The Appalachian Just Transition and Food Access Initiatives: Two Case Studies from Central Appalachia

Central Appalachia has a continued history of environmental, economic, and political dispossession, leading to uneven development, pollution, and specific issues around food access. A movement addressing the environmental degradation of non-renewable resources, labor issues, economic regeneration, and community health is that of the Appalachian Transition. This Transition also follows the discourse of the larger "Just Transition" movement, calling for grassroots changes towards equitable distribution of resources and power. In this paper, we use two case studies of Central Appalachian food initiatives that encompass both community-based gardening and produce prescription programs. We consider whether these local food initiatives actually realize the promise of economic, environmental, and social justice, alongside questions of the framing and alignment of the "Just" Appalachian Transition itself. This paper ends with recommendations for an evaluative approach for food systems-driven transition activities, alongside considerations around funder implications that can hinder or support organizations in realizing a "just" transition through their work.