We just received this announcement from South Dakota Peace and Justice:

The Peace and Justice Center is also proud to announce that it has received a $2,000 grant from the Margaret V. Ping Foundation. The grant will be used to fund a pilot project to increase food access and food quality to low income children and adults by providing produce from local farmers at the Community Banquet in Pierre

Here’s more from the grant itself:

With the assistance of the Southeast Community Center, the SD Peace and Justice Center will (1) develop a plan to facilitate the delivery of local produce to people in poverty in the capitol city area, (2) partner with existing organizations working to eliminate hunger, (3) coordinate with local farmers to provide fresh produce to community members in poverty, and (4) engage community members in dialogue and advocacy with state legislators to increase awareness of hunger as well as effective methods of eliminating hunger.

The Community Banquet currently serves 275 meals each week to primarily low-income residents, elderly, and Native Americans.  Southeast Community Center director, Rev. Karl Kroger, will oversee the project.

Doesn’t that sound like our very own Food Share program? We’re not taking credit for this new SDP&J initiative, but we do want to note that good ideas have a way of going where they need to go.

As we move into 2012, let’s look back at 2011 and see which of the food stories that year got people’s attention.

Listeria-bearing cantaloupe was a big story, along with the turkey recalls by Cargill. Then there were the violations of food safety regulations by Sparboe eggs. Three examples about how Industrial Ag cuts corners to increase profits.

Raw milk was in the news again as a California buying club was raided and shut down. It’s another chapter in the long story of small farmers struggling with rules that benefit Big Ag and overwhelm the little guy.

While nations belonging to the European Union require labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Americans who want the same thing didn’t get it in 2011. Industrial Ag that grows GMO plants, especially corn and soybeans, knowing that consumers would be hesitant to buy GMO food, has enough power to block such labeling in the US.

Obesity is a continued concern, and the corporations that produce sugary foods and drinks are being scrutinized. New York City mayor Blumberg wanted to address both obesity and diabetes by banning the use of EBT cards (food stamps) to buy sugar sweetened beverages in NYC. Food industry lobbyists went into high gear, and the US Department of Agriculture that issues EBT cards rejected the mayor’s request.

The USDA MyPlate recommendations for good nutrition were complimented for promoting fruits and vegetables and criticized for caving in to dairy interests, not promoting whole grains, and failing to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy fat.

It wasn’t all bad news. Charles Michael Ray of SD Public Radio profiled Wild Idea buffalo, a local company whose business is booming. Let’s hope for more good news in 2012.

Pine Ridge residents, who live far from city supermarkets, have little access to fresh healthy fruits and vegetables. Available food in their small stores at an affordable price is high in carbohydrates, and a high carb diet leads to obesity, diabetes, and other health problems common on the rez.

Shannon Freed, who moved to Pine Ridge in 2009, observed firsthand the health and nutrition problems there and set out to change things. She applied for and got a grant that will allow her to plant a vegetable garden and teach residents how to cook and preserve the food that comes from that garden.

Thinking beyond the garden Freed is planning an orchard and hives for honeybees, all intended to make Pine Ridge more self sufficient in fresh healthy food. You can read more of her story here.

Food Share is a Rapid City program that sends volunteers to local farmers markets at the end of market day to purchase at a discount unsold produce. That produce—mostly fresh vegetables and some fruit—is delivered to an agency that serves low-income people. This year the program began on June 4 and ended on October 29.

The success of the 2011 Food Share program far exceeded the expectations of those who created it. We raised more money, purchased more food, and received more donated food than we ever expected, and every cooperating agency we approached wanted to work with us.

Food Share raised $2908.60 in donations. $1867.80 came from Democracy in Action, $500 came from the 9^th District Medical Alliance, individual contributors wrote checks for $440, and $104.98 was collected in the donation jar at the Black Hills Farmers Market.

Members of the Black Hills Farmers Market were strong supporters of the program. Most produce farmers participated, and many gave us very good deals. Three Rapid City volunteers did the shopping: Jeanette Keck, Barbara Cromwell, and Shirley Frederick. These people donated their vehicles and gas for the transportation. The original plan called for shopping on Saturdays only, but there was so much unsold produce on Tuesdays and Thursdays that we went to shopping three days a week. In order to keep going we had to do continued fundraising through the summer.

The two agencies that were given the most food are Feeding South Dakota (the Food Bank) and Church Response, an association of local churches that assists the needy. Smaller amounts went to Cornerstone Mission, Western South Dakota Community Action, and two groups that cook food for the homeless and serve it in a Rapid City park. The total amount of food delivered was 7826 pounds.

We plan to continue the program next year, raise more money, and include Western South Dakota Community Action in a more active way.

A few days ago I met a person who dumpster dives on a regular basis. I was curious, and sent this person (who wishes to remain anonymous) a list of questions. Here’s the reply:

SF: What is dumpster diving?

DD: Dumpster diving is what it sounds like: you roll up to a dumpster at a grocery store or restaurant and look inside to see if there is anything good in there. If so, you hop in and grab it. Easy as that.

SF: How would you rate your dumpster diving skills?

DD: Ah, well it’s pretty much just the willingness to pass through the social boundary of “You just don’t do that.” I’d say I’m a novice.

SF: How long have you been dumpster diving?

DD: About 3 months

SF: The legality of dumpster diving varies. Some countries consider the contents of a dumpster the property of the owner until it goes into the landfill or incinerator. In Italy DD is legal. In Germany it generally is not prosecuted. What is your experience with DD laws in various cities/states/countries?

DD: Thankfully I haven’t had the cops grill me on it, but if they did I would just be myself: I’m free and healthy and I’m not doing anything wrong so my conscience is clear.

SF: In how many cities/states/countries have you done dumpster diving?

DD: 2 countries, 3 states.

SF: Why do you dumpster dive?

DD: Because there is lots of good food thrown away every day and I’m not too proud to pass it by.

SF: Are there certain times of the day or night that are best for dumpster diving?

DD: Depends on the dumpster.

SF: How do you find a good dumpster and do you keep going back?

DD: Just keep an eye out. And yeah, if it’s good I’ll go back for sure.

SF: What kinds of foods have you found in dumpsters?

DD: Lots of fruit and veggies. Lots of everything really, but I’m a picky eater. I don’t eat wheat, soy, refined sugar…and much more. So I just take the good stuff.

SF: How is your health affected by dumpster diving?

DD: My health is affected by every decision I make. DD has been a good effect on my health because it’s free and I feel good about saving food from being wasted.

SF: Are there DD ethics, such as when you find something good don’t take it all? Or if you are throwing away good food leave it beside, not in the dumpster?

DD: Nah come on, it’s a dumpster. And if you’re in a position of throwing away food that you think might still be good, I would say you should re-evaluate what it is you are doing with your resources.

SF: What has been your experience of attitudes toward DD in different parts of the country?

DD: People mostly think I’m brave for doing it, or they think I’m misled and that I’m a danger somehow. It’s interesting, really. People have issues with it. I forget that a lot of people don’t feel like I do about life, that if you’re not doing harm then you are free to do what you like. Some people I talk with are just so dense with it. It’s like I’m a danger to their ideology and they feel threatened so they act nasty to me.

SF: Anything else?

DD: Love each other, respect the land, and be free!