Faith-Based Action

Agricultural Missions

The purpose of Agricultural Missions is to follow the Biblical mandate and example of the ministry of Jesus Christ and to work toward the creation of a sustainable society that is based on social and racial justice, indigenous and rural people's participation, a sound environment, peace, economic viability, gender equity and spiritual values. The organization works in partnership with people of faith and conscience to end poverty and injustice that affect rural communities, working through the practice of accompaniment in genuine solidarity to cultivate relations of mutual respect. 475 Riverside Drive, Room 1852, New York, N.Y., 10115; (212) 870-2553.

Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Bread for the World

Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian citizens movement seeking justice for the world's hungry people by lobbying our nation's decision makers. 50 F Street, NW, Suite 500; Washington, D.C. 20001; (202) 639-9400; (800) 82-BREAD.

Secular Advocacy

Center for Rural Affairs

The Center is one of the more effective groups advocating for family farmers and helping them maintain their economic and ecological well-being. P.O. Box 406, Walthill, Neb., 68067.

National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture

A network of diverse groups whose mission is to shape national policies to foster a sustainable food and agricultural system — one that is economically viable, environmentally sound, socially just and humane. P.O. Box 396, Pine Bush, N.Y., 12566. (845) 744-8448.

National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC)

NFFC serves as a national link for grassroots organizations working on family farm issues. NFFC brings together farmers and others to organize national projects focused on preserving and strengthening family farms. Over the past 14 years NFFC has worked to promote the safety of the food supply and the security of those who make it possible. 110 Maryland Ave., N.E., Suite 307, Washington, D.C., 20002; (202) 543-5675.

Organic Consumers Association (OCA)

A membership organization, OCA promotes food safety, organic farming and sustainable agriculture practices in the United States and internationally. It provides consumers with factual information they can use to make informed food choices. Genetic engineering, irradiation, toxic sludge fertilizer, mad cow disease and rBGH are some of the issues addressed. The OCA gives interviews and supplies background material for journalists, news organizations, and public interest activists worldwide. Campaign strategies include public education, activist networking, boycotts and protests, grassroots lobbying, media and public relations and litigation. 6101 Cliff Estate Road, Little Marais, Minn., 55614, (218) 226-4164.

American Farmland Trust
One of the more effective groups in establishing conservation easements and other strategies to protect rural landscapes, not just single farms. 1200 18th Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C., 20036; (202) 331-7300.

Center of Concern (CoC)
The CoC's Food Security Project monitors the world food system, especially its globalization, analyzes the food system, describes its injustices, develops food security policy recommendations based on Catholic social teaching, and works with governments and non-governmental organizations to enact and implement such policy. CoC also co-convenes the Agribusiness Accountability Initiative (AAI). 1225 Otis Street, NE; Washington, D.C., 20017.

Chefs Collaborative
A dynamic coalition of restaurateurs and chefs involved in advancing the use of locally grown, sustainably produced foods and boycotting swordfish and other destructive harvests. 262 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass., 02116.

Citizens for Health
Empowers consumers to make informed health choices; areas of focus include dietary supplements, complementary and alternative medicine, food and water safety. P. O. Box 2260, Boulder, Colo., 80306.

Environmental

Ecumenical Consultative Working Group on Genetic Engineering in Agriculture

The consultative working group is examining the ethical issues, based on Christian principles, surrounding genetic engineering in agriculture. We are concerned about impacts on farmers and rural communities around the world, as well as the unresolved issues related to hunger, human health, environmental impacts and food sovereignty posed by the spread of genetically engineered and patented organisms. Email Robert Gronski or call (515) 270-2634.

EarthSave

EarthSave leads a global movement of people from all walks of life who are taking concrete steps to promote healthy and life-sustaining food choices. They supplies information, support and practical programs to those who have learned that their food choices impact environmental and human health. They support individuals in making food choices that promote health, reduce health care costs and provide greater independence from the medical system. And they advocate and promote a delicious, planet-friendly diet. Find a local chapter near you.

Pesticide Action Network North America

PANNA (Pesticide Action Network North America) works to replace pesticide use with ecologically sound and socially just alternatives. As one of five PAN Regional Centers worldwide, it links local and international consumer, labor, health, environment and agriculture groups into an international citizens' action network. This network challenges the global proliferation of pesticides, defends basic rights to health and environmental quality, and works to ensure the transition to a just and viable society. 49 Powell St., Suite 500, San Francisco, Calif., 94102; (415) 981-1771.

Earth Ministry
Earth Ministry helps connect Christian faith with care and justice for all creation. Its work engages individuals and congregations in knowing God more fully through deepening relationships with all God's creation. Earth Ministry believes that through this experience both personal lives and cultures can be transformed. These transformations include discovering a worldview that sees creation as a revelation of God, practicing simplified living and environmental stewardship, and seeking justice for all God's creation. 6512 23rd Avenue, NW Suite 317, Seattle, Wash., 98117; (206) 632-2426.

EarthSave
EarthSave has chapters throughout the country (and some overseas). Many chapters hold regular vegetarian potlucks. EarthSave has excellent resources on food, genetic engineering, vegetarianism, and nutrition. For information on the EarthSave chapter nearest you, call: (800) 362-3648.

Ecology Action
A small nonprofit researching, practicing, and promoting the use of bio-intensive organic gardening methods worldwide. 5798 Ridgewood Road, Willits, Calif., 95490; (707) 459-0150.

Agriculture and Trade

Institute for Trade and Agriculture Policy

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) documents the underlying causes of America's rural crisis and proposing policies that would benefit farmers, consumers, rural communities and the environment.

The International Forum on Globalization (IFG)

The International Forum on Globalization (IFG) is an alliance of 60 leading activists, scholars, economists, researchers and writers formed to stimulate new thinking, joint activity and public education in response to economic globalization. Representing over 60 organizations in 25 countries, the International Forum on Globalization associates come together out of a shared concern that the world's corporate and political leadership is undertaking a restructuring of global politics and economics that may prove as historically significant as any event since the Industrial Revolution. IFG includes a focus on agriculture through their "International Forum on Food and Agriculture." IFG's address: The Thoreau Center for Sustainability, 1009 General Kennedy Avenue #2, San Francisco, Calif., 94129; (415) 561-7650.

Oxfam America

Oxfam America is a non-profit organization that works to end global poverty through saving lives, strengthening communities and campaigning for change. The organizatoin locally to help people gain the hope, skills, and direction to create a new future. Oxfam American is also active in the global arena, addressing social injustice through our advocacy, public education and emergency assistance programs.

Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)
Founded in 1978, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers is a nonprofit member-activist organization. CAFF political and educational campaigns are building a movement of rural and urban people who foster family-scale agriculture that cares for the land, sustains local economies and promotes social justice. CAFF has published the National Organic Directory — a national listing of organic farmers, wholesalers, suppliers, resource groups, publications, certification laws and state laws for organic farming — for 15 years. CAFF, PO Box 464, Davis, Calif., 95617; (800) 852-3832, (916) 756-8518.

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
IATP promotes resilient family farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy. For up-to-date reports on how U.S. trade policy impacts food security contact IATP at: 2105 First Avenue South Minneapolis, Minn., 55404; (612) 870-0453.

Land Stewardship Project
The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) is a private, nonprofit farm and social justice organization. Founded in 1982 and based in Minnesota, LSP works locally and nationally to foster an ethic of stewardship toward the land and promote sustainable communities and agriculture through grassroots organizing, advocacy, participatory education and policy initiatives. 2200 Fourth Street, White Bear Lake, Minn., 55110; (612) 653-0618.

Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association (BDA)
Contact BDA for an updated list of CSAs in your area. Search online or provide your ZIP code, and BDA will mail you the list. BDA also has good information about biodynamic growing methods. P.O. Box 550, Kimberton, Pa., 19442; (800) 516-7797.

SuperMarketCoop
The SuperMarket was organized by the member cooperatives of the Rural Coalition to create an alternative model of trade based on shared social justice and environmental values. It helps cooperatives made up of small, limited resource and minority farmers and artisans by combining the support and services they need to market their goods. The SuperMarket is a project of the Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural, a regionally and culturally diverse alliance of organizations working to build a more just and sustainable food system. 1411 K Street NW 901 Washington, D.C., 20005; (202) 628-7160.

Co-op America
Co-Op America is a nonprofit organization that links consumers with socially and environmentally responsible businesses in a nationwide "green" marketplace. The organization's National Green Pages list over 100 categories of products and services, including food, body care products, restaurants, socially responsible financial planning, long-distance telephone service, travel and more. It also includes addresses, phone numbers and descriptions of socially and environmentally responsible businesses. Co-Op America, 1612 K Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, D.C., 20006.

Local Harvest Web site
Search for CSAs, farmers markets, u-pick locations, farm stands and sources of fresh eggs and meat.

AMS local farmers markets
The Agricultural Marketing Service includes six commodity programs — Cotton, Dairy, Fruit and Vegetable, Livestock and Seed, Poultry and Tobacco. The programs employ specialists who provide standardization, grading and market news services for those commodities. They enforce such Federal Laws as the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and the Federal Seed Act.

Research and Analysis

Agribusiness Accountability Initiative (AAI)

Co-sponsored by the Center of Concern (CoC) and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC), the Agribusiness Accountability Initiative is a growing international network of academics, activists and food system experts from farm, labor, environment, consumer, church and development organizations who recognize that corporate concentration and vertical integration among transnational agro-food companies threaten the sustainability of the most important industry on earth — the global food system.

Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy

A high-quality, member-supported, nonprofit peoples' think tank and education-for-action center. For information and action suggestions: 398 60th Street, Oakland, Calif., 94618; USA; (510) 654-4400.

Ag Observatory is a project of the IATP

This is an excellent global resource for the latest in food and agriculture policy.

Seed Savers Exchange
The oldest and most active group in preserving heirloom vegetables, fruits, flowers and rare breeds throughout the world. 3076 North Winn Road, Decorah, Iowa 52101; (319) 382-5590.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
This site includes educational items, news and events, and links to organizations and individuals that support sustainable agriculture across the country.

Web of Creation
This is a Web site filled with good information with helpful book and Internet resources.

Eat Well Guide
Online directory of farms, stores, restaurants and mail-order outlets that offer sustainably raised meat, poultry, dairy and eggs from the United States and Canada.

Home Grown: The Case for local food in a global market, Worldwatch Paper 163
Everyone, everywhere, depends increasingly on long-distance food, writes Brian Halweil. In the United States, food typically travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles from farm to plate. For some, this food system offers unparalleled choice. But it also consumes staggering amounts of fuel, generates greenhouse gases, erodes the pleasures of face-to-face interactions around food and compromises food security. Fortunately, this system is being challenged by entrepreneurial farmers, start-up food businesses, restaurants, supermarkets and concerned consumers who seek to restore rural areas, enrich poor nations, and return fresh, delicious and wholesome food to cities.

National Catholic Rural Life Conference
A membership organization grounded in a spiritual tradition that brings together the Church, care of community and care of creation. NCRLC serves as a prophetic voice for America's countryside, acts as a catalyst and convener for social justice, and develops support services for rural pastoral ministers. They also have an excellent piece on the Web site called, "Agricultural Biotechnology: A Catholic Rural Life Perspective."

The Ethics of Eating Issue
Excellent articles from the National Catholic Reporter Online.

Community Food Security Coalition, Spring 2002 Newsletter
Articles on Fatal Harvest: The tragedy of Industrial Agriculture book

From Consumerism to Caring Packet
United Methodist Church. $5.00, (800) 305-9857. Stock #3211.
Includes campaign and other materials, including How to Do a Local Farms Project, How to Do a Living Wage Campaign, Cancellation of the Debt, Reparations, Sweatfree Uniform Campaign, etc.

Food First
A wealth of information and resources on food politics. Includes "The World Food Summit: What Went Wrong?".

New Internationalist Magazine
The politics of food and farming issue, Jan/Feb 2003. (800) 661-8700.

Education and Lifestyle

Alternatives for Simpler Living

Alternatives equips people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly and celebrate responsibly. Started in 1973 as a protest against the commercialization of Christmas (publishers of 'Whose Birthday is it Anyway'), their focus is on encouraging celebrations that reflect conscientious ways of living.

The Center for a New American Dream

The Center has an excellent Web site and quality resources, including information on connecting food choices with greater equity and sustainability. It also highlights issues like "Kids and Commercialism," "Simplifying the Holidays" and much more. The Center's Web site includes a web-based calculator (see their "Turn the Tide" program) to help individuals and groups quantify the impacts of daily lifestyle changes (such as eating less beef or driving fewer miles). 6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 900, Takoma Park, Md., 20912. (877) 68-DREAM.

Slow Food International and Slow Food USA

Slow Food works to defend biodiversity in our food supply, spread taste education and connect producers of excellent foods with co-producers through events and initiatives.

North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS)
An organization dedicated to promoting the vegetarian way of life by sponsoring regional and national conferences and campaigns, distributing educational materials and publishing Vegetarian Voice. Contact NAVS for a listing of vegetarian organizations in North America. P.O. Box 72, Dolgeville, N.Y., 13329; (518) 568-7970.

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
An organization that promotes preventive medicine, encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research, advocates broader access to medical services, and offers Vegetarian Starter Kit and numerous publications including Good Medicine, a quarterly magazine. 5100 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Ste. 404, Washington, D.C., 20016; (202) 686-2210.

Redefining Progress
Redefining Progress has developed an alternative measure of economic (well being) — the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI). Unlike the Gross Domestic Product, the GPI subtracts for social and ecological costs. Since the early '70s GPI has decreased while GDP continues to grow. 1904 Franklin Street, 6th Floor, Oakland, Calif., 94612. (510) 444-3041.

Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural
The Rural Coalition is an alliance of regionally and culturally diverse organizations working to build a more just and sustainable food system, one that brings fair returns to minority and other small farmers and rural communities, ensures just and fair working conditions for farm workers, protects the environment, and delivers safe and healthy food to consumers. Its programs include advocating for national policies that support these goals, as well as economic development efforts such as bridging the digital divide and helping its member organizations market the products of their farmers. Member cooperatives' products are sold online at the SuperMarketCoop (described above). 1411 K Street, NW, Suite 901; Washington, D.C., 20005; (202) 628-7160.

Local Food Economy

Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC)

CFSC is a nonprofit, membership-based national coalition of over 600 organizations and individuals who work together to bring about lasting social change by promoting community-based solutions to hunger, poor nutrition, and the globalization of the food system. P.O. Box 209, Venice, Calif., 90294; (310) 822-5410.

Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming

Sustain advocates for food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture, and promote equity. They represent around 100 national public interest organizations working at international, national, regional and local level.

Coffee Activism (Java Justice)

Coffee is the world's second most heavily traded commodity (next to oil). Programs such as the Presbyterian Coffee Project, Equal Exchange, TransFair USA, and the Organic Coffee Association help to connect individuals and entire congregations with coffee farmers who are guaranteed a fair price for their beans and who grow coffee in ecologically beneficial ways.

Cooperative Coffees

Cooperative Coffees is a green coffee importing cooperative, comprised of 21 (community based) coffee roasters in the United States and Canada, committed to building and supporting equitable and sustainable trade relationships for the benefit of farmers and their exporting cooperatives, families and communities. We strive to promote fair trade and sustainable development alternatives in both the North and the South, while continuing to sell the highest quality coffee on the market.

Presbyterian Coffee Project

Currently, 1,200 PC(USA) congregations serve and sell Equal Exchange Fair Trade coffee. Contact: Melanie Hardinson at (888) 728-7228 x5626.

Equal Exchange Interfaith Program

251 Revere Street, Canton, Mass., 02021; (781) 830-0303. To order for yourself or your congregation go to online store.

Specialty Coffee Association (SCAA)
The SCAA is the trade association for the specialty coffee industry.
One of the SCAA's primary functions is to set the industry's standards for growing, roasting and brewing. Members of the SCAA include coffee retailers, roasters, producers, exporters and importers, as well as manufacturers of coffee equipment and related products.

TransFair USA
1611 Telegraph Ave. Suite 900, Oakland, Calif., 94612; (510) 663-5260.

Animal

Farm Animal Reform Movement (FARM)

FARM promotes vegetarianism and advocates for the well-being of farm animals through national grassroots educational campaigns, massive media blitzes and participation in government decision-making processes. P. O. Box 30654, Bethesda, Md., 20824; (888) FARM-USA.

GRACE Factory Farm Project

This project help's rural communities around the country oppose the spread of new factory farms and help's close down existing ones that threaten health and well-being. It addresses the impacts of industrial animal production on diet, the environment, and human and animal health. 145 Spruce St., Lititz, Pa., 17543; (717) 627-0410.

Humane Farming Association

HFA works to stop animal abuse in factory farming and slaughterhouses with anti-cruelty investigations and exposés, national media and ad campaigns, direct hands-on emergency care and refuge for abused farm animals, consumer awareness programs, state and federal legislation, and youth humane education. P. O. Box 3577, San Rafael, Calif., 94912; (415) 485-1495.

Center for Respect of Life and Environment
The Center was founded in 1986 to foster an ethic of compassion toward all sentient beings and respect for the integrity of nature. This ethic urges each of us to expand our moral concern to future generations; to poor, oppressed and disenfranchised human beings; and to animals, plants and the earth as a whole. With a particular focus on higher education and religious institutions, the Center promotes a humane and sustainable future for all members of the earth community. 2100 "L" St, NW, Washington, D.C., 20037; (202) 778-6133.

Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary provides refuge for animals rescued from factory farms, stockyards and slaughterhouses; wages campaigns to stop cruelty to farm animals; hosts conferences; and operates a bed and breakfast for visitors to the sanctuary. P. O. Box 150, Watkins Glen, NY 14891; (607) 583-2225; and P. O. Box 1065, Orland, Calif., 95963; (530) 865-4617.

Factory Farming.com
Factory farming is an attitude that regards animals and the natural world merely as commodities to be exploited for profit. In animal agriculture, this attitude has led to institutionalized animal cruelty, massive environmental destruction and resource depletion, and animal and human health risks.

The Fund for Animals
The Fund for Animals protects wildlife and domestic animals through education, legislation, litigation and hands-on care at several sanctuaries. 200 West 57th St., Ste. 705, New York, N.Y., 10019; (888) 405-FUND.

Tribe of Heart
Tribe of Heart makes use of storytelling, visual media and the arts to present a vision of a compassionate future; creators of "Witness," a powerful documentary about the fur industry. P. O. Box 149, Ithaca, N.Y., 14851; (607) 275-0806.

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