Black Farmers and Black-owned Food Gardens to Know and Support
Written By Eliza Colón
If you’ve taken a stroll through the grocery store lately, you may have noticed the cost of everything is increasing. Seriously…is it just us or is everything $100?! In addition to rising costs and shortages, we also have to worry about what’s “organic”, “non-GMO”, “sustainable”, among other buzzwords being thrown around. It’s all so much and seems way out of our control. What do we do?
Let’s go back to a simpler time…where grocery shopping meant buying foods from the source. Farms across the country are struggling and did you know only 1.3% are Black-owned and operated? Luckily for us, there’s a new generation of Black farmers that are bridging the racial gap in agriculture. By supporting local farms and food gardens, we can create greener, happier, and healthier lives for the future.
With more people seeking organic food options, these Black farmers are building stronger, healthier communities.
The Metro Atlanta Urban Farm
College Park, GA
This urban farm is rooted in community values. Metro Atlanta Urban Farm is on a mission to reduce barriers to healthy living by providing fresh, affordable produce to all.
Grow Dat Youth Farm
New Orleans, LA
Growing your own food is meaningful work and the leaders of Grow Dat Youth Farm are nurturing young people to transform their communities through food security and education.
Photo: @growdatyouthfarm
Clean Greens
Seattle WA
Clean Greens is a non-profit farm operated by Seattle’s Central District residents. Black Dollar Days task force, a group of local Black businesses, founded the farm to tackle limited access to healthy foods in low-income urban neighborhoods.
Soul Fire Farm
Petersburg, NY
This Afro-Indigenous community farm is ending food apartheid with the next generation of activist-farmers. Soul Fire Farm has a number of food sovereignty programs that reach over 160,000 Black and Brown growers, youth, and city-dwellers.
Photo: @soulfirefarm
Empower Project
Baltimore, MD
The Food Project, a flagship program of UEmpower Maryland, addresses food insecurity and youth employment by hiring local youth to produce and distribute meals every week. Their biweekly pop-up market brings farming, sustainable food sources, and job opportunities to the community.
Mill Creek Urban Farm
Philadelphia, PA
Imagine a world where everyone has access to healthy, affordable food and the community works hard to contribute to its food system. That’s what Mill Creek Urban Farm of West Philly is curating through hands-on, farm-based learning.
Dreaming Out Loud
Washington DC
Dream out loud and change the food system with a farm dedicated to growing and cooking in ways that celebrate the culture. Dreaming Out Loud gathers healthy food from regional producers to distribute fresh fruits and vegetables to middle school children. They even have a culinary program to celebrate traditions and creativity!
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