Alpha Zeta National Service Project 2010

“From the Field to the Plate: Agriculture and Food Justice”

Orlando, FLDecember 18-21, 2010

Rikki SchwarzThe Florida Chapter of Alpha Zeta

National Agricultural Leadership Conference 2010

What is “gleaning?”

• Old Testament origin- leave corners of field unharvested for the poor to obtain food• Became common in 19th Century England• Today, often practiced by humanitarian groups• Food left over after harvest

• not aesthetically appealing, not commercially marketable• can be harvested and fed to the underserved community

• Perfectly nutritious• Also known as “food recovery”

Why is gleaning important?

• Approx. 13.2% of the US population lives in poverty

• 14,000,000 children• 24 to 27 million people in the USA need the help of hunger relief organizations to survive• According to the USDA:

• 1/5 of America’s food goes to waste each year• 130lbs of food/person ends up in landfills each year• Translates to approx. $31,000,000,000/year• 49,000,000 people could be fed on this

We in the agricultural industry have the power to affect change!

Alpha Zeta National Service Project 2010

• Combining education and hands-on service

•Focus will be on gleaning projects and service in the Orlando and Central Florida community

• Will be working with the Society of St. Andrew

• 3 1/2 days

• Will be staying at either a girl scout camp or in churches

• Transportation provided to/from Orlando airport and daily to sites where we will be working

• Meals will be provided (3 per day, breakfast on final day)

Alpha Zeta National Service Project 2010DAY 1 (tentative)

• Arrive at Orlando International Airport by mid-morning

• Introduction to the weekend and our goals

• Speaker/Activity

• Lunch

• Visit to farm, work with and learn about the lifestyle and challenges faced by migrant farm workers

• Dinner

• Free time

Alpha Zeta National Service Project 2010DAY 2 (tentative)

• Breakfast

• Gleaning on local farms (seasonal crops/produce)

• Lunch

• Service at local agencies/food banks/farm tour/making holiday baskets for underserved families in the community

• “Hunger Dinner”

• Activity/free time

Alpha Zeta National Service Project 2010DAY 3 (tentative)

* Literally taking the food from the field to the plate*

• Breakfast

• Gleaning at local farms

• Lunch

• Cook the food that we gleaned

• Serve the food that we gleaned at a local agency and interact with those we serve

• Dinner

• Free time

Alpha Zeta National Service Project 2010DAY 4 (tentative)

• Breakfast

• Speaker/Activity

• Closing remarks

• Depart for the Orlando International Airport (or stay longer to enjoy Central Florida!)

GET EXCITED!

• Opportunity to see a beautiful state with a huge agricultural industry

• Learn about food justice issues, poverty, and what you as a student of agricultural, life sciences, and natural resources can do!

• See first hand how food gets from the field to the plate and into the hands of the hungry!

• A truly gratifying and unique experience to personally affect change in a positive way

Questions?