Vision, Mission & Values
Vision
Good Healthy Food for All!
Everything we do at FoodShare Toronto is aimed at realizing a resilient, just and sustainable food system to ensure Good Healthy Food for All! We do this by:
- demonstrating inspiring models of change
- animating grass roots initiatives
- training children and adults
- advocating for food security
Mission (What We Do)
Our mission is to increase access to, knowledge of and consumption of vegetables and fruit through community led projects. All of FoodShare’s work is guided by strong beliefs that reflect our commitment to food security and food justice. As a leader in food security locally and globally, we collaborate with others who share our beliefs to realize our vision of good healthy food for all.
Values & Beliefs (How We Work)
- Everyone has the right to good healthy food. All people should have access to affordable, healthy food that is fresh, attractive, nutritious, safe and free of contaminants.
- Diversity is fundamental to our food system. Cultural, racial, linguistic, economic, religious, and social diversity within communities should be respected and reflected throughout the system.
- Communities have the capacity to lead. By respecting the inherent strengths of communities and partnering with communities, we can realize the changes we seek.
- Food has the power to mobilize people. Because of its material, cultural and social importance, food has the power to catalyze collective action and personal change.
- Long-term, systemic solutions are needed. Realizing good food for all requires lasting changes throughout the food system, including in how food is produced, distributed and consumed.
- Universal access benefits everyone. Universally accessible food initatives in schools and communities are critical to realizing an equitable and inclusive food system.
- Small changes can have big impacts. By investing in areas like access, literacy and community, we can have a big influence on food consumption and food system sustainability.
Why a focus on vegetables and fruit?
We know that we can contribute to health benefits when we increase consumption of vegetables and fruit. The current consumption levels of vegetables and fruit among Torontonians is troubling. Only 38.3% of Torontonians 12 years of age and over reported eating at least five servings of vegetables and fruit daily in 2014 (Statistics Canada). It is even worse for youth as just over 1 in 3 youth ate the required servings of vegetables and fruit daily in 2014 (Statistics Canada).
Why a community-led project approach?
We can contribute to stronger communities and neighbourhoods when we increase the ability of communities to lead programs, advocate and negotiate for themselves. There are concerning inequities in Toronto that need to be addressed. Research by the Martin Prosperity Institute found that many neighbourhoods in Toronto do not have access to good quality and affordable food, and these neighbourhoods are often considered to be socially isolated and underserved. Via the Toronto Foundation’s Vital Signs Report, these inequities impact health and wellbeing:
- Toronto Public Health finds that almost 31,000 households in Toronto are more than a one-km walk from a supermarket (“food deserts”). Over 9,000 of those households are more than a one-km walk from any food outlet.
- “Food swamps” are areas with an overabundance of unhealthy food options. Food swamps become especially problematic if community members do not have access to healthy food options.