(The Center Square) – Despite high population density, many of Pennsylvania’s urban neighborhoods exist in what are known as food deserts, or areas where grocery stores and fresh food are difficult to access.
The Department of Agriculture hopes to improve both nutritional options and expand employment and education opportunities by funding Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grants. Agriculture Secretary Russel Redding announced 21 recipients in 10 counties of over $500,000 in grants.
One such recipient was the Farm at Wyncote Academy in Montgomery County on the northern border of Philadelphia. In addition to growing produce, students working on the farm care for chickens and collect eggs, tap maple trees, keep bees, and process farm products. The $42,500 state grant will go toward planting an orchard of fruit trees and bushes.
The farm also participates in community-supported agriculture, known as a C.S.A., which allows locals to purchase memberships for weekly shares of produce throughout the harvest season.
“Seeing a school farm like Wyncote Academy’s is seeing the power agriculture has to change lives.” Secretary Redding said. “Getting fresh, healthy food into urban neighborhoods, using small plots of land to generate income, bridge differences, and introduce teens from tough circumstances to career opportunities and healthier futures are just a few ways Urban Ag grants are changing Pennsylvania cities for the better.”
The grant program has been ongoing since 2019, during which time the state has invested $3.2 million in 160 different projects. The grants support a variety of purchases, collaborative projects, and outreach.
Other recipients include projects like new food production spaces for Grow Pittsburgh in Allegheny County and Community Partnership in Butler County, a delivery van for Urban Hilltop Farm in Pittsburgh, and cold storage for Down to Earth Harvest and Megan Storm in Philadelphia and Chester Counties.
While some of the projects focus on school environments, others aim to lift up specific communities. First Stop Recovery received a grant to support a garden for those struggling with substance use disorder in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood. Trellis for Tomorrow in Chester and Montgomery Counties will provide vocational training for people with disabilities.
“With funding from prior grants through the program, Pennsylvanians are working to increase fresh food access in areas where it is scarce; break down racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic barriers; and overcome historical inequities to grow opportunities for their communities to thrive,” wrote the department.
Urban agriculture isn’t limited to large-scale projects or organizations. Community gardens have picked up across the state, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and continued economic instability. Many concerned about the food supply and sustainability have turned their attention toward farming in their neighborhoods. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society works to provide resources and education while connecting Philadelphia residents with local gardens.
