Anthony Flaccavento on Bridging Urban-Rural Divides скачать в хорошем качестве

Anthony Flaccavento on Bridging Urban-Rural Divides

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Anthony Flaccavento joined Food Literacy for All for a powerful presentation titled “To Build a Healthy Farm and Food System, We Must Overcome the Rural Urban Divide.” A farmer and rural development consultant from Appalachia, Flaccavento challenged us to think about how decades of “trickle down” economic policies have increased corporate concentration while leaving many rural communities feeling neglected and betrayed. He explained how this model has shaped our food system: driving low wages for workers, poor returns for farmers, environmental degradation, and a growing disconnect between consumers and the people who grow their food. Flaccavento introduced the idea of “bottom-up economics,” which focuses on building strong local economies from the household and community level up, rather than relying on large corporations or Wall Street. Through examples like farmers markets, food hubs, co-ops, and land trusts, he showed how local food systems can create community wealth, support small businesses, and reconnect food with health. He also emphasized the importance of listening to rural communities and recognizing their concerns about fairness, respect, and self-determination. Ultimately, he encouraged us to see food as a bridge, as an entry point for rebuilding trust and creating more just, resilient farm and food systems.