Op-ed: We Need a Food Bill of Rights

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July 30, 2025 | Source: Civil Eats | by Tambra Raye Stevenson

Oklahoma sits at the center of the U.S. wheat belt, exporting grain across the world and supplying flour that fills pantries nationwide. It is a major pork producer and also part of America’s cattle corridor, ranking second in cow-calf operations that support the country’s beef supply. The state grows significant amounts of corn, soybeans, and sorghum as well. In short, Oklahoma is a powerhouse of food production.

And yet in Oklahoma, where my roots run deep, too many people are hungry, with 15.4 percent of residents facing food insecurity compared with a national average of 12.2 percent. The state’s food landscape is marked by widespread food insecurity, limited grocery stores—especially in rural and low-income communities—and a growing dependence on dollar stores and food banks. Access to healthy food remains underfunded and undervalued.

Despite the fact that Oklahoma consistently ranks among the top 10 states for food insecurity, the political will to invest in equitable food systems is on life support. While Oklahoma lawmakers have enacted stricter regulations and oversight for the cannabis industry in recent years, they have not shown the same urgency or coordinated investment when it comes to strengthening the state’s food system. For example, for every food-related legislative bill, there are five for cannabis.

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