Food Security through Co-operation

Lee Fuge, FoodRoots Co-operative

Food security has become a hot topic of late. Many people are becoming interested in where and how their food is produced; how food is distributed; and who controls the food system. For many years early, and into the middle of the last century, co-operatives played a major role in the food system. Locally controlled producer and consumer co-ops developed across North America and served their communities well. Many of those co-ops were absorbed by larger organizations while others were forced out of their markets by the growing industrial food complex.

With the growing interest in food security; local food; and sustainable production and distribution practices, perhaps it is time to revive the co-op model to help develop and secure our local food system.

Time: November 6th, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Location: David Strong Building C130

Lee Fuge has been involved in the retailing and distribution of natural and 
organic foods for over 25 years - largely through co-ops. She is a founding 
member (and general manager) of FoodRoots Distributors Co-op, a Victoria based 
distributor of local and BC organic produce and processed foods. She is also 
a founding member of the International Women’s Catering Co-op. Lee is the chair 
of the steering committee of the Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives 
Roundtable (CR-FAIR), a network working group to promote food security in the 
Capital Region. She is also a member of the board of the Certified Organic 
Associations of British Columbia. 

Download the poster below. For more information, contact us at solbcics@uvic.ca

This presentation is part of the:

2008 Fall Speakers Series: Co-operation and Sustainability

Hosted by the BC Institute for Co-operative Studies and the Canadian Social Economy Partnerships project, with support from the Faculty of Business.

This series features presentations by UVic academics, graduate students, visiting faculty and community practitioners discussing topics related to Co-operatives, the Social Economy and Sustainability. These presentations are free and open to all members of the public and university community.

Click here to see photos of this event

Audio File

• Food Security through Co-operation

  Lee Fuge

  Speakers Series Presentation - November 6, 2008

  English

  MP3, 24.4 MB

  53m 20s