RURAL ROOTS - BROTHER DAVID ANDREWS, CSC
Food Procurement & Other Items

Food purchasing is important to farmers because they grow food as well as commodities. Purchasing food directly from local farmers multiplies economic life in the community several times over because the dollar remains in the locality longer.

There was a time when most agriculture was a part of the local economy. There is a growing recognition that growing food locally benefits the earth, the community, the farmer and the eaters. Food procurement by institutions is a way to build and enhance the local economy. Food procurement keeps the food dollar closer to home and it builds a living local economy. The food can be fresher and reduce the petroleum needed for transporting the food. It can be more nutritious and healthy. This is more reason why it should be practiced and encouraged. This issue of Catholic Rural Life gives some considered attention to food procurement. Sister Lyn Szymkiewicz, CSJ shares with us the work she’s done building a healthy local economy by convincing religious institutions to buy from local farmers. This is a stellar example of the leadership which can be provided to build a local economy. Many more, we hope, will follow Sister Lyn’s good example. We salute her!

Gary Cuneen, Director of Seven Generations Ahead, has embarked upon an effort to get the schools of Chicago to become healthier by purchasing local foods from local farmers. His "Farm To Cafeteria" efforts include public and private schools in the area of the Archdiocese of Chicago. I wish him every best wish for his efforts and want to encourage all who can assist him in any way to do so. Good examples of food in schools follow in the story of New York’s public schools and those of Rome, Italy. Why shouldn’t Catholic and public schools in Chicago not seek to do the same? If our schools systems lead the way in procuring good and healthy food, should not our children enjoy much better health in the years ahead? Let Gary Cuneen know of your support for his good efforts as well as Sister Lyn.

Similarly, after attending presentations and reading about schools and health institutions which are transforming their food service practices we could only wish that more Catholic schools and hospitals could give some leadership. Sure enough, research shows that their good example is out there, waiting for their story to be told. These institutions can be heralds of a new practice for Catholic agencies. Would that more will do so. We want to hear about them and tell their stories. Our web site is a willing location for such good examples. Let us know if you hear of a new effort to provide healthy and nutritious food to a particular segment of society, especially a Catholic institution.

The article by Stephanie Larson tells of a policy program which can be promoted by our supporters. "Farm to Cafeteria" is a great example of a piece of legislation that should be a "no-brainer" for our advocacy efforts. What a better way to support farmers and human health than to get food to our children’s bodies which is nourishing, healthy and good to the palate. A food revolution is in motion and we can become parents who join in changing the food practices of our community institutions.

While a large focus of this issue of Catholic Rural Life is on food purchasing by institutions, especially Catholic schools and hospitals, there are other items here of interest. Bob Gronski, our policy coordinator, has written about energy and food. With the current demand for bio fuels there comes a question of concern, will we be switching from growing food to growing fuel? What will be the consequences of such a switch? What will be the result to our land? What will happen to the hungry? Who is making these connections? Bob helps us think this through.

We have had a new Pope for a year now, Benedict XVI. A number of statements have come from the Vatican on farming, food policy and agriculture. We at NCRLC keep in regular contact with our friends at the International Catholic Rural Association based at the Vatican. We also communicate regularly with the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. We thought it would be helpful and interesting for our readers to see how close NCRLC and the Holy See are on policy. So we have published in this issue a few statements coming from the Vatican on issues that we deal with at NCRLC on trade policy and on family farms. We hope you find these statements helpful. We believe that they are supportive of our work.

Finally, a recurrent writer for the pages of Catholic Rural Life is fellow Des Moines resident, Sister Joyce Rupp, OSM. We often find the winters a challenge, we sometimes need to have the opportunity to reflect on the winter in a spiritual context. Since Sister Joyce offered this reflection to us, I thought it would be worthwhile to place it in a spring issue where we are beyond the cold touch of winter, but not beyond reflecting on it for the richness such thought can bring. Thus, we conclude with a meditation by Sister Joyce. I invite you to enjoy this opportunity to step back and to remember the winter from a little distance.


National Catholic Rural Life Conference
4625 Beaver Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50310-2199
(515) 270-2634
email address: ncrlc@mchsi.com
website: www.ncrlc.com

This article was published in the Spring 2006 issue of Catholic Rural Life©. No portion of this article may be reproduced without written permission from The National Catholic Rural Life Conference. To purchase the Spring 2006 issue of Catholic Rural Life, please contact The National Catholic Rural Life Conference office at 4625 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50310-2199, call (515) 270-2634, or e-mail ncrlc@mchsi.com. The cost is $2.50 an issue plus postage and handling.