danielle Nierenberg

Danielle Nierenberg

In the United States, Election Day is less than two weeks away. No matter what happens, we need an administration and a Congress that support regenerative, resilient food and agriculture systems. 

We need bipartisan cooperation—at all levels of government!—if we want to create real progress. Now, voting with our forks means voting with our votes for candidates we believe will prioritize a nourished future for people and the planet.

It’s not an exaggeration to say the future of the climate is at stake. After next month’s election and the inauguration in a few months, the winner of the following Presidential election will be inaugurated in January 2029.

“Which is only 11 months before that 2030 deadline,” says Bill McKibben, author, educator, activist, and the Founder of Third Act. “So, basically, this is the last election that counts in terms of whether we make things happen at the pace they must.”

Before you vote, I hope you’ll look at resources about candidates and issues on your ballot and either locate your polling place or request an absentee ballot to vote by mail if it’s not too late in your state.

For Food Tankers in the U.S., we can’t forget that Election Day is about more than just the President. Policymakers up and down the ballot are all critical toward building momentum for food system transformation. 

As an example of the power of local and state-level legislation moving the needle in real ways, just look at simplified date labeling legislation: “By being the first in the nation to pass this kind of legislation, California sets a clear precedent for similar legislation at the federal level,” says Madeline Keating, Senior Advocate for Food Waste at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). 

We have to be citizen eaters all the time, no matter who is in office! 

“It’s time for us to start thinking about how to end hunger and poverty. How do we get it so that everyone has a right to healthy food, clean water, a place over their head and to be safe, to feel safe with one another?” says Karen Washington, farmer and Co-Owner of Rise and Root Farm.

The answer? We support farmers, farm workers, grocery clerks, servers and waiters, and everyone along the food supply chain. We become active in pushing food policy forward. We work to build a just system:  A food system that makes sure everyone can access affordable, nourishing food—and delicious food. 

Let's make sure our policymakers understand that true food system transformation means deep community engagement—working collaboratively, across silos and perspectives, to empower workers and move toward greater food sovereignty. 

“We need to be really connected to people on the ground,” Devita Davison, Executive Director of FoodLab Detroit, told Food Tank just after the 2020 election. “Organize your people. And that goes along with the food system. We have to decentralize the way we think about voting—and all voting starts on the ground.”

In a recent New York Times column, bestselling author Mark Bittman asks a good question: Why aren’t we hearing more about food from national political figures like the two major-party Presidential candidates?

There is so much to talk about, he writes: “Moving toward more planet- and climate-friendly forms of agriculture and eating; better treatment of farm workers; fairness in land ownership; communities controlling the production and distribution of their food; and making more genuine, nutritious food available for all. These are among the most urgent issues facing the United States and the world. We should make the food system benefit eaters rather than fattening corporate coffers. Our health, economy and environment depend on it.”

On November 2nd, Food Tank will be in San Diego for a Summit to explore questions like this. The event, “What’s the Future of the Good Food Movement,” is part of the San Diego Food + Wine Festival and is held in collaboration with KPBS. 

I hope you can join us in-person in San Diego! Find out more info HERE, and if you’re in the area, email Kenzie at Kenzie@FoodTank.com to register.

We’re convening an amazing lineup of luminary experts to help guide us: Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times; Jaz Brisack, Inside Organizer School and Starbucks Workers United; Emily Burgueno, Maat Hetemii, Kumeyaay Diegueno Land Conservancy, CA Agricultural Land Equity Task Force; Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter, Methodist Theological School; Julie Coker, San Diego Tourism Authority; Ken Cook, Environmental Working Group; Drew Deckman, Deckman’s Restaurant Group; Elizabeth Falkner, T’MARO Brands; Touré Folkes, Turning Tables; Clare Fox, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders; Jennifer Gilmore, Kitchens For Good; Todd Gloria, San Diego Mayor; Bob Kamensky, Feeding San Diego; Deanna Mackey, KPBS; Anne McBride, The James Beard Foundation; Mawa McQueen, McQueen Hospitality; Michelle Metter, San Diego Food + Wine; Diane Moss, Project New Village; Cassandra Shaeg, KPBS ; Alice Waters, Chez Panisse and bestselling author; and Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune.

Wherever you live, including for those not in the U.S., it’s important that we all make our voices heard over the next couple weeks in the lead-up to COP29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Leaders are already coming together in California this week for the 2024 U.N. Biodiversity Conference, and the work we’ll continue at COP29 can really help course-correct the food system. If you’ll be on the ground at COP29, HERE is a roundup of Food Tank’s programming we hope you can join. If you’ll be following along from home, we’ll share more details in this newsletter and at FoodTank.com!

What questions are on your mind as we approach this pivotal season for global food systems? From the U.S. election to COP29 in Azerbaijan, there’s a lot to unpack. Let’s chat at danielle@foodtank.com!

(Danielle Nierenberg is the President of Food Tank and can be reached at danielle@foodtank.com)