ALLIES FOR CHANGE : BLACK FOOD SOVEREIGNTY COALITION

On June 4, Burgerville declared itself an Ally for Change. This was the acknowledgement and activation of our equity and diversity journey.

Today – we take the next steps towards becoming a more diverse and inclusive employer, and to support organizations working on Food and Land Justice for people who are Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color. Over the past weeks we have spent time listening, and learning, wrapping our heads and hearts around what work we have to
do.

We’re excited to announce that Burgerville is forging a new relationship with the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition, and providing support for their work with the Oregon State University’s Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems program. Our work with the BFSC will directly support students of color who are interested in farming and food systems.

Burgerville’s commitment is to ‘Make the Pacific Northwest the Healthiest Region on the Planet’. For us, it always begins with soil and in partnership with the farmers and ranchers who care for the land we rely on for food. Sadly, for the last hundred years or so, farmers who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color have experienced extreme
discrimination, loss of land, and systemic inequalities.

Here are some sobering facts about the Black farming community in the United States:
• In 2012 there were just over 46,000 Black farmers in the United States, which was only 1.6 percent of total farmers. Just over 100 years ago, an estimated 1 million Black farmers were counted.
• Black farmers lost 80 percent of their farmland from 1910 to 2007, often because of systemic discrimination in the loan and insurance industries. In 2012 Black farmers were the principal operators of less than .5 percent of total US farmland.
• The average full-time white farmer made $17,190 in farm income in 2017, while the average full-time African-American farmer made $2,408.

For millennia, cultures have thrived when diversity isn’t just tolerated, but elevated and celebrated. Championing diversity in our own workforce and supply chain will generate new leadership opportunities, business models, and creative expressions. This is the way we will realize our vision to truy ‘Make the Pacific Northwest the Healthiest Region on the Planet’.

Burgerville’s legacy is built on it’s strength of relationships with our regional farmers and ranchers in the Pacific Northwest. Our company has stood for “local” for almost 60 years. Our beautiful Pacific Northwest backyard is the source for more than 70% of our menu ingredients. We’re excited to build a more diverse farm and ag community and diversifying our hyper-local supply chain!