A press conference was held yesterday (9/24/2010) in front of the Greene County Court House in Springfield, Missouri at 3:15 p.m. Ruell Chappell of the Well Fed Neighbor Alliance made the announcement which also included comments from two special guests, former Lt. Governor of Missouri, Joe Maxwell (a Democrat) and former assistant Majority Leader Mark Wright (a Republican). The topic was “Food Independence” and “Food Freedom.”
The press announcement was the best way to inform the public about the dire need for raising local foods, buying and selling local foods, and eating locally-produced foods. In line with this idea, Ruell Chappell announced an upcoming food summit which will be held in Springfield on October 1st and 2nd at the Hammons Heart Institute, next to St. John’s Hospital. Booths and information will be made available at that time for people to get involved in creating a sustainable food supply to help the local economy with jobs and provide better health for the citizens of Southwest Missouri. Creating a local sustainable food supply not only benefits people today, but it can create a healthier, happier, and more prosperous world for future generations as well. The group says it is the first in the nation to announce such a move to restore the local food supply.
One of the basic statements made at the press conference is the fact that we can no longer feed ourselves. There is no location in this country that can feed the population that resides there. The U.S. has become a net importer of food from China. Not only are we net importers of products from China, but China finances, at last look, 900 billion dollars of the U.S. debt. We are part of a global economy that views efficiency and the lowest price as important, yet somehow, cannot foresee the extrapolation of a future with very cheap products with no one to buy them.
What is the answer? If we look to our history, our identity, and our heritage, we can see that Southwest Missouri was once home to the most envied agrarian economy on the continent. The Springfield area produced food that fed people all the way to the east coast and would, eventually, feed the world its tomatoes from 200 tomato canneries located right here in Southwest Missouri.
In a similar fashion, in 1950 Missouri had over 60,000 apple orchards, but it now has less that 600. We buy 65% of our fruit from other nations, including China. And Missouri imports 95% of its food from other states and nation. If the trucks stopped running, the grocery shelves would be empty of food in less than three days. We could have famine conditions in three weeks.
It is sad to say, but the canneries are all gone now. Instead, Southwest Missouri has become known for its service industries. The local workers here can wash your deck, market your business and clean air ducts like nobody’s business. But what is alarming is that we grow nothing and produce nothing. America grew and for decades remained great because of its manufacturing and agriculture, and if we are to be great again, manufacturing and agriculture must come home.
The Well Fed Neighbor Alliance in Southwest Missouri is dedicated to educating and helping our community back to a model that was powerful utilizing the best in modern technology. It isn’t necessary to go back 100 years. Instead, we should take a great model and use it today with all the technological benefits at our disposal.
The press announcement received coverage from KOLR 10 television and the Springfield News-Leader. It was well attended with approximately 200 people from around the Ozarks—local farmers and livestock owners, Amish food producers, consumers, grocery owners, restaurant owners, local businessmen, city and county government officials, city dwellers, rural folk, Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Independents, people from all walks of life, old and young, you name it. Continue reading
Recent Comments