Food justice is a holistic and structural view of the food system that sees healthy food as a human right and addresses structural barriers to that right. At GBCFC, we hold food sovereignty at the center of food Justice. Food sovereignty is a food system in which the people who produce, distribute, and consume food also control the mechanisms and policies of food production and distribution. This stands in contrast to the present corporate food regime, in which corporations and market institutions control the global food system. Food sovereignty emphasizes local food economies, sustainable food availability, and centers on culturally appropriate foods and practices.
The higher cost of producing food in socially & environmentally regenerative ways, without help from government subsidies that support corporate agribusinesses, places wholesome, nutrient-dense foods out of reach for many in our community. Round Up for Food Justice aims to address this problem by supporting educational programs and organizations that are working to address food injustice.
Roughly 15 percent of residents in northern Nevada are food insecure, meaning that they do not always have access to adequate nutrition. Of northern Nevada residents who qualify for federal food programs, 59 percent are food insecure.
Food insecure households often face difficult financial choices that may force them to go without meals or buy cheaper processed foods that are high in calories but low in nutrients. Hunger and poor nutrition can lead to health problems that cost individuals and our community more in the long run.
Round UP for Food Justice reflects one of the Co-op's 7 Cooperative Principles — 'concern for community' and helps us to fulfill our mission of making healthy, nutritious food available to all. To donate, tell your cashier that you want to round up your change for food justice when you checkout.
All of our local producers meet the GBCFC BUYING GUIDELINES, which means that they have excellent practices and are working tirelessly to rebuild soil, water, and animal health. Notice that we didn't say HUMAN HEALTH - yes, that was intentional. Producers within a local food system are often among the most exploited and overworked people in the modern food system. They aren't paid hourly: if their crops fail, water sources dry up, or pests invade an entire bed, they don’t get paid. The price of their goods is compared with conventional commodities in the industrial food system, and traditional grocery stores expect local producers to sell at the same industrial wholesale prices. We call this poverty pricing, hence our love of the term INTEGRITY PRICING.
Beginning in January of 2026, all Round Up donations will go to the Local Producer Subsidy Program (LPSP). LPSP is our version of the USDA Farm Bill, except instead of subsidizing billion-dollar corporate industrial farms - the ones that toxify the land, water, animals, and people - we are subsidizing our very own local farmers and ranchers. We are doing this so that we can pay these producers integrity pricing and still sell their goods on our shelves at affordable, market-competitive prices, making the most delicious and nutrient-dense foods more accessible for everyone. Co-op shoppers can round up their change to the nearest dollar at the cash register after each purchase to donate to the program. There is also an option on the pinpad to contribute additional funds or larger amounts directly via the Friends of the Foodshed (FOTF) website. Note: all donations over $250 are tax-deductible. As of 2026, all of these Round Up Funds go back to the Local Producer Subsidy Program.
We recently teamed up with a new 501(c)(3), Friends of the Foodshed (FOTF). FOTF has taken on larger donations to the LPSP program so we can subsidize local ground beef and local produce.
Friends of the Foodshed is a 501c3 that has been preserving the work of Farmers and Ranchers in Northern Nevada and connected watersheds for over 20 years. We are dedicated to providing education about health and environmental issues and to promoting a healthy lifestyle for all living things.
One of our very 1st programs was the Round Up Nutrition and Cooking Course. Beginning the summer of 2016, Round Up launched its first ever 6 week nutrition and cooking course aimed at providing information and resources to folks in need. The courses covered everything from choosing and properly preparing whole grains organic fruits and vegetables, the benefits of grass-fed & pastured meat and dairy over their factory raised counterparts and so much more!
Each course aimed at preparing nutritious meals in a situation where a full kitchen might not be available. We taught folks to use rice cookers, toaster ovens, and portable hot plates to demonstrate how delicious, nutrient dense, affordable meals can be prepared just about anywhere.
OPEN DAILY 7:30AM — 9PM
OPEN DAILY 7:30AM — 9PM
OPEN DAILY 7:30AM — 9PM
OPEN DAILY 7:30AM — 9PM
