7 Sustainable Food Campaigns to Watch in 2011

2010 saw some big victories in the sustainable food space: Congress finally reformed school lunch, the food safety reform bill passed, some cities legalized beekeeping, and other major advances. In virtually all of these instances, heavy campaigning by non-profits, community groups, and individual activists played a huge role in advancing these victories. Let's make 2011 an even bigger year for sustainable foodies. Check out our picks for the top seven food campaigns to watch and support in 2011.

1) Get a Bee-Killing Pesticide Off the Market

A leaked document showed that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) turned a blind eye to the risks of clothianidin, a Bayer-produced pesticide that may be contributing to Colony Collapse Disorder, a massive honeybee die-off. Bayer and the EPA may be denying any wrongdoing, but environmentalists aren't buying it: More than 1,000 Change.org members have signed Pesticide Action Network's petition asking the EPA to immediately get clothianidin off the market. Join them, and help protect America's beleaguered honeybees.

2) Get the FDA to Ban Cancer-Causing Food Dyes

Artificial dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 have been linked to cancers, allergic reactions, and hyperactivity in kids. Yet the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fails to regulate these substances, and they wind up in everything from breakfast cereals to juices to candy. The FDA finally agreed to evaluate synthetic food dyes' safety. Let's tell the agency to ban these cancer-causing compounds entirely.

3) Remove Chromium 6 from Drinking Water

A recent report found chromium 6, a suspected carcinogen, in many cities' water supplies. The EPA fails to put a limit on chromium 6 in drinking water, which means that millions of Americans could be exposed to this dangerous toxin every, single day. Sign our petition asking the EPA to immediately put a limit on chromium 6 in drinking water.

4) Save the Hollywood Farmers' Market

The Hollywood Farmers' Market has provided fresh, local produce to Los Angeles residents for the past 19 years. Now, a film school wants to close a big section of the market down, claiming that it needs the space for parking. Public outcry already earned the market a temporary reprieve from being turned into a parking lot. Let's tell the Los Angeles Board of Public Works to protect this market in the long-term.

5) Fix Food Stamp Cuts

Sustainable foodies earned a big victory this year when Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the school lunch reform bill. However, this legislation came at the expense of $2.2 billion in future funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. The Obama Administration promised to fix these cuts. Let's remind Congress that they need to restore funding to SNAP.

6) No More Poison on Strawberries

Methyl iodide is a substance so potent that it's used in lab settings to grow cancer cells. Despite widespread opposition from environmentalists and the scientific community, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation approved methyl iodide for use in California's strawberry and other crop fields, putting consumers' and farm workers' health in serious jeopardy. Sign Pesticide Action Network's petition asking California's Governor-elect, Jerry Brown, to reverse this ruling and prevent farmers from spraying methyl iodide all over our strawberries.

7) Legalize Beekeeping in Los Angeles

Cities from New York to Santa Monica are legalizing urban beekeeping, a practice that boosts local food security, creates jobs, and conserves beleaguered honeybees. Despite urban beekeeping's numerous community benefits, Los Angeles still stubbornly refuses to legalize it. Sign our petition asking the L.A. City Council to let urban beekeeping grow and thrive in the city.

GOT A TIP FOR US? Is there a story or campaign you think we should know about? E-mail us at foodtips@change.org. Please also follow Change.org's Sustainable Food page on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo credit: Kevin Krejci via Flickr