SBCFAN defines Food Justice as:
A basic right of people, a movement striving for the right to grow, sell, and eat healthy food
However, it is a nuanced goal, and other organizations’ definitions help to further illuminate the concept and its implications. We encourage you to read the definitions below and further explore the ways that organizations everywhere are addressing this need.
- Seattle’s Community Alliance for Global Justice definition of Food Justice (2014):
The right of communities everywhere to produce, distribute, access, and eat good food regardless of race, class, gender, ethnicity, citizenship, ability, religion, or community. Good food is healthful, local, sustainable, culturally appropriate, humane, and produced for the sustenance of people and the planet.
You can find more resources at the Community Alliance for Global Justice website. - Foodprint’s definition of Food Justice:
Food justice is a holistic and structural view of the food system that sees healthy food as a human right and addresses structural barriers to that right.
Learn more at the Foodprint website. - National Institute of Health’s definition of Food Justice:
A social movement and a set of principles. It aligns with the goals of social justice, demanding recognition of human rights, equal opportunity, fair treatment and is participatory and community specific.
Learn more at the National Institute of Health website. -
Our Federal Government (the Congressional Hunger Center) seems to effectively sum it up:Food justice represents a transformation of the current food system, including but not limited to eliminating disparities and inequities.
As you can see, Food Justice is an evolving and far reaching goal, and we look to integrate it into our work and everyday practices. Only by actively working toward this goal will we begin to see change with positive impact.
