Food Listserves

There are numerous sources out there on the internet which will send you emails on food issues. Below is a description of some of them which may interest you. Our own Forum is meant to be a place to discuss food issues as they relate to Waterloo Region, and is intended to complement, not duplicate, the information you would receive from the lists below. Subscribe to the lists below which interest you, and then start discussions on our Forum based on ideas you get from them!

WRFoodNews - is a list set up for people interested in receiving notices about updates to this website - www.wrfoodsystem.ca. We will send you periodic notices about upcoming events, interesting new online discussions, etc. It's a way for you to received reminders to keep checking our website for new information. To subscribe, go to http://wrfoodsystem.ca/mailman/listinfo/wrfoodnews_wrfoodsystem.ca.

Plumbline - is a weekly commentary on current events from the perspective of the eater's value chain. Plumbline is moderated/written by Elbert van Donkersgoed. frequent speaker and commentator on family farm agriculture, locally grown food and the challenges/opportunities of Ontario agriculture. Elbert's past involvements include Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee, Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition and Ontario Rural Council. Current involvements include Toronto Food Policy Council, Ontario Farmland Trust and Local Food Plus. To subscribe, send an email to Plumbline-subscribe@terracoeur.com.

Wayne Roberts - this food guru has been writing and speaking about food justice and sustainability issues for decades.  Formerly the coordinator of the Toronto Food Policy Council and still a regular columnist with NOW Magazine, Wayne is a great source for the latest articles on food issues.  He scours the internet and posts links to issues on his Facebook page and his website.  Subscribe to his blog on his website at www.wayneroberts.ca or follow him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WayneRobertsPage.

TFPC – hosted by the Toronto Food Policy Council - http://www.toronto.ca/health/tfpc_index.htm. Sends 2-5 messages per week, promoting food-related events in Toronto, and often forwarding media articles and messages from other local food listserves. No online archive. To subscribe, email tfpc@toronto.ca.

FoodNet – hosted by Ontario Public Health Association's Food Security Network - http://www.opha.on.ca/foodnet/index.html. Targeted at staff of Public Health units in Ontario. Mailing list is relatively inactive: main poster is Michael Olsen, who runs radio program on food issues called the Food Chain: he posts promos for upcoming shows. To subscribe: http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/foodnet-l

FoodPlanning – hosted by University of Washington for members of American Planning Association (APA). Targeted at Land Use Planners. Purpose is to “facilitate information sharing between urban planning practitioners and academics interested in connections between urban planning and policy and the food system.” To subscribe: http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/foodplanning

COMFOOD – hosted by Community Food Security Coalition (American). Used by hundreds of food security activists across the US to discuss food issues. High volume of emails. http://www.foodsecurity.org/list.html

Get Smart - The Ontario Smart Growth Network's "Get Smart" listserv often covers local food issues.  It "provides you with information and discussion on planning policy, projects, research, job opportunities, and events related to smart growth planning in Ontario. Our goal is to make smart urban development a reality in Ontario by stopping sprawl, fostering compact, healthy communities, and supporting community involvement in land use planning."  Sign up and view archives at http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/getsmart-l.

Food Forward - this Toronto-based organization focuses on food policy in Toronto: "We work with the public, politicians and those involved in the food sector to educate and advocate for food that is healthy, local, sustainable, ethically produced and accessible for all." You can view its blog on its website at http://pushfoodforward.com/ and subscribe to updates through Facebook, Twitter, or your favourite RSS Reader.

Food Climate Research Network - coordinated out of the University of Surrey's Centre for Environmental Strategy. A bit Eurpoean-centred, but lots of good tidbits, since the UK is so far ahead in many ways on food policy. To subscribe, email taragarnett@blueyonder.co.uk. To view list archives, go to www.jiscmail.ac.uk and click on "register password". Once you have registered a password, you will need to go to www.jiscmail.ac.uk/fcrn where you can view the archives.