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To: The DMFM Board of Directors and the Des Moines Community

The Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Should Focus on Food Justice

The Washington State Farmers Market Association’s bylaws begin with, “ Our mission is to support and promote vibrant and sustainable farmers markets in WA State through education, training, and organizational resources.”

The current climate of the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market feels like it’s about public relations, including a weekly opportunity for the Des Moines City Council to chat with constituents.*

The actual focii of the Market ought to be:

1) Supporting Washington State farmers in bringing their wares to the tables of a local community

2) Supporting Washington State artisans in selling their handmade and created-in-Washington wares to the local community

3) Promoting the Fresh Bucks program, which empowers people who use EBT to double their money at farmers markets, effectively supporting food justice and helping to address the issue of “food deserts,” in which the poor have limited access to fresh foods within walking distance.

4) Partnering with organizations like the Des Moines Food Bank to further the cause of feeding all of the young people in our community.

6) Supporting non-political events and causes that impact the Des Moines community. This includes local schools, the pool district, SR3, the Highline Mast Center, Destination Des Moines, the Des Moines Legacy Foundation, and many other organizations and causes. It also includes other non-political events like Blues & Brews, the Seafair Waterland Parade, the Fill the Bus diaper drive, Juneteenth, Waterland Pride, Independence Day, the dog parade, fundraisers for Mount Rainier High School, and many more.

Ideally, the DMFM should be about food justice, equity, community, kindness, respect, and generosity.

Let’s all work together to get the Market back to its mission - Food Justice.

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* Footnote: having standing City Council members, some of whom are up for re-election, participate in these community chats, the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market is co-signing incumbents’ election campaigns. I instead suggest the City Council treat their time at the Farmers Market as an opportunity for servant leadership. As it's not appropriate for incumbents to "campaign," they should instead put their labor into set up, clean up, and other necessary volunteer tasks to keep the Market running smoothly for all.

Why is this important?

Food justice, sustainable farming, community building, and fairness are of tantamount importance to Des Moines.

Updates

2023-01-27 02:04:50 -0500

25 signatures reached

2023-01-25 20:50:53 -0500

10 signatures reached