By Kristen Strader, Real Meals Campaign Coordinator
HEAL’s Real Meals Campaign released a new video featuring Baba Philip and Mama Dorathy Barker of Operation Spring Plant showing us how Big Food’s economic model leaves small farmers like them behind.
Meet Phillip and Dorathy Barker, Black family farmers from North Carolina who are fighting to change unjust and discriminatory business practices in the foodservice industry through the Real Meals Campaign. Companies like Aramark purchase billions of dollars worth of food through exclusive contracts with #BigFood companies - shutting out independent farmers like the Barkers.Hear the Barkers’ story and join us in calling for #RealMeals that nourish us all:
Posted by Community Coalition for Real Meals on Thursday, September 26, 2019
Big Food’s business model is a threat to all of us, with communities of color typically hurt first and worst. Baba Philip and Mama Dorathy’s experience illustrates the impact of Big Food’s business model on small farmers, especially farmers of color. The video also highlights three core planks of HEAL’s Platform for Real Food—providing opportunities for all producers, ensuring fair and competitive markets, and nurturing resilient regional economies!
The Real Meals Campaign is a huge step in transforming this system to create a food system rooted in racial justice, fairness, and dignity that will sustain us for generations to come. To support the campaign, you can also sign the petition calling on Aramark to be part of the solution, not the problem.
Your support matters to the Barkers and other small family farmers across the country!