Please take a moment to fill out our brief food survey
The Burin Peninsula has been selected to conduct a Community Needs Assessment in partnership with the Food Security Network of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Department of Health and Community Services and the Burin Peninsula Environmental Reform Committee. The issue has been prioritized due to four specific crises; the environmental crises, the oil crises, the food crisis and the financial crises.
The Food Security Network of Newfoundland and Labrador is a provincial non-profit organization with a mission to promote comprehensive community-based solutions to ensure physical and economic access to adequate and healthy food.
Food security is a very inclusive issue that involves many sectors of society. Food Security ensures that all people, at all times have access to adequate to healthy, nutritious food. This refers to the nutritional quality, availability, affordability, accessibility and acceptability of food. When people do not have access to nutritious food, they face an increased risk of health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke cancer and diabetes.
There is a need for increased food security in our area and the Community Food Assessment is the beginning of positive change for our region. Residents have already felt the impact of regional food security issues firsthand in the face of Hurricane Igor in September 2010. The more key people and relevant organizations that are included in the development of the assessment, the more likely sustainable actions and changes will occur.
Volunteers are needed to help form our regional working group and/or to attend focus groups. We are also looking to speak with key informants. The regional working group will help to increase education, public awareness and interest in food security in our region and help build the capacity to accomplish improved food security.
We are looking for members of the general public, farmers, fishers, processors, municipal planners and council members, child and family development workers, gardeners, grocers, government ministry representatives, community health professionals and other stakeholders to join our working group and/or provide input at focus groups.
The government has put their ear to the ground, let's take this golden opportunity to show them what's working and what's not! Contact us, this is your chance to be heard!
Kimberley Armstrong, Community Food Assessment Co-ordinator
709-891-2230