An urban farm in Springfield embarks on its first season, determined to serve its community
When Hameed and Ayo Bello moved to Springfield, they quickly realized access to healthy food was limited for people of limited means. They set out to change that.
By Jocelyn Ruggiero
Boston Globe
March 23, 2021
Excerpt:
On the eve of the 2021 season, their first, Agric’s viability seems tenuous. The Bellos have sold a portion of their CSA shares and have a few restaurant clients lined up. For now, they are relying on word of mouth and Facebook for their marketing. While they work full time and grow seedlings for microgreens, beans, carrots, okra, and other vegetables, they wait to see which area farmer’s markets have accepted their applications. They haven’t yet secured enough funding for all of the infrastructure and equipment they need and want: greenhouses, hoop houses, irrigation hoses, a hand tractor, and a myriad of other equipment, including their dream: a truck to deliver their produce to the underserved.
And so they are searching and applying for grants. And yet, despite these obstacles, Hameed and Ayo are remarkably confident and energized, poised to fulfill their pledge to be part of the solution, determined to achieve the longevity only financial stability can give them. Hameed says, “Years from now, we want to be able to continue to serve our community.”
