By Rebecca Kanter
DC’s Field to Fork Network and the DC Food for All are hosting a free panel discussion on Friday, April 16th at THEARC in Southeast DC from 10 to 2. The topic will be community food security, with two panels: one that has a national focus and one that will look at what’s going on here locally. Afterward, a reception begins at approximately 1:15. Appetizers will be served!
Registration available here.
Maurice Small is one of the speakers on the national panel. Let’s meet him below!
What made you decide to be on Friday’s Panel?
The way I met Carl Rollins [the organizer of Friday’s event] was through Mark Winne. Mark introduced us via email and I then googled Carl on the internet. I called Carl up and he called back and we talked. We have talked about twice a week since then; regarding topics of soil, food, and community. Carl asked me to come and that was enough. We both want to [share the experiences of the respective cities in which we work, I in the Cleveland area and Carl in DC].
What does food access mean to you?
Food access means a garden on every block, a farmers market every 10 blocks every day of the week, food production year round in a cold climate, inter-generational diversity, polycultural diversity, and most importantly, families that are aware.
When you say “aware” what do you mean?
I mean that people know the culture of food and where food comes from that includes soil, compost, the farmer, the shop where they buy food (that their family doesn’t own). This goes for people of all socio-economic statuses and living everywhere.
What do you mean when you call yourself a “food broker?”
On Wall Street, brokers have a job that is to make money for someone else. A food broker is a stock broker for food guaranteeing securities and options for other people to make sure they get the maximum benefit. I am the link between farmers and buyers (e.g. hospitals, families, schools, churches) all over Northern Ohio. I share the wisdom of fresh food with people and they know I have the best interests of people at heart.
How does this work? The buyers contact me [Maurice] and then I [Maurice] contact the farmer(s). The farmers set their price, which remains largely unchanged [except for a tiny fee that Maurice adds for his income]. Very often, this cost is equitable to all three parties (the farmer, buyer, and I [Maurice]). The buyers know they are paying for quality and flavor. At the end of the meal(s), eaters come away with a good taste and thoughts of ‘that meal was special, it had life to it.’ There is a polyculture of community here that has great trust within it.
What will it take to ‘eradicate’ the many food access issues in Ohio urban areas; do you envision a future where you don’t have to do what you do (because these issues shouldn’t exist)?
We (visionaries, such as Malik [Yakini], Will Allen, Majora Carter) try to train people to take our jobs. I hope one or two of them will love it. We make sure we leave them with the fire that never goes out. We want to put ourselves out of a job. What do I think it will take? It is about education. The taste [of education] has to be sweet and good. Only flies go to crap, we want to attract honeybees that are sweet and productive.
So do you think in about fifty years, for example, these issues won’t exist and you won’t have to do what you do?
I think in less than fifty years. Obama has done a lot and we are getting the work done. I (and others) got the fuel and just need the oxygen (ideas). One people eat correctly it spreads and spreads. This is what has happened to City Fresh. [Bit by bit] at a micro-level through local farms and initiatives things are changing.
