Glossary

Dietary practices that reflect food preferences due to traditional practices and available ingredients.

The cultural, social, and economic practices relating to the production and consumption of food. Foodways often refers to the intersection of food in culture, traditions, and history.

The ability to physically and financially access fresh and affordable food that is culturally appropriate and nutritionally sustaining.

Neighborhoods that have been excluded geographically and economically from an equitable food system. These neighborhoods are predominantly neighborhoods of color that suffer from social inequality and injustice. We no longer use the term food “desert” as it implies a barren or desolate area, rather than addressing the roots of the issue, which are systemic racism and harmful capitalistic models.

Having a choice in the matter of food production and consumption, strengthened by intentional community investment.

“A person is food insecure when they lack regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life.” - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Communities exercising their right to grow, sell, and eat healthy food. Healthy food is fresh, nutritious, affordable, culturally-appropriate, and grown locally with care for the well-being of the land, workers, and animals. People practicing food justice leads to a strong local food system, self-determining communities, and a healthy environment.

A "community food system" is one in which sustainable food production, processing, distribution, and consumption are integrated to enhance the environmental, economic, and social and nutritional health of a particular place.

Unity or agreement of feeling or action among different groups that have a common interest to build power and/or resist a common oppressor.

The free choice of one's own acts without external pressure and constraint (via large political structures, nonprofits, academic spaces, etc.)

Policies, practices, or procedures that discriminate against individuals and result in some people receiving unequal access or being excluded. The four main types of barriers are access, resources and supplies, governance and bureaucracy, and lack of information.