Framing community food security: Connecting the personal to the political (British Columbia)

This study explores the way community food security is conceptualized within the community food security movement. Clarification of the concept can contribute to the development of a coherent policy map, and concerted efforts along the road to community food security. Through an interpretive process of analysis, data derived from interviews with leaders of British Columbia's community food security movement, supplemented with document data, were examined. A set of shared principles, constituting an alternative food justice vision emerged. Within this vision, the goal is health evidenced by a well-nourished population and local sustainable food systems. Three broad strategies are put forth to realize this goal including: (1) educating the masses to realize a paradigm shift, (2) creating food citizenry everywhere and (3) mobilizing communities towards policy and systems redesign. Missing from this vision are shared understandings about the cause(s) and the culprit(s) for community food security issues. In the absence of a well-accepted master frame, a coherent food policy strategy does not exist. Giving rise to differences amongst leaders in their understandings about the cause(s) and the culprit(s) are differing beliefs. Three framing tools are presented to assist the movement in furthering their policy aims and community food security endeavours.