May 22, 2008 - In accordance with a City Council resolution, Mayor Lynn Peterson signed the new Thunder Bay Food Charter today. Thunder Bay joins several other municipalities across Canada in adopting a food charter to provide a framework for a just and sustainable local food system.  The Thunder Bay Food Charter is a statement of key values and priorities to guide policy development, decision-making and collaboration for community food security.

“A sustainable local food system promotes community health in many ways,” said Mayor Lynn Peterson. “City Council has endorsed the Thunder Bay Food Charter in principle and will look for alignments between current and future projects to improve food security in our community.”

The current food system is far from sustainable. Most of the food in our grocery stores uses an increasing amount of chemical fertilizer and pesticides to produce, and travels long distances using a lot of gas to eventually reach our plate.  Eating food produced closer to home is much more sustainable.

Members of the Food Action Network, who spearheaded the effort for a City Food Charter, were also in attendance at the official signing ceremony. The Food Action Network is a non-profit network of health, social service, agriculture, education and environmental representatives who collaborate on and promote food security initiatives in our community.

Mayor Peterson demonstrated the City’s commitment to the Food Charter by assisting with packing this month’s Good Food Boxes. The Good Food Box is one of the Food Action Network’s successful collaborations where many partner businesses, agencies and volunteers work together to bring fresh produce to over 300 customers every month.

For more information on the Food Action Network and food security in Thunder Bay visit www.nwofood.ca.

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