CR-FAIR - Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable

Check out CR-FAIR's NEW calendar of food-related events, courses, workshops, farmers' and pocket markets

Bringing about positive change in the food and
agriculture system within BC's Capital Region

CR-FAIR news

	New edition of Making Food Matter June 30, 2010 - The summer 2010 edition of CR-FAIR's e-newsletter on food security in BC's Capital Region has just been published. Also be sure to check out CR-FAIR's food-related events calendar.
	New Mail Group/Listserv: CR-FAIR Food Access Information Exchange May 12, 2010 - The purpose of this mail group is to instantly share opportunities and needs regarding surplus donated foods available or specific food shortages, food storage needs or storage availability, food transportation needs or opportunities or volunteers available for specific work or volunteers needed. .
	Food Matters! Forum Follow-up Report April 30, 2010 - Read the report of our annual networking and celebration forum, this year focusing on demystifying social media.
	Spring edition of Making Food Matter March 22, 2010 - The spring 2010 edition of CR-FAIR's e-newsletter on food security in BC's Capital Region has been published. Also be sure to check out CR-FAIR's food-related events calendar.
	Capital Region Food Resource Directory (PDF) August 17, 2009 - CR-FAIR has updated and published a new Food Resource Directory, which lists agencies throughout the region who offer food supports (hamper, groceries and meal programs), as well as ways to access food through buying clubs, community kitchens, markets and community gardens. This resource is designed both for the listed agencies to better understand the range of services available in the community as well as for those looking to access supports and services. Click here to view the interactive online map and directory.
	Our Farmlands, Our Foodlands...Our Future Conference Findings report: A Call to Action (PDF) A report summarizing the knowledge and recommendations gained at the November 2008 conference on the challenges of securing farmland, ensuring farmland is accessible to farmers and keeping farming as an economically viable career. The report discusses key strategies, tools, and resources currently being employed, or that could be employed in the CRD to address these critical issues.

CR-FAIR, formed in 1997, is a coalition of organizations and individuals involved in our local food system, with a secretariat provided by the Community Council. CR-FAIR's mission is to increase knowledge of and bring about positive change in the food and agriculture system within the Capital Region.

This includes:

• increasing the viability of farming reducing hunger
• increasing the supply, consumption and diversity of locally produced processed food
  
• increasing our community’s knowledge and involvement with food and agriculture issues

CR–FAIR members

BC Government and Service Employees’ Union; Capital Families Association Food Security Initiative; Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia (COABC); Community Council; Food and Agriculture Sub Committee, CRD Roundtable on the Environment; Island Chefs’ Collaborative; LifeCycles Project Society; Ministry of Agriculture and Lands; Sierra Club of Canada, BC Chapter; Small Scale Food Processors Association; TLC The Land Conservancy of BC; Vancouver Island Health Authority; Vancouver Island Public Interest Research Group (VIPIRG).

CR-FAIR Food Security Resources

	CR-FAIR Food Access Information Exchange Mail Group/Listserv The purpose of this mail group is to instantly share opportunities and needs regarding surplus donated foods available or specific food shortages, food storage needs or storage availability, food transportation needs or opportunities or volunteers available for specific work or volunteers needed. .
	Our Farmlands, Our Foodlands...Our Future Conference Findings report: A Call to Action (PDF) A report summarizing the knowledge and recommendations gained at the November 2008 conference on the challenges of securing farmland, ensuring farmland is accessible to farmers and keeping farming as an economically viable career. The report discusses key strategies, tools, and resources currently being employed, or that could be employed in the CRD to address these critical issues.
	Capital Region Food Resource Directory (PDF) In 2009, CR-FAIR updated and published a new Food Resource Directory, which lists agencies throughout the region who offer food supports (hamper, groceries and meal programs), as well as ways to access food through buying clubs, community kitchens, markets and community gardens. This resource is designed both for the listed agencies to better understand the range of services available in the community as well as for those looking to access supports and services. Click here to view the interactive online map and directory.
	Capital Region Food Charter (2008) CR-FAIR has developed a Regional Food Charter, to help work towards the vision of A sustainable and secure local food and agriculture system that provides safe, sufficient, culturally accepted, nutritious food accessible to everyone in the Capital Region through dignified means. The document is a template that individuals, organizations, local and regional governments are encouraged to "adapt" or "adopt". Check out which organizations and individuals have signed the Food Charter.
	Capital Region Food and Health Action Plan - Phase 2 (2008) Phase 1 of Putting Food and Food Policy on the Table developed a Regional Food Charter to provide a vision for the regional food system. Phase 2's work was to write a Capital Region Food and Health Action Plan to identify the priority actions needed to realize this vision. Prepared by CR-FAIR and the CRD Roundtable on the Environment Healthy Communities Sub-Cttee
	Food Matters! Annual Regional Food Forum Report (2008) If we could bump the spending of each CRD resident on local food and farm products by 25%, we would be a model community for food security in North America. But do we have the capacity?
	A Snapshot of Food Security Initiatives in BC's Capital Region (2008) An interactive website connecting the various aspects of food security and who is working on them in BC's Capital Region.
	Putting Food and Food Policy on the Table - Phase 1 (2006) Two working sessions called “Putting Food and Food Policy on the Table” were hosted in 2006 to discuss building food security in BC's Capital Region and to identify key actions that could be taken both at the community and local government levels. This report summarizes these sessions. Prepared by CR-FAIR and the CRD Roundtable on the Environment Healthy Communities Sub-Cttee
	2008-2009: A Visual Year in Review Click here (PDF) to download and view a collection of images that is a sampling of the last year in food around BC's Capital Region.
	A Baseline Assessment of Food Security in BC's Capital Region (2004) This baseline assessment examines the state of food security in British Columbia's Capital Region as of January 2004. Food security exists when there is universal access to food that is healthful, nutritious, safe, and culturally acceptable. In addition, in a food-secure community, the growing, processing and distribution of food is regionally-based, socially just and environmentally sustainable. Prepared by CR-FAIR
	Fact Sheet: The Real Cost of Food (2004) Growing dependencies and shrinking resources call for changes to our food system.
	Fact Sheet: Food Decisions Shape our Community (2004) Planning for healthy food, healthy citizens, a healthy region.
	Food Forum Report: Making Food Matter (2003) The 2003 Food Forum was the second in a series of community discussions on creating and connecting food resources in our community. The Forum's purpose was to create awareness about existing resources and to discuss and generate opportunities for increasing access to nutritious, safe and sustainable food resources in our region.
	Making Food Matter e-newsletter A quarterly publication of CR-FAIR and the CRD Roundtable on the Environment Food and Agriculture Subcommittee, this newsletter is all about food security in BC's Capital Region. Subscribe to Making Food Matter e-newsletter Subscribers to Making Food Matter also receive occasional notices about relevant Food Security events and information around the region.
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CR-FAIR funding support provided through:

Financial support for this project provided by Vancouver Island Health Authority's "Community Food Action Initiative" through ActNow BC - the government of BC’s investment in promoting healthy choices through a partnership-based, community-focused approach to improve nutrition, increase physical activity & reduce tobacco use.