Vision + Values

All people deserve access to fresh, healthy food and the ability to grow food themselves.

Vision

We envision a sustainable and equitable food system contributing to the environmental health, economic vitality, and social well-being of all Virginians.

BUILD

1. Build a Just, Equitable, and Secure Food System

CREATE

2. Create and Sustain Viable Communities & Healthy People

PROTECT

3. Protect & Promote Safe, Nutritious Food, Safe Clean Water, Sustainable Farmland, & Natural Resources

SUPPORT

4. Support Economic Development, Innovation & Agricultural Profitability

Values

Based on the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Model for Community, Local and Regional Food Systems, Virginia Food System Council is committed to the following values in our implementation of Council’s goals and priorities, in the decisions we make and how we approach our work together:

Build a Just, Equitable, and Secure
Food System

Our food system will thrive only when every person within that system can easily access and utilize healthy, culturally appropriate foods. All who want to farm should be able to access land, grow, harvest, sell, or add value to foods.

We value a food system that prioritizes people and communities who historically and systematically have not been able to reach their food- and agriculture-related goals based on race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability and other forms of discrimination. We value a resilient food system that provides consistently high-quality food for all.

To reach this as a Council, we prioritize uplifting individuals who have been most impacted by historical and systemic injustices by including their leadership as a part of our Council and listening to their particular needs and experiences to help shape the Council’s vision, needs, and goals. Virginia’s just and equitable food system will support everyone based on their own needs, especially when there are environmental, economic, or societal challenges.

Create and Sustain Viable Communities & Healthy People

Building viable and healthy communities ensures that they reflect and represent the people who live there, especially those who have systematically not been included in decision-making processes. It includes valuing their needs and priorities and works to build viability starting with the most insecure segments of the community. By including people who have been most directly impacted by injustice and food insecurity, we are working towards building long-term viability of communities and holistic health of people.

Protect & Promote Safe, Nutritious Food, Safe Clean Water, Sustainable Farmland, & Natural Resources:

Safe and nutritious food and clean, safe water are basic rights for all. Our farmland and natural resources are among the Commonwealth’s greatest assets. We support the development of a food system that provides for everyone based on community and cultural needs in both urban and rural communities.

This includes community-driven access to food, healthy watersheds, and safe food in the market for consumption. We value and are working towards pathways to establishing egalitarian access to land for anyone who is interested in farming in both urban and rural settings and believe that our natural resources must be conserved for future generations and for ecosystem health.

Support Economic Development, Innovation & Agricultural Profitability:

Farming and food-related enterprises are critical to the economic vibrancy of the Commonwealth and establish the foundation of a sustainable food system. We are committed to helping everyone in the value chain experience economic prosperity through innovation and connectivity.

Virginia Food System Council

Sustainable and equitable food systems contributing to the environmental health, economic vitality, and social well-being
of all Virginians.
constructionpie-chartearthhighlight linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram