Feeding City’s Stories section showcases our research examining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food chains, markets, producers, workers, and consumers. Through qualitative research, we seek to foster ways to build back a more resilient and sustainable food future.
by Matilda Dipieri, Junior Researcher The Withrow Park Farmers Market is a longstanding farmers market in Toronto, located on the corner of Withrow Park in the East End of the city. As a result of the pandemic, Withrow Market, along with other farmers markets in Toronto, experienced significant uncertainty about its ability to open and… Read More
by Hannah Klemmensen, Junior Researcher As has been the case for so many, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant acute hardship for many university students. In particular, the pandemic has brought to focus a severe and pressing issue across university campuses: food insecurity. As students have lost jobs and faced unexpected expenses, they have also faced… Read More
by Matilda Dipieri, Junior Researcher “[T]his moment of time, right now, there’s the opportunity to shift or nudge how things are operating…and to change cultures and habits, not just with farmers, but with people enjoying food” — Dave Kranenburg The Virtual Farmers Market, also known as the Green Circle Food Hub, was founded by Dave… Read More
Melanie Blackman is Community Development Coordinator at the University of Toronto Scarborough. UTSC jointly led C.A.R.E.S., Collective Action and Response for Everyone in Scarborough, to provide emergency food and hygiene kits to partner organizations in local high priority neighbourhoods. Zaid Mirza is a National Manager of the National Zakat Foundation (NZF), which tackles local poverty… Read More
Click the link below to listen to the full podcast:… Read More
by Lynne Chia (Feeding City Team Alumni) On November 17, 2020, Singaporeans celebrated the news that local hawker food culture was one step closer to being inscribed on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list.i This year, however, has not been easy for this treasured facet of Singaporean society. Hawker food refers to cheap and delicious local foods sold at open-air centres across Singapore.… Read More
Wed. Dec. 9, 2020 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EST (UTC -5:00) | REGISTRATION REQUIRED via EventBrite How have farmers responded to unprecedented challenges and opportunities throughout the pandemic? How has COVID-19 highlighted long-term changes that are needed in agriculture and food distribution in Canada? Join us for an interactive roundtable featuring three women ecological farmers: Sarah Bakker – Sarah is a livestock… Read More
By: Lindsay Goodridge, MPH (’21) Covid-19 has presented a formidable challenge for school food programs looking to serve healthy food this fall. Nevertheless, members of the Coalition for Healthy School Food have shown resilience, commitment to their communities, and creativity when adapting their programs for Covid. Many members are continuing to provide healthy home cooked… Read More
October 16, 2020 was World Food Day, an annual event established by the United Nations with the aim of increasing awareness of various food issues facing the global community, such as world hunger and poverty, and inspiring strategies for the betterment of the global food system and solutions for lasting change. Unlike previous World Food… Read More
ONLINE – Feeding the City, Pandemic and Beyond: Voices from Local Grocery Stores and Public Markets in a Diverse City Wed, 28 October 2020 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM EDT | REGISTRATION REQUIRED via EventBrite How have local markets and grocery stores pivoted in the time of COVID-19 to continue feeding their communities? How can these local… Read More