Today on the news:
- “Target Becomes the Latest Brand to Roll Back D.E.I.”
- “Meta and Amazon scale back diversity initiatives”
- “Does America Need More Meritocracy”
This evaluation of the need for dollars over diversity is the leading topic in the early days of 2025. Large corporations are showing their values, and dividing their customer base in the process. They’ll ask, ‘Do we need to have policies that ensure equity?’ and we as consumers must answer.
So here’s a rundown on the numbers when it comes to diversity in our food world, plain and simple. As of the last federal census in Michigan, 73.7% of the population identified as White (not Hispanic or Latinx), followed in population size by those identifying as Black (14.1%), Hispanic or Latinx (6%), Asian (3.6%) and American Indian (.8%). In contrast, Michigan farmers who identify as anything other than White comprise just 3.9% of farm ownership. Breweries are also mainly owned by White entrepreneurs, accounting for 93.5% of ownership nationwide, and there are only 4 breweries in Michigan led by Black brewers (out of 350+). According to the Association of African American Vintners, less than 1% of wineries can claim Black ownership. Restauranteurs are comprised of a more diverse population, with 25% in Michigan identifying as Black, Asian, or Hispanic.
Diversity is an interconnected issue, and gender is also a place for wealth and power disparity. Despite gender roles often placing women into roles of food preparation, business ownership and entrepreneurship are often represented by men. This means that while women make up half the population, only 35% are farm owners, 18% are winemakers, 23.7% are brewery owners or co-owners, and 35% are restaurant owners (with 47% co-owning.) Third gender/non-binary identification is more difficult to find in the data, but the Brewer’s Association records .8% of breweries as being owned by anything other than those that identify as male or female.
Why does diversity matter in food?
“Diversity in food matters for so many reasons! When you have diverse producers you get a broader array of flavors, textures, and overall experiences when it comes to dining and drinking. It’s also important to acknowledge that often we’ve lacked diversity because Black, Brown, and Indigenous producers have been purposely excluded from accessing financing, real estate, and mentorship. The more we can intentionally support these businesses, the better our food system will be for everyone.”
Erika Tebbens, Taste the Local Difference Director of Impact
How to Support a Diverse Food Economy
First of all, stay informed. We love Civil Eats for in-depth coverage of agriculture and food reporting across the U.S. and Smarter in Seconds is a beginner-friendly way to explore what diversity looks like and how to support communities of all types. To learn more about the experience of diverse voices in food, check out these sources:
- North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS): Founded by The Sioux Chef Sean Sherman, NĀTIFS is dedicated to addressing the economic and health crises affecting Native communities by re-establishing Native foodways. They imagine a new North American food system that generates wealth and improves health in Native communities through food-related enterprises. Check out their online market here.
- Anela Malik of Feed the Malik is Black content creator living in D.C. who shares her experiences at Black-owned restaurants and wine bars in the D.C./DMV region, as well as globally. Check out her post on 10 Black Food, Wine, and Beer Festivals to Plan for in the U.S. and her book American Soul: The Black History of Food in the United States, debuting this September.
- Every eater in America should follow the important work of the United Farm Workers. Created in the early 1960s by Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Larry Itliong, and other organizers, the United Farm Workers of America is the nation’s first enduring and largest farm workers’ union. They regularly post updates of farmworkers around the country harvesting and processing crops, honoring their work by highlighting the people who labor to feed us. ¡Si se puede!
Secondly, vote with your dollar. Support a diversely-owned food economy by paying diversely-owned businesses. We’ll help you get connected with our Find Food and Farms Database; use the Ownership Type drop-down to find businesses to patronize in your neighborhood and beyond. If you find a restaurant, food product, or farm that you love, share the word!
Here at Taste the Local Difference, diversity, equity, and inclusion are all a part of our eating experience, and we hope it is for you, too.