SACKVILLE, N.B. – Sackville is the latest municipality to sign on to the Southeast New Brunswick Regional Food Pledge, promising to help build a stronger food system for our region.
Town council agreed during its regular meeting earlier this month to sign the pledge, joining with other communities, schools, food banks, local producers and individuals to help promote local food and the culture around food.
Councillor Megan Mitton said she was pleased to show support for this initiative, as it offers a number of benefits for the community.
“I think this is a good opportunity for the town of Sackville to show leadership in relation to food security, health, the local economy, education . . .,” she said.
Mitton said the pledge is a good fit for Sackville because it “reflects our values and aligns with many of the actions the town is already taking.”
She said it also provides a chance for the municipality to take a look at its policies and practices through a “food lens” and “see where we can do even better to serve our community.”
The pledge is an initiative of Our Food Southeast New Brunswick, a regional network of people who share a passion for change in the region’s food system. The document provides a number of short-and long-term actions that can be taken, and also helps bring together all the existing resources and knowledge throughout southeast New Brunswick.
During a presentation to council earlier this year about the pledge, coordinator of Our Food Southeast New Brunswick Aaron Shantz commended the town for the actions it is already taking in relation to this issue – including providing support for the local farmers’ market, the community garden, the Sackville food bank, community nutrition programs and buy-local initiatives, among others.
