Golden Beet Awards Voting

Each year the Detroit Food Policy Council recognizes those in our community who work in the local food system, and exemplify the values of Justice, Respect, Integrity, Inclusion and Transparency that guide our work.

This year we invite everyone to vote on our Golden Beet Finalists and let us know who your favorites local food heroes are. We will award Golden Beets in the categories of Individual, Business, Non Profit, and Youth. Voting will be open on our website July 8 - August 8. The votes will be tallied and awards will be given at the Good Food Gala on September 22.

Question Title

* 1. Individual

Akello Karamoko
Akello is a young man who has demonstrated a commitment to building a better food system for Detroit's future, demonstrating his INTEGRITY through his hard work as a young farmer. He's not just talking about a good food system. He's digging his hands in! Akello has been involved for several years with Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, served as a youth apprentice with Keep Growing Detroit, and has gone on to be a student at Michigan State University's student organic farm program.

Patrice Brown
Patrice has demonstrated a commitment to JUSTICE: working to increase awareness and accessibility of food access in the city of Detroit through Farmer's Markets, Food Stand and her passion for community gardening and educating others in the community.

Lila Cabbil
Lila Cabbil is a long time Detroit resident and activist. She is President Emeritus the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute and serves on the leadership team of several organizations that are working to bring Food JUSTICE to Detroit by eliminating racial inequities that cause disparities in access to food and food system opportunities for Detroit residents. She serves on the People's Water Board, Food Justice Task Force, and Uprooting Racism in the Detroit Food System.

Question Title

* 2. Organization

Binder Street Block Club
The Binder Street Block Club, which operates the Farwell Community Garden, has demonstrated through their efforts with their community garden that there is a space for everyone to grow in the city. Located in Farwell Park, the garden, which is led by Elois Moore and her husband Johnny, is dedicated not only to using this public park to grow food, but also to INCLUSION. They work hard to engage and find a space for residents of all ages in their garden, from the youth, who participate in Youth Growing Detroit learning about health and entrepreneurship, to the seniors, who not only garden, but actively participate in social and health activities like their walking club around the park.

Riverfront East Congregational Initiative
Riverfront East Congregational Initiative (RECI) has conducted assessments of food specialty and grocery stores in their neighborhood and developed an endorsement program for neighborhood businesses that includes local food businesses. They demonstrate a commitment to TRANSPARENCY, and also to INCLUSION. RECI sponsors regular trips to grocery stores and farmers markets for seniors living in the Lower Eastside community.

Detroit People's Platform
The Detroit People’s Platform is a broad network of Detroit-based social justice organizations, activists, and residents committed to bringing about Just transformation in economics and social dynamics through popular education, celebration, and organizing. One of the primary planks of the People's Platform is Food JUSTICE. DPP connects community members with tools and resources to enable them to advocate for a food system that ensures access to healthy, quality food for all Detroiters.

Genesis HOPE
Genesis HOPE is investing in a sustainable local economy driven by community-based urban agri-business in order to provide food security for all. They are promoting food JUSTICE in the community they work in. Genesis HOPE operates a food program that includes an urban garden, youth internship, and Islandview Farmers Market on the Lower Eastside.

Neighbors Building Brighmoor
Neighbors Building Brighmoor (NBB) seeks to mobilize neighbors to work together to equip families and individuals to improve the quality of life in the Brightmoore neighborhood. NBB promotes INCLUSION of all neighborhood residents in neighborhood cleanup, crime reduction, food prduction and processing, and improving opportunities for children and young people, among other activities. NBB promotes JUSTICE by supporting gardens in the more than 200 vacant lots that comprise the Brightmoor Farmway.

Question Title

* 3. Business

Brother Nature Farms
Brother Nature is a model for all urban farms in Detroit which are looking to merge environmental and economic sustainability, and to incorporate, beyond just crop, bee and livestock farming, alternative green technologies, homesteading work like local canning, cider, vinegar, yoghurt, ice-cream and jam production etc. Brother Nature also sells at multiple markets and direct to vendors, from the Eastern Market and Corktown to the Pink Flamingo Food Truck, Great Lakes Bioneers Conference, A private CSA and several restaurants.
Greg and Olivia of Brother Nature also perennially share their tools, resources and expertise among the farmer community such as seasonal free or highly subsidized ploughing and acquisition of straws and mulches, and have been a great help to so many including Oakland Ave, Georgia Street, Ile Oko, Thrift farms and numerous others all over the city.
They have opened and continue to open their home as a gathering location for the burgeoning detroit urban farmers network, and are co-facilitators of the same. Through their work and their continued support and engagement with both the local community and community of farmers, they exemplify DFPC's commitments to food security and in deed food sovereignty, and other social justice goals.

The Pink FlaminGO!
The Pink FlaminGO! run by Meiko Krishok, is a traveling restaurant that serves locally grown, health conscious, organic food, teaches nutrition and healthy living skills paired with her food and works diligently to source her produce locally. Meiko is committed to JUSTICE and making good food accessible to all.

Daddy Do Wop
Daddy Doo Wops is a mix of entertainment and food. The owners are both trained in the musical and culinary arts with years of in the field experience. The restaurant exemplifies the value of respect by incorporating more than one aspect to it. People can be lovers of food, music or both, it gives people a common area of interest and brings them together in one setting for an enjoyable time.

Friends Potato Chips
Friends of Detroit and Tri County operates the Friends Potato Chips company that utilizes vacant land in the Hope District, and creates opportunity for employment. The company has created wealth, work, and helped to resote dignity to workers in the Hope District and surroundign communities.

Prince Valley Supermercado
Prince Valley Supermercado, a full service grocery store in southwest Detroit for over 40 years has served the community well with fresh, healthy food. They have made interior and exterior improvements to their store and are involved in numerous community activities. They are a Double Up Food Bucks store, have been part of the grocery crawl and food ambassador program. Owner Joe Gappy provides free food for neighborhood events and is generous with his time. More than half of his employees are neighborhood residents.