Second Annual Food Day is Wednesday, October 24

WASHINGTON—New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will observe Food Day by leading the city in an effort to set a world record for the “Most Participants in an Apple-Crunching Event.”  Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick will celebrate Food Day with local students and members of his cabinet at the Hayley House Café  in Roxbury, Mass.  Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn will announce new food policies for their cities.  And at more than 3,200 large, medium, and small events today and this week, Americans will be gathering together to celebrate healthy, affordable, and sustainable food—and to push for improved food policies in their communities.

Student activists and university leaders educate campuses & make pledges to change food system as part of new grassroots campaign

On October 24, tens of thousands of students on over 250 college campuses in 46 states will take part in Food Day. On-campus events will range from cook-offs and movie screenings to public demonstrations and local food banquets. Food Day is being co-coordinated by Real Food Challenge, the largest national student organization committed to building a just and sustainable food economy, and the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Contest a Great Way to Celebrate Food Day

To help celebrate Food Day, the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest is inviting people to submit creative videos of people pouring out soda on or about October 24. The contest aims to inspire conversation about soda, soda marketing, and the impact of sugary drinks on the obesity epidemic. Submissions will be accepted through Wednesday, November 7 with the winning entry receiving a $1,000 cash prize.

Health, Animal Cruelty, Environmental Pollution, Farmworker Justice Among 2012 Priorities

Social-Media Tool Weighs Impact on Health, Environment, Animals

How does your diet rate?  How about your friends’ diets?  The new Eat Real Quiz at FoodDay.org invites carnivores, vegetarians, flexitarians, and eaters of all stripes to score their diets’ impact on their health, the environment, and farm animals—and to share their results on social media.

Food Festivals, Soda Protests, School Participation, and a U.S. Capitol Conference on the Future of Food Among Highlights

Activities on October 24 to Mobilize Support for Better Food Policies

America's mayors have formalized their support for Food Day—the nationwide celebration and movement for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. Meeting in Orlando last week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution declaring October 24 as Food Day and urging all mayors to participate. The move comes as Food Day organizers are planning thousands of events from coast to coast ranging from food festivals, film screenings, candidate forums, debates, farm-to-school events, and supermarket tours.

Both Groups Make Healthy Eating a Priority

Food Day is partnering with the President's Challenge Program to help encourage children and families to develop healthy lifestyles. As a President's Challenge Advocate, Food Day aims to reduce obesity and other diet-related diseases by encouraging Americans to "Eat Real!"

October 24, 2012 to Galvanize Support for Better Food Policies

Food movement leaders are gearing up for the second annual Food Day, the nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food. More than 2,300 events in all 50 states took place on the first Food Day, and organizers intend for Food Day 2012 to represent an even bigger grassroots campaign for improved food policies. Food Day is October 24 every year.

Mayors, Governors Use Occasion to Accelerate Progress for Healthier Diets and Smarter Food Policies

From Times Square to Tucson, Food Day events across the country brought hundreds of thousands of Americans together at more than 2,300 events in all 50 states-representing the largest grassroots mobilization for improved food policies in history. Mayors, governors, legislators, and health officials observed Food Day by issuing proclamations, announcing new food policies, attending gleaning events on farms, and distributing free apples to commuters. Food Day inspired new partnerships among diverse organizations involved in hunger, nutrition, sustainability, and farm worker justice. And countless individuals simply celebrated with especially healthful home-cooked meals or potlucks with friends. Already, organizers are planning to make Food Day an even bigger success in 2012.