Mental Health Archives - Carolina Farm Trust

16 Jun, 2025

Nutrition as a Human Right: Why Access to Healthy Food Matters

By Siobhan Norbeck|2025-06-16T17:55:11+00:00June 16, 2025|Advocacy, Farmers, Food Equity, Food Systems, Fruits, Health Impacts, Hunger, Mental Health, Vegetables|0 Comments

The Right to Eat Well

Food is more than just fuel—it’s medicine, a source of energy, and a key determinant of health. Yet for millions of people, access to fresh, nutrient-dense food remains out of reach. Nutrition insecurity disproportionately impacts low-income communities and people of color, contributing to chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.

At Carolina Farm Trust, we believe access to healthy food is a basic human right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. Through initiatives like our Food is Health Program, we’re working to close the food access gap by delivering fresh, local food directly to communities in need.

The Link Between Food Access and Health

The connection between diet and disease is well-documented. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 60% of adults in the U.S. have a chronic disease,

18 Feb, 2025

Rebuilding Food Sovereignty: How Local Farms Can Lead the Way

By Siobhan Norbeck|2025-02-18T18:44:08+00:00February 18, 2025|Food Equity, Mental Health, Sustainability|0 Comments

For too long, large-scale industrial agriculture has dominated the food landscape—prioritizing mass production, corporate profit, and monoculture farming at the expense of health, environment, and food security. But communities around the world are reclaiming their right to control their own food systems, a movement known as food sovereignty.

Food sovereignty is more than just access to food—it’s about who controls the land, the resources, and the decision-making process. It ensures that food is produced by and for the people in a way that is sustainable, culturally relevant, and economically fair. At Carolina Farm Trust (CFT), we are dedicated to rebuilding a farmer-driven, community-led food system that prioritizes people over profit.

What Is Food Sovereignty?

The term food sovereignty was first introduced by La Vía Campesina, an international movement of farmers, in 1996. Unlike food security, which focuses on

11 Feb, 2025

The Hidden Wounds of Hunger: Understanding Food Trauma Amidst Food Insecurity

By Siobhan Norbeck|2025-02-11T17:20:43+00:00February 11, 2025|Food Equity, Mental Health|0 Comments

When we think of food insecurity, the immediate image that comes to mind is physical hunger—the gnawing emptiness of an empty stomach. However, the repercussions of not having consistent access to adequate food extend far beyond physical discomfort. Food insecurity can inflict deep psychological wounds, leading to what experts term “food trauma.”

Defining Food Trauma

Food trauma refers to the psychological distress and adverse emotional responses resulting from experiences related to food scarcity, forced eating, or other negative food-related events. Individuals who have faced prolonged periods of hunger or uncertainty about their next meal often develop anxieties and fears surrounding food. This trauma can manifest as heightened stress, anxiety, depression, and even disordered eating patterns.

A report by the Adur & Worthing Food Network highlights that individuals experiencing food insecurity often endure feelings of shame, guilt,

7 Feb, 2025

Beyond Hunger: The Hidden Impacts of Food Insecurity

By Siobhan Norbeck|2025-02-07T14:27:29+00:00February 7, 2025|Advocacy, economic burden, Food Equity, Food Systems, Health Impacts, Hunger, Mental Health, Sustainability|0 Comments

Food insecurity is a global crisis that reaches far beyond the empty stomachs it creates. It’s about the trauma of uncertainty—parents not knowing if they can provide dinner for their children, seniors rationing their meals to make ends meet, and individuals facing long-term physical and emotional harm. In 2023, the USDA reported that 47 million people in the U.S., including 14 million children, lived in food-insecure households. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that 864 million people face hunger.

The effects of food insecurity ripple through every aspect of life, influencing health, mental well-being, and financial stability. Let’s dig deeper into the profound impacts of this crisis and explore the steps needed to create a fairer, healthier food system.

Health Impacts: Chronic Conditions and Poor Nutrition

Food insecurity doesn’t just mean fewer meals; it often means eating the

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