Household Survey Launches!
Share your thoughts on the future of food in St. John’s with a new survey, as part of the ongoing St. John’s Food Assessment.
This city-wide survey asks questions about priorities like food waste, transportation, and neighbourhood issues, including where people shop and what they would like to see in the future.
The survey is online at https://form.typeform.com/to/pf8IzfXT
The survey is open now through February 2021. Participants can enter to win a $50 grocery or farmer’s market gift card.
The information gathered by this simple anonymous survey will impact policy making and determine the direction of food programs in St. John’s. The food assessment as a whole will contextualize the issues from a broad perspective, taking in input through surveys, focus groups, and community leaders.
“There are so many ways of looking at the food we consume, so we try to look at it holistically as a food system,” says Sarah Crocker, program coordinator with Food First NL. “Our goal here is to come up with an action plan that’s clear and appropriate to the community, with the priorities of the people who live in the city reflected in that.”
Although the pandemic has exacerbated issues of food access, Food First NL’s assessment has been in the works since 2019. Research shows that St. John’s is Canada’s most food insecure city - the issue affects 1 in 6 households. As Crocker notes, COVID-19 has “highlighted existing vulnerabilities in our food system and it’s good timing to have these kinds of discussions.”
As the information from the survey is received, community-wide meetings and focus group series will highlight priorities and address urgent areas for immediate action.
“We want to hear from people,” says Crocker. “We really encourage a lot of people to get involved and share their thoughts and reflections of the future of food in St. John’s. What does food mean to you and what do you see as the most important priority in your community?”
For more information, to schedule interviews, or to get involved, contact:
Sarah Crocker, Program Coordinator, Food First NL
sarahcrocker@foodfirstnl.ca
(709) 237-4026