Tackling Food Insecurity in Canada’s Black Communities

Photo © Courtesy of the Toronto Black Farmers and Food Growers Collective

Tackling Food Insecurity in Canada’s Black Communities

ALLIE MURRAY

Food insecurity is on the rise in Canada; however, for Canada’s Black population, this is a tale as old as time. According to Statistics Canada, 38 per cent of Black families reported being food-insecure, which was more than twice the rate for white families and even surpassed the rate for other racialized families. While the numbers are staggering, food insecurity in Black communities has been rising since long before the pandemic shattered food security rates throughout the rest of the country—for example, in 2017, nine per cent of Black Canadians reported being food insecure, compared to less than three per cent of white Canadians.

To address the rising issue, many organizations throughout Toronto have begun offering services to Black communities struggling with access to affordable, nutritious food. One organization that has been a shining beacon of hope is the Toronto Black Farmers and Food Growers Collective (TBFGC). Active in the community since 2013, the organization is dedicated to working with community members living in food poverty to guide them to places in the city where they can find nutritious and reasonably priced food.

“We live in the City of Toronto, where good, wholesome, healthy food is in a rigid class structure and very expensive,” explained Jacqueline Dwyer and Noel Livingston, founders of TBFGC.

“Low-income neighbourhoods, where most Black people live, don’t have or get access to ecologically produced foods. In these neighbourhoods, we have more access to food banks and low-quality food, in some cases, paying more for these foods in these neighbourhoods rather than high income households.”

Celebrating their 11th year in the community, the TBFGC has become a mainstay within the Black community. The organization has produce available at Farm Stand at Downsview Park year-round and the Afro-Caribbean Farmers Market throughout the summer, along with other markets in the city throughout the rest of the year.

Growing up in Jamaica, Jacqueline and Noel were both raised understanding the importance of good quality food. Their households were made up of farmers, agricultural researchers, and food traders and were always surrounded by plentiful foods that were fresh and grown locally.

“We know that good food is a human right and access to arable fertile land is also valuable to learn to grow your own food for your household anywhere you are in the world,” the duo shared.

Jacqueline, who is a passionate community organizer and farmer, is dedicated to showing all generations of people within the African diaspora that access to affordable, sustainable foods is possible. Through the TBFGC, she’s striving to create a stronger sense of community and share her expertise through local workshops.

Similarly, Noel is an urban farmer and food agro processor who creates byproducts from the produce they grow within the TBFGC. He is also a health and wellness coach passionate about food justice.

As Canadians continue to cope with the uncertainty surrounding food prices, Jaqueline and Noel share the one thing that will never waver: “Remember, good food is a human right, and food brings people together to eat and celebrate.”