The 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th was a devastating catastrophe of epic proportion. As one blogger defined the situation, "Haiti: Year Zero." An immediate priority identified in the very first days after the disaster was the urgent need to avoid a major food crisis by ensuring a successful planting season from March to May.

As reports worsened with each passing day revealing the total scope of the damage we began considering how we could best do our fair share to help the people of Haiti feed the Haitian people. Realizing that all our contacts in Haiti were totally engaged in life-saving relief work which continues week after week, we knew to wait until they reached a point in time when their strategic planning would begin to turn the corner from immediate relief to recovery and future rebuilding.

Fair Share is connected with well established grassroots development organizations in Haiti and we welcome the opportunity to come alongside and strengthen their efforts as they strive toward providing increased self-sufficiency and food security. This is the year that the peasant farmers in the rural communities should be empowered to the status of national hero. This is the year that every community should be empowered to move beyond charity toward self-reliance through local food projects.

Fair Share has determined that our most effective response- our fair share, is to look toward long-term support of these efforts. For the remainder of 2010 Fair Share will be committing 20% of all our financial contributions toward initiatives in Haiti. We have determined to offer this support in 2011 and 2012 and for as long as our friends in Haiti need our assistance. It is our hope that beyond our humble financial contributions, an even greater impact can be made by advocating for the principles of food sovereignty as Haiti recovers from this catastrophe and develops a self-determined sustainable agriculture system throughout rural and urban communities alike.

We are following the lead of organizations on the ground in Haiti to identify the ways Fair Share can provide the most effective assistance. The work of Haiti Partners, Konpay, and other member organizations of the Haiti Response Coalition have demonstrated for years through their work that listening to and collaborating with local leadership is the most significant strategy for sustainable development.

(Special thanks to Paul Bick for use of his photograph from "Haiti Vivant: Jan. 12 - Feb. 1, 2010")