Episode 242: Food Dignity Through Local Farming
About the Podcast
Today, Clancy speaks with Becca Tuholski, a farmer, regional food systems leader, and public health advocate working at the intersection of agriculture, equity, and community resilience. Becca is the co-owner of Tuholski Produce and serves as a Farm to Food Access Manager at the Northwest Indiana Food Council. In this episode, they discuss how regional food systems, partnerships, and community-driven programs can improve food access while supporting small farmers.
About Becca Tuholski
Becca Tuholski is a farmer and food systems advocate based in Northwest Indiana. She co-owns Tuholski Produce and works with the Northwest Indiana Food Council to connect local farmers with underserved communities through food access programming and regional distribution systems like Region Roots Food Hub. Her work focuses on building resilient regional food systems, supporting small-scale farmers, and expanding access to fresh, locally grown food through collaborative programs serving families, seniors, and schools.
Discussion Takeaways
- Local farmers play a critical role in strengthening community health and regional food systems. Through the Region Roots Food Hub, farmers across Northwest Indiana can connect with wholesale buyers like schools and hospitals, helping small farms remain economically viable.
- Food is used as power to build communities. It brings families to farms and connects them with the people growing their food, with unexpected benefits including improved mental health and stronger community relationships.
- Programs like FarmHer to Mama connect female farmers with new mothers who are eligible for WIC benefits. These programs provide monthly boxes of fresh produce with recipes and resources, helping improve nutrition while building community connections.
- Evaluation and storytelling are essential in food systems work. Qualitative stories from families and communities help demonstrate the deeper impact food access programs have on people’s lives.
- Food dignity means that people can get the food that they need, want, and that is culturally appropriate to them and their family.
#1 tip to improve access to healthy food
Food dignity means that people can get the food that they need, want, and that is culturally appropriate to them and their family.
Each week on the Food Dignity® Podcast, the Food Dignity® Movement's Clancy Harrison hosts a wide variety of hunger experts and other people making changes on the frontlines. Join us as we dive deep into conversations that will change the way you think about food insecurity.
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