people showed up virtually to engage in
restaurant employees, and grocery stores.
conversation surrounding the UN’s
Communities globally have renewed
suggested action tracks:
respect for essential workers because of the Covid-19 pandemic. More specifically,
Ensure access to safe and nutritious
San Antonio became especially cognizant of
food for all
food security during winter storm Uri that
Shift to sustainable consumption
left many without power, water, and/or
patterns
source of food. But respect and awareness
Boost nature-positive production
does not put food on the table.
Advance equitable livelihoods Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks,
Federal and local funds, through grants,
and stress.
subsidies, and tax breaks, will prove that governments are backing up these claims
Opening the discussion was Juan Mancias,
with money. We cannot build a just food
a leader of the non recognized Carrizo
system without financial backing, as
Comecrudo tribe, who explained that San
panelists Tracie Shelton and Jamie
Antonio's food systems are deeply linked to
Gonzalez repeatedly stressed. Shelton, the
its colonial history. The Spanish missions of
founder of the business incubator Alamo
the 16th century are a constant reminder
Kitchens, and Gonzalez, the self proclaimed
of the forced assimilation of indigenous
“Puta de la Fruta,” work on the grassroots
peoples and their agricultural practices.
level to promote local culinary
What we’re left with today is a patchwork
entrepreneurs and increase access to
of traditions which has garnered a
healthy foods in areas without much fresh
UNESCO recognition of San Antonio as a
produce, known as food deserts. Both
City of Gastronomy but has also created a
Shelton and Gonzalez work to increase
disconnect between agriculture,
accessibility for those who might not live
sustainability, and diet. As a consequence,
near a grocery store, or who are unable to
the San Antonio food systems are
travel to one. Shelton seeks to increase the
environmentally unsustainable and
amount of small, food-based businesses
unhealthy. Education initiatives, like those
you might have in your own neighborhood,
hosted by Gardopia Gardens, aim to
while Gonzalez has worked to put fruits
strengthen the cognitive connection
and veggies in corner stores and bodegas.
between what we plant, how we plant, and
Grassroots changes such as these could
what we eat.
grow to their full potential with institutional support.
In addition to an unsustainable and unhealthy food system, panelists
The UN’s year-long agenda is packed with
emphasized that, like most major American
events for those who want to get involved
cities, San Antonio still houses many folks
and become a “food systems hero,”
who don’t know where their next meal will
whether you are passionate about
come from. So how can we create a city
agriculture, education, or workers’ rights.
where people have access to healthy food
SA’s panelists repeatedly modeled that
options that are affordable and
there are many ways to be a food justice
environmentally sustainable?
advocate, and that the more folks get involved on every level, the stronger our
Leaders of the city agreed that we must
food system will be.
begin with economic stability for workers across the food supply system: farm workers, entrepreneurs, fast-food and
Cultivate SA | Summer 2021 | 39
