The US Food Sovereignty Alliance gave a special award to two groups, the Black Dirt Farm Collective and Mouvman Peyizan Papay (MPP). This award is called the Food Sovereignty Prize and it's given every year to groups that work hard to make sure everyone has control over their food and fair treatment.

Christina Schiavoni, who works at Grassroots International and is part of the US Food Sovereignty Alliance, said that these groups are like guiding lights in difficult times. They use ideas about food freedom, farming in harmony with nature, supporting Black people's freedom, and women's rights to make big changes in how food is grown and shared. They're trying to change a system that has a history of using and hurting people unfairly.

The Black Dirt Farm Collective consists of Black and Brown farmers, educators, scientists, and land stewards based in Brandywine, Maryland. Their main goal is to restore and nurture the land while also creating fair food systems. They concentrate on eco-friendly farming methods, healing through land activities, and advocating for fairness in food distribution. They push for Black and Brown people to have access to and own land, and they work hard to give a voice to those who are often ignored in farming and fair food movements.

MPP, or the Peasant Movement of Papaye, is a movement in Haiti that fights for the rights and needs of small farmers and rural communities. They focus a lot on changing land ownership, making sure everyone has enough food, and promoting sustainable farming practices from the ground up.

Christina Schiavoni pointed out that the news about the Food Sovereignty Prize winners came at the same time as the United Nations' plan to send armed forces to Haiti. She believes this action will only make the problems the country is dealing with worse.

"On the other hand," Schiavoni adds, "MPP is dealing with immediate crises while also developing strong local food economies that support sustainable rural jobs and environmental resilience. This showcases practical solutions created by Haitians themselves, and it's crucial for the global community to support these efforts."

The Food Sovereignty Prize serves as an alternative to the yearly World Food Prize, which, according to the US Food Sovereignty Alliance, has been influenced by the interests of large global agricultural businesses.

"The Food Sovereignty Prize promotes local, eco-friendly solutions led by those most affected by the unfairness of the global food system," says Heather Day, Executive Director of Community Alliance for Global Justice, a member of the US Food Sovereignty Alliance. "Mouvman Peyizan Papay and Black Dirt Farm Collective exemplify community-based farming models that strive for the liberation of Black and Indigenous peoples while nourishing both humanity and the planet."

The winners of the 2023 Food Sovereignty Prize focus on organizing within communities.